Argentine Jewish Community Upset with Maradona

Wed26Dec2007

Argentine Jewish Community Upset with Maradona

17:38 H | Topics: Argentina - Controversia - Culture - Iran - Religion

Maradona might be considered an untouchable demigod in his home country of Argentina, but the embattled soccer star has fallen from grace in the eyes of some in Argentina's Jewish community because of a controversial comment. La mano de Dios was quoted as saying that he wants to meet the president of Iran: "I've already met (Hugo) Chávez and Fidel (Castro). Now the only one I've still got to meet is their [the Iranian] president. I want to meet Ahmadineyad."

The comment was not well-received by the Jewish community, which

..."strongly laments" the words of ex-soccer player Diego Maradona in favor of Iran and hopes that "he rectifies [the situation]", said the secretary of the Israeli and Argentine Mutual Association (AMIA), Edgardo Gorenber.

"We are admirers of Maradona as a player and we strongly lament his expressing his opinion on such delicate an issue as this one," he said, after citing that in 1994 the AMIA was the target of a terrorist attack which left 85 dead and which the Jewish community attributes to terrorists protected by Iran.

"Diego is the most well-known Argentine in the world and our soccer embassador. It would be good to tell him the true story about how much pain [Iran] brought us 13 years ago," said the Agencia Judía de Noticias.

I think the relative gentleness of this chiding of Maradona is a testament to how powerful he still is in Argentina. I doubt anyone else could get away with such statements as that one given the history of the relationship between Iran and Argentina and Ahmadinejad's denial of the verity of the holocaust.

Via / 20 Minutos

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Jennifer

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1. Ramón ~ Wednesday, Dec 26 2007 | 20:55H:

After reading the Washington Post (a source we can trust)article, I get the impression that the US style of international relations - disengagement or no engagement - is the same directive that former president Kirchner issued when it came to investigating Iranian complicity in the BA bombings (?)
Since that cowboy style hasn't served the US very well, why would Argentina sign on to it?
As Argentina's new president, Is Cristina Fernández going to do her husband's bidding, or is she going to say: "Hey, Ahamadinejad, Argentina has issues that need addressing now. Since the former president - the man, and my husband, wouldn't talk to you, I will. Too bad if it makes you squirm to have to talk with a female head of state."
Finding Iran guilty in the court of popular opinion doesn't help the Jewish community get to the bottom of the bombings.
It would also send a clear message to Washington that Argentina can think and act for itself.

Maradona professing to be in solidarity with the people of Iran doesn't state that he's against BA's Jewish community. Unless his words were severely edited and there's something missing. Didn't Ahamadinejad meet with a sizable contingent of Hassidim on his trip to New York this year, after they visited him in Tehran?
If Maradona has a problem with BA's Jewish community, let him state it, and why. Then we can judge his words.

Remember, there was a time when meeting with Nelson Mandela was criminal.

I'm not defending Ahamadinejad and what I consider to be idiot statements, but I do question that we have to take the same hard stand as others or face being ostracized for having a different opinion.

VivirLatino