Posted on 03/13/2018 5:09:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
At the City College of New York in the late 1930s, my father, an Orthodox Jew, wrote his senior class thesis on anti-Semitism in America. He delineated common realities of the era, such as Jews’ admission to law firms, country clubs, and colleges being denied or restricted, and various other manifestations of popular and institutional anti-Semitism.
Yet he taught his two sons — my older brother and me — to believe that we, as Americans, were the luckiest Jews in Jewish history.
With the obvious exception of Jews living in Israel, he was right. I can state this with some authority, having written a book on anti-Semitism and taught Jewish history at Brooklyn College.
Despite the existence of anti-Semites and anti-Semitism in America, American Jews are indeed among the luckiest Jews in Jewish history. Even with the reestablishment of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, many more Israeli Jews have moved to America than American Jews have moved to Israel. This is not a reflection on Israel, which is a country with a high quality of life that is an unparalleled blessing in Jewish life; rather, it is a reflection on America and how good it is for Jews.
Likewise, despite the existence of racists and racism in America, black Americans are among the luckiest blacks in the world. A distinguished black journalist, Keith Richburg of the Washington Post, fully acknowledged the horror and cruelties of slavery. Nevertheless, he thanked God his ancestors had made it possible for him to be born and live in America, not Africa. After covering Africa for the Post, Richburg put it this way in his newspaper:
Let me drop the charade and put it as simply as I can: There but for the grace of God go I.
Somewhere, sometime, maybe 400 years ago, an ancestor of mine whose name I’ll never know was shackled in leg irons, kept in a dark pit . . . and then put with thousands of other Africans into the crowded, filthy cargo hold of a ship for the long and treacherous journey across the Atlantic. Many of them died along the way, of disease, of hunger. But my ancestor survived . . . He was ripped away from his country and his family, forced into slavery somewhere in the Caribbean. Then one of his descendants somehow made it up to South Carolina, and one of those descendants, my father, made it to Detroit during the Second World War, and there I was born, 36 years ago. And if that original ancestor hadn’t been forced to make that horrific voyage, I would not have been standing there that day on the Rusumo Falls bridge, a journalist — a mere spectator — watching the bodies glide past me like river logs. . . . And so I thank God my ancestor made that voyage. . . .
. . . I empathize with Africa’s pain. I recoil in horror at the mindless waste of human life, and human potential. I salute the gallantry and dignity and sheer perseverance of the Africans. But most of all, I feel secretly glad that my ancestor made it out — because, now, I am not one of them. [Emphasis added.]
That is why millions of Africans prefer to live in America than anywhere else. That is why more than 2 million Africans immigrated to the United States in the recent past (compared with the 388,000 who came as slaves). Unlike the many Americans — black and white — who believe the leftist libel about America’s oppressing blacks and all other nonwhites, the millions of Africans who want to come to America know how lucky they would be to be a black in America, as do the millions who already live here. They know they are, or would be, among the luckiest blacks in the world.
What kind of lie must a person embrace to flee to a peaceful, prosperous country whose people treat him generously and beautifully and not think he’s lucky to live there?
And what about Latin Americans? Like American Jews and American blacks, they are among the luckiest Latinos in the world. How could they or anyone else deny this given the fact that tens of millions of Latin Americans left their families, friends, culture, language, and very homes to live in America? And given the fact that tens of millions more ache to do the same? What kind of lie must a person embrace to flee to a peaceful, prosperous country whose people treat him generously and beautifully and not think he’s lucky to live there?
And, finally, there are the many white Americans — people born and raised in America, many of whose ancestors also fled war, poverty and oppression in Europe — who not only deny how lucky they are to live America but also vilify the America’s Founders, who made their blessed life possible. Their attitude transcends mere lying; it enters the realm of pathology.
Man says that Israeli Jews are the luckiest for living in Israel, Because they are all jews.
Says that American jews are also lucky because there is very little anti-semitism in America. You know, except for that little thing he was saying that Jews are better around other Jews.
Also, talks about black people like they are pets.
Another Prager opinion piece that needs to be right-click and deleted.
RE: Also, talks about black people like they are pets.
Can you direct us to the offending sentence?
