October 26, 2006

Aramaicin Sense?

If you've wondered what Jim Caviezel is saying in that Michael J. Fox stem-cell rebuttal ad, wonder no longer:

The actor who played Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ" is drawing on his knowledge of that film's Aramaic language and his image as Christ for his latest role -- using Jesus' words to ask Missouri voters to oppose a stem-cell research measure on the Nov. 7 ballot.
    Actor Jim Caviezel opens the political ad with a brief statement in Aramaic, the common tongue of biblical-era Palestine and the language of Mel Gibson's blockbuster movie, saying: "Le-bar nash be-neshak."
    Bill Fulco, the Loyola Marymount professor who translated Mr. Gibson's script for "Passion" and coached the actors on the ancient language, told The Washington Times yesterday the phrase means: "You betray the Son of Man with a kiss," a reference to Judas' betraying Christ and a phrase used in the Greek of Luke's Gospel.
   Cathy Cleaver Ruse, a spokeswoman for Missourians Against Human Cloning, which produced the ad, said the group had Mr. Caviezel say the Aramaic phrase in a contemporary setting but without subtitles "to make the ad a little more intriguing."
    When presented with Mr. Fulco's translation, which was confirmed by several other Aramaic scholars, the group agreed to release the exact translation exclusively to The Times.
    "It means 'You betray me with a kiss,' which means Amendment Two is a betrayal because it is deceptive," Ms. Ruse said. "It promises one thing and delivers another."

Clever ruse, Miss Cleaver Ruse.

I enjoyed the ad very much, but was a little distracted by Kurt Warner's seemingly having to film his segment while in lock-up. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.
I love Kurt and would be willing to bake him a little hacksaw into a cake if he needs it. Let me know, Kurt!

Posted by floridacracker at October 26, 2006 05:46 AM

   



Comments

Living in Missouri, this whole campaign has been really, really annoying since it's being argued purely on moral grounds. Looking at the actual amendment, it's just a bad law that will open the state to tons of lawsuits over what was or wasn't a reduction of tax funding or whatnot.

Plus I got to learn from one of my friends that the *only* reason religious people are opposed to the amendment is because they are afraid if it passes, people will steal their DNA and clone them behind their backs. This is what he seriously thinks they believe.

So stuck between "Jebus hates this!" and "grow me new organs to support my bad habits!" as the only arguments over a bad law is very bleah.

Thankfully I've been able to avoid all the commercials, though.

Posted by: marc at October 26, 2006 11:56 AM

looks like maybe Kurt was at practice..locker wall, maybe.

Convincing ad.

Posted by: csason at October 26, 2006 12:39 PM

Looks like he's got on an orange jumpsuit and should be talking through glass on a telephone.

I do really like Kurt, though.

Sorry for your troubles, Marc. It should all be over soon. I'd have to cast my vote to kill Marty McFly.

Posted by: Donnah at October 26, 2006 03:57 PM