After Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts refused to publicly condemn Tucker Carlson for interviewing Nick Fuentes, activists have spent the last week trying to discredit Roberts and those associated with him.
On Wednesday, another attack came in the form of this recorded conversation where Evan Myers, a Catholic staffer in Roberts' office, expressed concern that staff would be required to attend upcoming Shabbat dinners, which he does not want to attend on religious grounds.
Myers said he is grateful for the work of his colleagues on the National Task Force To combat Antisemitism, but was concerned that the organization "is demanding that Heritage host Shabbat dinners with Heritage interns and junior staff."
Let's break down what he said.
The faith of many Christians here, myself included, would prevent us from attending these dinners in good conscience.
Shabbat, or the Sabbath, is the day of rest that Jews observe in accordance with God's commands in verses like Exodus 20:8-11. This day of rest, honored from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, reflects God's decision to rest from work on the seventh day of creation. It is to be a day of worship for God's people to remember the covenant He made with them, lest they get too busy with their daily lives and forget Him.
Christians, who believe Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law and freed them from its ritualistic requirements - signified by the acceptance of Gentiles (non-Jews) into the covenant and family of God - are not obligated to observe the Sabbath, but were told to regularly meet (Hebrews 10:24-25) and chose the "first day of the week," Sunday, as this was the day Christ rose from the dead after "resting" in a tomb during the Sabbath.
Christ was executed on a Friday, and the Jewish officials who called for his death wanted Him to be buried before the Sabbath started so they wouldn't break the Law that God had given them (John 19:31).
This is why Myers signifies the importance of the day:
As you know, for many Christians, Friday is a special day of prayer and abstinence to commemorate the death of Christ.
Myers is speaking here of his Catholic tradition, which instructs Catholics to give up meat, dedicate themselves to prayer, and attend Mass the first Friday of the month as a reminder of Christ's suffering.
Non-Catholic Christians may disagree with this tradition, arguing they are pharisaical practices that are warned about in verses like Galatians 4:8-11, but that does not change the fact that Myers has genuine belief in the sanctity of the day and his Catholic religious requirements.
Whether someone else thinks his objection to a Shabbat dinner or adherence to Catholic dogma is right or wrong is not the point. Under the First Amendment, he is guaranteed the right to choose what religious practices he will partake in.
That brings us to the next part of his statement:
I presume no staff will be required to attend the Shabbat dinners. But my concern is that these dinners will serve as some form of informal litmus test, and I'm worried that they will hurt many Christians that are not antisemitic but don't feel comfortable attending a Shabbat dinner. I would like to know how you guys would respond to that concern.
For this, activists like Jewish commentator Daniel Mael, are attempting to paint Myers as antisemitic as part of the pressure campaign against the Heritage Foundation and Kevin Roberts.
The purpose of this article is NOT to opine on whether Roberts' statement about Tucker Carlson was the right decision, but to reflect on the cancelation campaign that resulted.
Many commenters joined in the criticism of Myers, while others defended him.
This included the Daily Wire's Megan Basham:
Basham also noted the frustration of staffers in the Trump administration.
Labelling anyone who doesn't toe a certain line as racist or antisemitic is a tactic regularly used by the Left, but many argue it is now being deployed on the Right.
At the Heritage meeting, VP Virginia Coates was one person who took offense to Myers' question, calling it a "grotesque mischaracterization," which is, according to activists like Daniel Mael, evidence that Myers is antisemitic and in the wrong.
The 2-hour-long meeting also included outbursts against Roberts for his defense of Tucker Carlson.
In the end, Roberts apologized for using the term "venomous coalition" to describe the, well, venomous coalition (please laugh) that is attacking him on the claim that the phrase is "antisemitic."
Again, this article is only here to report the details as it pertains to conversations around religious liberty and bigotry.
But I will say...
"I have to be better" sounds a lot like what we heard from BLM struggle sessions in 2020. 🤔
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
