# America's greatest taboo **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 21, 2002, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975 "2002-09-21T10:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/21 "2002-09-21T16:58:35Z")
Your concern is touching, **Henry B**. I’m so glad you could take the time to give a rat’s ass about the ancient history of two foreign countries. And I’m sure it’s entirely coincidental that the bad country is populated by Jews, right. Go away, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Havel.2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Havel.2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Havel.2002)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/22 "2002-09-21T18:24:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*Your concern is touching, **Henry B**. I’m so glad you could take the time to give a rat’s ass about the ancient history of two foreign countries. \*\* i wouldn’t call this ancient history ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/23 "2002-09-21T18:24:54Z")
that’s the word btw, generally pro-Israel here _S_ ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/24 "2002-09-21T18:36:18Z")
Henry, I was pointing out that referencing a popular work of fiction is not a cite for the purposes of GD. Even _I_ know that. ---
**Author:** ![Havel.2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Havel.2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Havel.2002)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/25 "2002-09-21T18:37:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Henry, I was pointing out that referencing a popular work of fiction is not a cite for the purposes of GD. Even _I_ know that. \*\* ehh I don’t think this is fiction ---
**Author:** ![Henry\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Henry\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henry_B)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/26 "2002-09-21T18:38:56Z")
It does not have so much to do with that it is Jews, but it have a lot to do with it that it is Israel. USA has been aiding Israel and then Israel is attacking it, is this not true? I would understand if some Idi Amin would have done that, but I do not understand that highly civilized people are acting like that toward their biggest supporter. Or anyone else that is not threatning them in any way. On international waters. In one sense it has to do with the fact that is Jews. Jews are the most “learned” people on this earth. And without exeption, giving very much to the country they live in. Even when they are living in countries that are more or less against Jews. E.g. Russia, Poland (before WWII there was many) etc. That is why I think that You could believe that they have high social and moral standards. And they have. Look at the Jews in Europe. They are usually people that can truly say: “Noblesse oblige’”. But back to Israel. It is not the citizens that makes this and that in the war that goes on there in the neighbouring areas. It is the government. There are Jews that goes to prison, rather than out as solidiers to the occupied areas. There are very many Jews in Israel that are against the occupation. They are heros in my eyes. People reacts, that is human, but a state have to stand for they policy. In my eyes the policy of the Israelian government is on the level of Idi Amin and other historical figures that has had “the tribe goes first”- and “we need more space”-thinking. Jews are much better than that. Just read history and take the 1.000 graetest persons in history and You will see that there is many more Jews than there mathematically should be. It is amazing that a people so scattered on this globe can make so much, so many positive deeds. The Jews can be proud of their history and their achivements. Israel can not be very proud of it’s governments and deeds. How about those that says: “Go away”, when something unpleasent is brought up? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/27 "2002-09-21T18:48:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Havel.2002 \* > \*\* > > ehh > I don’t think this is fiction \*\* I’m talking about Tom Clancy! ---
**Author:** ![Havel.2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Havel.2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Havel.2002)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/28 "2002-09-21T18:50:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\* > > I’m talking about Tom Clancy! \*\* I still say that itwasn’t fiction ---
**Author:** ![Henry\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Henry\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henry_B)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/29 "2002-09-21T18:54:43Z")
**Michael Ellis** wrote: > [@](#): > > "Henry, I was pointing out that referencing a popular work of fiction is not a cite for the purposes of GD. Even I know that. It is obvious that You did not read the tread. Is it fiction if the sailors that actually were on the ship is collecting all facts about the event? It has on its first page: > [@](#): > > Our commanding officer, Captain William Loren McGonagle, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepedity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty during the attack. > The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award our country can bestow. > To avoid embarrassing our attackers, Captain McGonagle’s Medal of Honor was presented in a quiet ceremony **in the Washington Navy Yard** instead of in the White House by the President as is customary. Bolding mine. This that the president gives a medal of this “size” in quiet, sounds like very hush-hush to me and a strike in the face for the capitain. It would be interesting to hear how You see this piece of “ancient history”? