Welcome Back Kotter's Juan Epstein had the best of both worlds, then.....
Posted on 04/25/2006 4:51:39 AM PDT by unionblue83
The most frequently asked question I receive from non-Jews about Jews is, why are Jews so liberal?
The question is entirely legitimate since Jews (outside of Israel) are indeed overwhelmingly liberal and disproportionately left of liberal as well. For example, other than blacks, no American group votes so lopsidedly for the Democratic Party. And the question is further sharpened given that traditional Jewish values are not leftist. That is why the more religiously involved the Jew, the less likely he is to be on the Left. The old saw, "There are two types of Jews -- those who believe Judaism is social justice and those who know Hebrew," contains more than a kernel of truth.
In no order of importance, here are six reasons:
1. Judaism is indeed preoccupied with social justice (as well as with holiness and personal morality), and many Jews believe that the only way to achieve a just society is through leftist policies.
2. More than any other major religion, Judaism has always been preoccupied with this world. The (secular) Encyclopedia Judaica begins its entry on "Afterlife" by noting that "Judaism has always affirmed belief in an afterlife." But the preoccupation of Judaism has been making this world a better place. That is why the Torah (the Five Books of Moses) is largely silent about the afterlife; and it is preoccupied with rejecting ancient Egyptian values. That value system was centered on the afterlife -- its bible was the Book of the Dead, and its greatest monuments, the pyramids, were tombs.
(Excerpt) Read more at frontpagemag.com ...
Welcome Back Kotter's Juan Epstein had the best of both worlds, then.....
"...suspension of critical reason..." A root of many of the world's ills.
So you decide to give them some wealth (not yours, of course--everybody has to help!) figuring if they had some money, they could a) start their own successful business and gain a some self-esteem, or b) gain an education which will help them get a better job, which will pay them more money so they can get some self-esteem.
What the hypothetical you fails to realize is that it is a twisted religion/ideology/worldview that makes those other people hate you, not all of the other things. They use the money you give them to further the cause of your demise. And while you`re wandering around sniffing posies and showing "solidarity with the oppressed peoples", the people who are standing watch on those walls are shaking their heads and wondering what the hell is wrong with you.
In the advance stages of this syndrome, the hypothetical you begins to have bizarre ideas about who the "real enemy" is. Surely it in`t the poor, oppressed people you are trying to help? After all, you`re giving them all of those other peoples` money. and "showing solidarity" with their cause, right? Gee, it must be those guys standing those armed posts who are oppressing all of those poor people! IT`S ME!!! IT`S MY SIDE!!!
You`re welcome.
a lot of jewish opinion stems from the lies told about the McCarthy period
Based upon my own experiences, growing up Jewish in New York City (born in 1948), I would like to add the following:
The vast proportion of Jews emigrated to The United States in the first twenty years of the 1900's. They were uniformly poor, but, like the latter-day immigrants from Asia, placed a high value upon education and hard work. These Jews learned English and became citizens.
Juat as they were becoming true Americans, The Great Depression hit. In FDR, they saw a father figure, and believed that his liberal social policies saved them from destitution. This belief was passed down to the next two generations, many of whom still are reflexively liberal, despite achieving financial successes more generally associated with self-reliance and conservatism.
The hero-worship of FDR was transferred in great measure towards JFK, and his assassination cemented the "democrat-for-life" attitude already prevalent in the Jewish community. Jews and Blacks have been voting that way for generations, and refuse to consider facts that might sway them from their pseudo-religious liberalism.
Yep, that's the reason for centuries of anti Semitism, the Jewish concern for others.
"You're welcome"
No thank you.
The original article was talking about Jews outside of Israel.
At the end of the day, there are only three categories of liberals: (1) perverts; (2) losers; (3) opportunists who prey upon categories 1 and 2. Too many liberal upper middle class and upper class Jews fall into this latter category IMHO.
I don't give educated liberals the benefit of the doubt, and assume they are well-intentioned. No well-educated person can ignore the evidence as to the abyssmal track record of socialism. If they are not well-intentioned then there can be only one other explanation for their philosophy. They are evil.
Any Americans who have a hard time believing the strong draw of fundamental Islam need only to look in their own past.
Without thinking, knee jerk acceptance of an ideology is universal around the world.
ping
A nice article, on a subject to which I've given a lot of thought over the past few years. You are right, it didn't really address the state of Israel. Although it can be pointed out that whatever the faults of Jews, sitting around isn't the one usually associated.
My take on the causes of Jewish leftism is slightly different in that I believe it's motivated primarily by 2 things, tradition and the fear of anti Semitism.
The great majority of America's Jewish population came here around the turn of the last century and was already leftist when they got here, many of them socialist and even communist, having turned to those philosophies as a European underclass. Anyway, those things became the Jewish American tradition to many, and have been handed down generation to generation, just as the ideals of individual freedom have been handed down among other Americans. Now that Jews are allowed to move freely in American society, I hope that the traditional American ideals will become the traditional Jewish ideals as well. 'Course America in general does seem to be abandoning her original ideals. People look at you funny if you refer to yourself as an originalist.
Regarding the fear of anti Semitism, I think that Jews hope that a powerful state, with a government based on "equality," will protect them from it. The irony IMO is that a powerful state constitutes the only real danger of anti Semitism, since only a powerful state can institutionalize it and make it law. Even worse is that a leftist state by definition identifies its subjects by groups instead of individuals.
Got it in one.
Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.
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Last time I checked, the IDF was carrying the heavy part of keeping Jews in Israel alive, and it was the IDF standing at checkpoints, as well as your average Israeli civilian, constantly at risk of being killed by a bomb-wielding loony
Looks like you are the one with a lot of daydreaming time on your hands.
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