It has not been even 48 hours since the deadly Sri Lanka Easter bombings, which targeted Christians and claimed an estimated 290 lives, and at least one major American newsroom has already found a way to make the attacks about right-wing fearmongering.
“Christianity under attack? Sri Lanka church bombings stoke far-right anger in the West,” reads the headline to a Washington Post article published Monday morning.
This feels like a bizarre and even more tasteless iteration of the press’ beloved “Republicans pounce” trope, where newsworthy incidents are used merely as backdrops for larger meta-stories about how members of the Right are supposedly exploiting events for political gain.
“[T]he attacks, which targeted a religious minority in a predominantly Buddhist country, also resonated abroad — especially in Europe,” write the Post’s Adam Taylor and Rick Noack.
They add [emphasis mine]: “To some, it was further proof that Christians in many parts of the world are under attack. Several churches were targeted in Sunday’s bombing attacks, along with hotels and a banquet hall. At one Catholic church in Negombo, more than 100 people were killed. The attack took place on Easter, one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar.”
First, a small thing: Easter is not “one of the most important” dates on the Christian calendar. It is the most important date. There is no salvation without His death and resurrection. Secondly, a much bigger point: Perhaps “some” feel the bombings are proof that Christianity is under attack because Christianity is under attack. With bombs.
Putting aside for a moment the paper’s suggestion that only the “far-right” in the West has been really angered by the Sri Lanka slaughter, the Post’s attempt to downplay Christian persecution around the globe, all while providing a platform for right-wing provocateurs, is as absurd as it is grotesque.
This weekend, Iraq’s oldest Christian town, Hamdaniya, was able to celebrate Easter for the first time in years without fear of reprisal from the Islamic State. Consider the following paragraphs published this weekend by the Guardian:
When the men and women of Iraq’s oldest Christian town gathered for Easter mass this weekend, they did so knowing that the Islamic State extremists who had chased them away were not coming back. Their battlefield defeat two months ago meant the people of Hamdaniya (also called Qaraqosh) could once again celebrate without fear.
Christians in the Middle East have just survived a genocide attempt by ISIS. Christians in pitiless, autocratic regimes, including Iran, China, and North Korea, are subjected regularly to persecution. In fact, Christianity is the most harassed faith in the world, followed closely by Islam, according to the Pew Research Center.
It is understandable, then, that Christians would see the bombings this weekend as yet another example of the ongoing attacks on their faith.
But the authors of the Post analysis are apparently unconcerned with all of that. For them, the real story is those powerless right-wing zealots, including France’s National Rally party president Marine Le Pen and anonymous Reddit commenters, have thoughts on the Sri Lankan bombings. Yes, right-wing reactionaries have commented on the bombings. So have former presidents, members of Congress, athletes, actors, and so on. It is nothing short of astonishing that the Post published an entire article focusing on how some bad people have stumbled on to a truth (that Christians are being persecuted) and then worked to discredit that truth because some bad people support it.
Imagine for a moment that the Black Hebrew Israelites, a fanatic hate group, claimed the recent burning of three African American churches in Louisiana is proof that black people in the U.S. are victims of persecution by racist white extremists — would the Post publish a dismissive article titled, “Black Christians under attack? Louisiana church fires stoke far-left anger”? Doubtful the paper would, but I could be wrong!
But, again, what is far worse than making the Sri Lanka bombings about supposed right-wing exploitation is the fact that the Post article concludes by suggesting Christians are not, in fact, persecuted around the world.
“Although Christian minorities are targeted around the world, analysts say that the vast majority of terrorism victims globally are Muslims,” the Post reports.
Take that, Christians! Take that, Copts! You think you have it bad? Guess again!
