Oy, the whole Bernie Madoff affair has been so upsetting! It's especially discouraging for us Jewish people (including Scrooge McDuck, pictured above) because Bernie himself was "a member of the tribe." So were lots of his pigeons victims. Also, the media has really played up the Jewish connection in the Madoff affair. So I began my interview with Scrooge McDuck by exploring the spiritual component of this horrible scandal:
MS: Is there a spiritual lesson here for us, O wise one?
Scrooge McDuck: Well, for some reason it puts me in mind of King Hezekiah. Certainly a very accomplished monarch, but toward the end of his life he did some questionable things. For example, the Book of Kings tells us of Hezekiah's visit from Baladan, who ruled the rising city of Babylon. On that occasion King Hezekiah was unable to restrain himself from showing off all this wealth to his visitor. Later, when Baladin had departed, the prophet Isaiah very severely reprimanded King Hezekiah. Isaiah said, "Someday the Babylonians will come back here and kill everybody and take all that wealth for themselves." To which King Hezekiah replied, "Well, you're probably right. But that won't be in my time. So who gives a flying fuck!" Or words to that effect.
Scrooge McDuck: I think that was part of it. No one is certain when Madoff strayed from the straight and narrow path, but as people get older the feelings of other people – not to mention the money of other people — can become a little less important. This can appear as ruthlessness. It's really just complete indifference. But there's more to the Madoff affair. Much more!
MS: Please continue.
Scrooge McDuck: In "The Godfather, Part 2," the character of Hyman Roth is portrayed as a man to whom nothing is sacred. The first time we see him he speaks admiringly of Arnold Rothstein, who fixed the 1919 World Series. What a heresy! Besmirching the all-American game of baseball! Yet that's exactly what Hyman Roth likes about him. He even took a shortened form of Rothstein's name for his own. This too is part of Madoff's identity. Just think of it: he stole from charitites! He stole from the charity of that lovable Steven Spielberg, who gave us "ET." Oy, oy.
MS: I have a feeling that we've only scratched the surface here. I hope we can continue this very soon.
Scrooge McDuck: G-d willing!