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Show ' ,1 "I Refuse to Allow Myself to Be Called a Zionist. I Am an American'1 By HENRY MORGENTIIAU, In tho World's Work. t Zionism is the most stupendous fallacy in Jewish history. The political nnd physical rehabilitation of Palestine into a national entity is an empty and impossible im-possible dream, unsound in its economics, fantastic in its politics and sterile in its spiritual ideals. Zionif-m is a surrender, not a solution. It is a retrogression into the blackest error, and not progress toward tho light. I will go further and say thnt it is a betrayal; it is an eastern European proposal, fathered fa-thered in this country by American Jews, which, if it were to succeed, would cost the Jws of America most that they have gained of liberty, equality and fraternity. Zionism is based upon a literal acceptance of the promises made to tho Jews by their propheta in the Old Testament, that Zion should bo re-fitorcd re-fitorcd to them and that they should resume their once glorious plnce as a peculiar people, singled put by God for his especial favor, exercising dominion over their neighbors in His name and enjoying all tho freedom nnd blessings of a race under the unique protection of the Almighty. Of course, the prophets meant these things symbolically and were dealing only with the spiritual life. They did not mean earthly power or materialistic mate-rialistic blessings. Zionism arose out of the miseries of the Jews. It was offered as a remedy, a refcasc, a plan of action which would provide a road to happiness. happi-ness. This is the secret of its hold upon its adherents. Tho promises which it offers arc so dazzling that Jews everywhere havo rushed to embrace em-brace its faith without stopping to examine them closely or to calculate whether they can be made good. Here in America we havo fought our way through to liberty, equality and fraternity. Wo have found the rest for our bouIs. No one shall rob us of these gains. We enjoy in America exactly the spiritual liberty, the financial success and the social position which we have earned. Any Jew in America who Trishes to bo a saint of Zion has only to practice the cultivation cul-tivation of his spiritual gifts there is none to hinder him. Any Jew in America who seeks material reward has only to cultivate the powers of his mind and character there are no barriers between him and achievement achieve-ment Any Jew in America who yea.rn8 for social position has only to cultivato hia manners there are no insurmountable discriminations here against true gentlemen. The Jews of Franco have found France to be their Zion. Tho Jews of England have found England to be their Zion. Wo JewB of America havo found America to bo our Zion. Therefore, I refuse to allow myself to be called a Zionist. I am an American. |