RE: You know, except for that little thing he was saying that Jews are better around other Jews.
What part of the article did he say that?
He didn’t say what you say he said.
You lie.
Another excellent piece by Dennis Prager. It would do wonders for the attitudes of our snowflakes if we could send them to Venezuela, Cuba or any African state for a few months.
What kind of lie must a person embrace to flee to a peaceful, prosperous country whose people treat him generously and beautifully and not think he’s lucky to live there?Answer:Cynicism.Note that cynics cannot be cynical about everything. If A and B be antonyms, cynicism about A maps inexorably to faith in - even naiveté toward - B.Socialists are cynical about American society because they are naive about government. (Or else they are naive about government because they are cynical about American society - same difference).
Although socialists often put forward the assumption that “society” and “government" are synonyms rather than antonyms, Thomas Paine put paid to that canard in 1776.
It’s all in what is said “between the lines”.
This article isn’t about how people in the US are lucky. It’s about how 3 specific “races” or cultures are.
Except Jews could be luckier in Israel.
Now examine this whole article. What we see are the printed words, and the words that aren’t printed.
Is Israel better than the US ? Maybe it is for a Jew. So with all of the terrorist attacks, conscripted service, “The Iron Dome” being in constant use and living under the threat of annihilation... we have one thing to go on. Things are better for Jews because... Jews.
The other races are involved in a very distinct and fashionable conversation. “How blacks and sometimes other minorities should behave” or “What’s best for a race and culture that I’m not part of.”
This is talking about these human beings like they are pets, and should have everyone discussing their well-being and how they can succeed.
I too have fallen into this trap. One of my speeches starts off “Look, you’re going to hate me for this. I’ll bring you back in a minute”. The truth is that the black people are powerful as hell. The globalists can’t stand blacks because they are the only ones who are really fighting, and putting up a fight. Their biggest concern is keeping these people complacent and controlled.
Controlling white people is easy. The new iPhone comes out soon so keep your cool.
In other words, it’s all in what is said, “in your imagination”
““in your imagination””
Analysis is funny like that. Luckily the word “Implied” exists or else we would all be locked up.
Let’s look at how you interpret this article:
RE: Is Israel better than the US ? Maybe it is for a Jew. So with all of the terrorist attacks, conscripted service, “The Iron Dome” being in constant use and living under the threat of annihilation... we have one thing to go on. Things are better for Jews because... Jews.
I read it as things are better for Jews in America because of America’s constitution and because the people here are TOLERANT compared to many other countries. Jews are also fortunate to live in America because this country affords them the OPPORTUNITY to thrive. I don;t see how you can read things are better for Jewds because.... Jews ( unless you know his motives ).
RE: “How blacks and sometimes other minorities should behave” or “What’s best for a race and culture that I’m not part of.”
I think the SHOULD BEHAVE part is something we EXPECT from anyone of any race or creed who wants to live in a society like the USA.
Things like -— Be tolerant of others, work hard and take advantage of the opportunities this country gives you, do not have babies out of wedlock and expect the taxpayers to pay for it, be a law abiding citizen, etc. -— These have nothing to do with being black, white, Asian or hispanic. These are how everyone OUGHT to behave if we want to thrive in a peaceful, prosperous society.
This is not treating blacks ( or anyone ) as “pets”. These are traits we all should cultivate ( and bad behavior we should all avoid ) regardless of our race.
To me, he has this awkward problem. As a Jewish writer who is very pro-Israel, he feels uncomfortable pointing out that Jews are better off in the US than in Israel. Feels to him like he’s ripping on the purpose of the Jewish state.
So he avoids saying that outright by sort of allowing rhetorically that it might be a “tie” as to which is better. But then goes on to point out all the reasons why the US is and has been.
To what type of audience and on what subject matter do you give speeches?
From the article:
“Yet he taught his two sons — my older brother and me — to believe that we, as Americans, were the luckiest Jews in Jewish history.
With the obvious exception of Jews living in Israel, he was right.”
You said “he feels uncomfortable pointing out that Jews are better off in the US than in Israel.”
I’m not sure I see what you’re saying here.
..................
Bone picking.
You betcha.
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