Minister Farrakhan, Chelsea Handler & The Appeal of Truth

By Demetric Muhammad | @brotherdemetric | Guest Columnist | Last updated: Jun 23, 2020 - 8:15:16 AM

“Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.” John 12:42

My teacher, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, teaches that the greatest of all principles around which one should live and be willing to give his or her life for is the principle of truth.

Photo: Youtube

In a beautiful exegesis, I once heard him describe with depth and clarity just how important and intrinsic the principle of truth is to the very existence of the universe itself. The Minister examined the English word “universe” to highlight the interconnectedness of the concepts contained within the word; uni- meaning “one;” versus- meaning “to turn;” veritas- meaning “to prove true.” So, explained the Minister, the universe is upheld and has as its foundation the unity or oneness of truth. Minister Farrakhan’s ministry emphasizes truth as the greatest of all universal principles.

The Minister has also learned through experience that there are certain divine truths that require a price be paid for weighty, consequential and profound knowledge to be revealed and publicly proclaimed. The price is paid by the man or woman who believes so strongly in the truth that they are willing to suffer rejection, ridicule, mockery, character assassination and even physical assassination that may result from their bold telling of the truth in societies where oppressive rulers use ignorance and falsehood as weapons against the awakening of the oppressed masses.

The following statement has been attributed to 19th century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer:

“All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident.”

For many years now we have witnessed Minister Farrakhan be the victim of a gross and vicious character assassination lead by nefarious organizations that claim to be advocates on behalf of the Jewish community. These organizations have persecuted Minister Farrakhan and dogged his trail with their fabricated lies and insults that are really aimed at inspiring a misguided person to assassinate Minister Farrakhan. The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith; the Simon Wiesenthal Center; the Zionist Organization of America and the Southern Poverty Law Center top a list of groups and entities that hate a man they privately admit leads a movement that the Black community desperately needs. The words of ADL staffer Steven M. Freeman to this effect are noted in his 1994 special report entitled “Mainstreaming Anti-Semitism: The Legitimation of Louis Farrakhan:”

“The black community in this country is wrestling with a desperate crisis situation in our inner cities—and when Farrakhan’s NOI is arguably filling a void for that community … ”

Chelsea Handler arrives as Focus Features presents the American premiere of Atomic Blonde at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, CA on July 24, 2017. Photo: AP/Wide World Photos

Freeman’s dubious special report aimed at inspiring thought and recommendations from his fellow ADL cohorts on ways to stop the growing influence of Minister Farrakhan is very helpful in understanding the recent backlash received by popular comedienne Chelsea Handler and several other high profile celebrities.

It began with legendary Islamic-based Hip-Hop icon Busta Rhymes via his Instagram (IG) account. Busta Rhymes posted a short 9 minute, 33 second clip from an appearance made by Minister Farrakhan when he graced the Phil Donahue show with his presence back in 1990. The video clip has been viewed over one million times on the IG account of Busta Rhymes. It was subsequently shared by comedienne Chelsea Handler along with her honest and candid reaction that simply stated, “Powerful.” From her IG account it received over 1.8 million views.

But publications like the Jewish Forward, Breibart News, Haaretz, The Times of Israel and the Jerusalem Post among others pounced on Ms. Handler by publishing online content challenging her decision to post and admire Minister Farrakhan, a servant of Allah (God) whom they insist on falsely dubbing an anti-Semite.

The Jewish Forward noted that other high-profile celebrities joined Ms. Handler in their expressions of approval to Minister Farrakhan’s appeal to truth and reason on the very sensitive subject of race relations in America. Writer P.J. Grisar of the Forward stated:

“Jameela Jamil called him an ‘extraordinary man.’ Jessica Chastain and Chelsea Handler said his words were ‘powerful.’ Minister Louis Farrakhan must be pretty pleased with his reception.”

Famous Hollywood celebrities Jennifer Aniston, Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain and LGBT star Sean Hayes all gave the 9 minute, 33 second clip of Min. Farrakhan their approval. Hayes wrote of Min. Farrakhan’s clip:

“This should be played on a loop. Everywhere. Always.”

I salute Ms. Handler, who is Jewish, for sharing the clip of our beloved Minister to the many followers she has in social media. She has 3.9 million IG followers. I salute the great brother Busta Rhymes, who is a Muslim; he has 2.5 IG followers. I am happy that they both helped to publicize to many in mainstream of White America what those of us in Black America have long since known. That Minister Farrakhan speaks nothing but the truth. Ms. Handler proves the timeless truth that many of our parents and grandparents taught us growing up that we should “never judge a book by its cover.” For it is the aforementioned organizations who have worked to place a “dust jacket” or book cover on the public ministry of Min. Farrakhan via their false labeling of our beloved Minister as an anti-Semite. Ms. Handler proved that when you get to listen to even “controversial” persons for yourself, without the propaganda laden adjectives that are attached to their reputation, you can find common ground and agreement on principles of truth and mutual concern. Ms. Handler and her celebrity colleagues are an example of the natural appeal of truth. She and her celebrity colleagues give hope of a time in the near future where truth spoken by Min. Farrakhan will saturate the American mainstream, reaching that third stage of truth wherein it is widely held by all as being self-evident; impervious to opposition.

It is unfortunate that as of June 17, 2020, Ms. Handler has taken down the video clip of the Minister that she posted. But I understand why she would be inclined to do so. It was the recommendation of the ADL, as articulated within Steven M. Freeman’s internal report that all who add to the popularity of Minister Farrakhan be punished. In coded language he suggests in his 1994 report:

“ADL is not going to make Farrakhan go away. What we can and should do is impose an obligation on those who deal with him, or, as in the case of universities, give him a platform. In each case, the burden should be on those who give Farrakhan some measure of credibility. …”

The deployment of what is called Israel’s Cyber Shield, which polices the internet for content deemed anti-Israel or anti-Semitic, is the current evolution of what Mr. Freeman was arguing for back in 1994.

While Ms. Handler was sincerely moved by the appealing representation of the truth expressed by Minister Farrakhan’s legendary and historic Donahue appearances, those who are influenced by ADL propaganda, and who are in league with the “anti-Farrakhan” brigade sought to turn her sincere appreciation into a scandal that could hurt her career as a Hollywood entertainer.

The Jewish people are a people of high wisdom. Yet Mr. Freeman argues within his special report the following:

“When it comes to anti-Semitism and anti-Semites, ADL must be dogmatic …”

The Collins Dictionary of the English language defines dogmatic as:

“asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner; opinionated: If you say that someone is dogmatic, you are critical of them because they are convinced that they are right, and refuse to consider that other opinions might also be justified.”

Why would not Mr. Freeman argue for the use of wisdom to prove the fallacy of the positions held by Minister Farrakhan and others deemed adversaries of the ADL? Why encourage dogma? Jewish scholarship prevails throughout many disciplines. And scholarship is all about the interrogation of sources and the deconstruction of the arguments of one’s intellectual adversaries. To wax dogmatic in critical issues is to reveal oneself as beholden to a position that truth and evidence will not support.

The truth is that the only way to maintain the lie of Min. Farrakhan’s anti-Semitism is to take the dogmatic position that he is. But in an hour, such as the present period of time that we all find ourselves within, more and more people are quietly and privately looking beyond the cover of many things. And their eyes are becoming open to the truth. All who oppose truth in this hour are going to be greatly disappointed, for Allah (God) is present and He is orchestrating the triumphant victory of the truth and all who are willing to accept and support it.

Demetric Muhammad is in the student ministry class of Muhammad Mosque No. 55 in Memphis, an author and member of the NOI Research Group. Read more from him at www.researchminister.com.

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