Gibson’s ‘Passion’ Places Faith in History

Re “ ‘Passion’ Nurtures Seeds of Hatred,” Commentary, Feb. 25: As a former professor, I often heard students complain about matters they didn’t understand or didn’t want to know; I fear Walter Reich is in the same category. “The Passion of the Christ” is not about hate, but hate may be in the eye of the beholder. Let’s face history: It was not the Jewish people who wanted Christ out of the way; it was the Jewish political leaders (who often wore the garb of a rabbi) who wanted him removed by the Romans; these are facts.

This does not engender hatred, it lets it be known that there are always a small number of people filled with jealousy, corruption and a desire for power who will stand against the good that others try to do in the world. We should not try to rewrite history to satisfy the Anti-Defamation League or Reich; that would be the greater sin. Mr. Reich, examine thine own self.

Samuel Hamod

Princeton, N.J.