I think you’ve accurately described the historical conditioning. The elephant image is quite apt.
And yet...here are Jews in the one place where they and others, and others allegedly far less gifted in terms of depth of culture and regard for artistic and creative and entrepreneurial talent and the potential for all that stuff could finally be planted into fertile ground and at least have a good chance for germination, growth, and ultimate success. Yet there is still little or no appreciation for the absolutely unique-in-human-history circumstance of America.
I consider it a shortcoming of tragic proportions that the uniqueness of America is ignored or dissed. Not just by Jews, but especially by Jews. If Jews are so damn smart, how come they don’t get this? The obvious answer, as you’ve laid out, is that they believe the mishmosh of the chanted lore more than they believe their own eyes and senses. Here, where Jews arguably have more religious freedom than in any other place that comes to mind, including Israel, to practice their faith to any degree they may choose; Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, somehow the lesson, the opportunity, the freedom isn’t appreciated. It’s dumb, to put it in crass terms.
Do you have any idea how many Jews there are on FreeRepublic and how many of .conservative’s best spokespeople are jewish. Therefore, I am I am a bit bent out of shape by your stereotype.