Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20
This year's Oscars laid bare the cultural depravity of our world, globalising the acceptance of antisemitism and demonstrating just how far we have fallen as a society—ironically, all in the name of a misguided concept of justice.
We are living in what can only be described as biblical times. Much like the days of ancient Israel, when the prophet Isaiah lamented that people would "call evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20), today’s moral compass appears hopelessly inverted.
A glaring example of this inversion was on full display as celebrities arrived at the ceremony in their lavish attire, some proudly wearing red pins symbolising their supposed moral stance in support of "freeing Palestine."
What many seem oblivious to, however, is the disturbing reality these pins represent. The symbol is linked to the horrific murders of two Jewish men in Ramallah during the second Intifada of 2000, —a sadistic act in which Palestinians brutally killed them, tore their bodies apart with their bare hands, and paraded their remains through the streets to cheering crowds. How has it become acceptable for public figures to adopt a symbol rooted in such unimaginable cruelty? Rather than representing a call for justice, it signifies a culture in its final stages of moral decay.
If this were not troubling enough, the Oscars crowned as one of its winners a documentary titled No Other Land, which perpetuated the popular but misleading narrative of supporting Palestinian "resistance" while ignoring critical facts. As the audience clapped and cheered, few seemed aware or willing to acknowledge that these so-called "resistance fighters" continue to hold 59 hostage’s captive in the terror dungeons of Gaza, subjecting them to unspeakable suffering. Any genuine call for peace should begin with demanding the release of these innocent people—but Jewish victims simply do not seem to garner the same level of concern or media attention.
One of the most painful ironies is the fate of Hayim Katsman, a peace activist who was involved in the making of No Other Land. He was murdered on October 7th by the very "resistance fighters" the film implicitly supports. Yet, this brutal reality was conveniently omitted from the narrative celebrated at the Oscars as people sipped their champagne and clapped.
Perhaps these self-proclaimed activists and moral crusaders should familiarise themselves with an already-existing documentary, one produced by Hamas —hours of footage documenting the atrocities of October 7th. This chilling footage reveals murder, death, rape, and the systematic slaughter of innocent children and entire families. It also showcases the support from the populous as bodies were driven back into Gaza to the delight of cheering crowds. The global community should be recoiling in horror. Instead, many seem eager to excuse or even endorse these heinous acts under the guise of political resistance.
All this, even when less than two weeks ago the world witnessed the chilling spectacle of Palestinians publicly celebrating the demise of two innocent babies who were kidnaped and later strangled to death along with their mother, parading their coffins through the streets to the cheers of a baying mob. How can any society that calls itself "civilised" remain silent in the face of such barbarism?
Human decency, or at the very least least, logic, should dictate a universal stand against a culture that glorifies violence and murder in such a way. Yet, the veneer of civility has been shattered by the untameable antisemitism that has become fashionable in mainstream culture. This is what happens when a society turns its back on the living God—a society that is now storing up wrath for the day of judgment.
It is imperative that all who believe in the God of Israel and the Jewish Messiah speak out against this rising tide of hatred. Silence is not an option. We must name antisemitism for what it is and refuse to allow it to become normalised under any pretence.
May those who value truth and righteousness stand firm, unyielding in the face of the world’s moral collapse, offering Christ as the only hope in the face of such darkness.
May all who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned backward
Psalm 129:5