Britain’s Conservative Party set to elect first Jewish leader

JTA.org ^ | Nov. 6 03 | Richard Allen Greene

[FreeReporting]

Anyone without the scars where the horns were removed, I suppose.

[cyborg]

I think people being people, will question whether a Jew would make a good president or not... most of the time I think it's definately out of some prejudice though. Just as if there's a black president, people will ask questions, if there's a muslim president... As far I notice, most presidents are not very religious to begin with. Dubya may be the most religious I've ever seen.
My question about the dual citizen is wrong anyway as I do not think someone can run for president with that anyway...

[ken5050]

And of course, we have the recent EU poll with say that they view Israel as the greatest threat to peace int he world...

[ken5050]

And of course, we have the recent EU poll which says that they view Israel as the greatest threat to peace int he world...

[adam_az]

My dad told me a story about how when he was in the US Army, a southerner who had never met a Jew before asked my dad where his tail was, or if he had it removed. He was surprised to learn that what he had learned growing up, that Jews have tails, wasn't true.

[.cnI redruM]

Jacques chIRAQ could declare war. Pat Buchannon and Cynthia McKinney certainly would.

[anotherview]

Many Americans would rightly so call into question most Jews' loyalty to America versus Israel. Of the 3 major religions from that region, only Christians have shown that they can put the interests of America above those of other nations

You base this on what, other than bigotry and religious intolerance.

I'm a Deist and would much rather have a bunch of Christians in office than Jews or, far.

I'm sure many a Klansman or neo-Nazi would agree with you.

[anotherview]

cyborg wrote:
The only thing I will have to say with respect to divided loyalties is that there should be no such thing as 'dual citizenship'.

I was BORN with dual citizenship. I believe, because of my heritage, I am entitled to citizenship in at least three other countries. Tell me, was I wrong to be born? Is being the child of immigrants (legal ones, mind you) a crime?

[anotherview]

Attitudes like his are part of the reason for me for aliyah again. (We did live in Israel for a couple of years when I was growing up.) I want to live in a country where being a Jew simply isn't an issue.

Of course, my main reasons for preferring Israel are 1) it's where most of my family lives, and I value family over most other things, and 2) I believe that, as a Zionist and someone who wants to see a secure Jewish state I have an obligation to settle in Israel.

[Zack Nguyen]

As far I notice, most presidents are not very religious to begin with.

If you look back through history, you will find that a great many Presidents have been Christians, and rather open about it. John Q. Adams, Washington, Lincoln (read his 2nd Inaugural), Cleveland, Wilson. Reagan was a believer too, I think, but was rarely as vocal.

[cyborg]

I was referring to people running for office only. I don't think you are familiar with my posting on FR. As the daughter of a British colonial subject, I WAS entitled to a Trinidadian passport till my mother became a naturalized citizen. My father is a naturalized American citizen as well, from Italy. I'd be the last person to tell you that being the child of immigrants is a crime.

There are some folks on FR who would not mind telling you, me and others so.

[cyborg]

Yes I agree. Dubya is very vocal about his faith except I don't see most people caring as he's not so 'in your face' about it.

[anotherview]

My apologies if I mischaracterized your post.

I hold American and Israeli citizenship. I ws born in the U.S. so I could run for office with no problem. I WOULD have to renounce my American citizenship to stand for the Knesset. I have no problem with that and certainly don't consider it anti-oleh (immigrant).

As far as bigotry on FR, yes, I've seen it. I do NOT consider it a reflection of the feelings of most Freepers or most conservatives, rather a small lunatic fringe.

[Zack Nguyen]

Well, it depends on who is talking about it. I see the secularist left very, very concerned with President Bush's Christianity, which they despise as narrow minded or exclusivist. They complain when he references Christ in his speeches, or a hymn, or uses Christianity as a reference when advocating policy. Of course these people wil never be happy until Christianity, and it's accompanying moral code, is stamped out.

But for a majority of Americans, I suspect they are happy that we have a leader who knows that he is accountable to God.

[SJackson]

Remember dual citizenship (it only seems to come up here with Israel, but I believe the number of countries recognizing dual US citizenship is up in the mid 40s)is often an accident of birth, American parents giving birth in a foreign country or born here to foreign parents, is usually controlled by the other countries laws, not ours, and frequently can't be undone or undone only with great difficulty.

Using your example you seem to have had an option of a Trinidadian passport, but Trinidand could easily have made that a requirement and considered you a dual citizen, or not recognized your American citizenship at all (as Cuba does).

The real test is loyalty, which is discerned in other ways.

[anotherview]

I would agree with your last post and I would take it a step further. I think Joe Lieberman's faith, and the fact that most Americans see him as a man of integrity, helped Al Gore in 2000. It offset some of Gore's incessant lies and half-truths somewhat. I don't think most Americans have any problem whatsoever with an American of the Jewish faith running for President. I think they care about a person's values and honesty more than where he worships.

[cyborg]

That's okay... I can see that my sin was ommission, as in not commenting on that poster's statements. I was pretty stunned actually... I think the most shocking statements are often made in africa threads, immigrant threads, and even the jewish ones. However, it's always the same one or two people, the lunatic fringe. However, our LF is a piece of paper compared to the miles wide LF of the liberal,nasty left.

Having known a few Jews who have made their return to Israel, I felt they were in the wrong country. For them, Israel was completely meant to be home, not America, which may pain some patriotic folk to hear. After I visited Europe this year, I went through that same sort of time of questioning my loyalties. If anyone questions who Jews should have Israel need to remember when Jews were turned away from almost every western country including America too for a time.

[cyborg]

Yes you are right. This year I visited Europe, and immediately wished I lived there instead. However, reality is I lived here in America all my life. My boyfriend is a naturalized American citizen here for almost twenty years from South Africa, but South Africa will always be home to him (no matter what the ANC does to ruin it). America is the land of opportunity which we both recognize.

Speaking of which, now South African Jews are responsible and guilty for sabotaging Zimbabwean economic reform under Mugabe. Jews never get a break...

[StoneColdGOP]

Good for him!

L'Chaim!