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/30 "2002-09-21T18:59:28Z")
I’ve read your other threads. The only thing you ever talk about is “Jews”. Not Jews–the people who exist, but “Jews”, an imaginary race of gnomes conspiring against the world. I ask again—why do these people create such fear in you? BTW–what exactly is the basis of your grudge? Ethnicity? Your own religious objections? Feeling threatened economically? An antique Central European political ideology, dating from the 1930s? Or, are you just looking for somebody to blame for all your personal failures? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/31 "2002-09-21T19:02:45Z")
I’m sorry, but the Tom Clancy thing was _not_ fact. It was supposed to be the thoughts of a fictional character. I’m not saying the attack on the _Liberty_ was. There is a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/32 "2002-09-21T19:04:43Z")
And Havel, you’re not listening. Whether or not you didn’t claim that Clancy thing to be fact, it’s still not GD material. ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/33 "2002-09-21T19:18:56Z")
I learned about the Liberty, Pueblo and Mayaguez incidents in a international relations class when I attended a prominent American University. Of these incidents, none were given extensive treatment, but the Liberty got twice as much class time as the other two put together, maybe a whole 10 minutes. In the big scheme of things it just wasn’t that big of a deal. And by that I mean no offense to the families of the men killed, but rather that other than being one incident, it is not indicative of a larger pattern or policy of any country. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/34 "2002-09-21T19:59:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Henry B \* > It would be interesting to hear how You see this piece of “ancient history”? It was 1967, Henry. A very long time ago. The incident has absolutely NOTHING to do with any issue today. Unless, of course, your “issue” is “things I can blame on the Jews.” ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/35 "2002-09-21T22:57:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Henry B \* > **December taught me an Jewish word, in another thread, about a guy that killed his parents and then asked for forgivness in front of the court, because he was an orphan!** 1. The name of the language is not “Jewish”. 2. That was just an example. Someone who did that would be displaying _chutzpah_. OK, so a rabbi walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I don’t see too many rabbis around this place.” The rabbi replies, “At these prices, I’m not surprised!” How long until you bring that up in another thread as an example of how Jews are stingy and love to get drunk? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/36 "2002-09-22T00:51:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I am Sparticus \* > \*\* In the big scheme of things it just wasn’t that big of a deal. And by that I mean no offense to the families of the men killed, but rather that other than being one incident, it is not indicative of a larger pattern or policy of any country. \*\* I agree. The Brits burned the White House during the War of 1812, but they are our closest ally. Israel attacked a US ship 30 years ago, either by mistake or by design, the relationship has moved on, I suggest you ought to also. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/37 "2002-09-22T00:53:07Z")
Err, I didn’t mean for that to sound like **Sparticus** needs to move on, my comment was directed to **Havel** & **Henry** ---
**Author:** ![Henry\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Henry\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henry_B)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/38 "2002-09-22T04:55:22Z")
**Mr2001** wrote: > [@](#): > > How long until you bring that up in another thread as an example of how Jews are stingy and love to get drunk? It takes an eternity before I begin to write something racistic. And beside, there has never been a racist in the world that has been right. The core of the racism is, that You have a certain, what ever tribe, language, country or “race” where everyone is acting in the same way. E.g. I used to be a heavy drinker, before some professional help, and internationally speaking, people in Finland (my country) uses very much alcohol per capita. This does not mean that every Finn does drink though. There is another point also against prejudice and discrimination. It is called upbringing. Btw., please do not accuse me for deeds I have not done. It is sort of prejudice. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/39 "2002-09-22T07:53:05Z")
And here I thought America’s greatest taboo was talking about really really gross things during lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975/40 "2002-09-22T13:37:08Z")
I’d say America’s greatest taboo would either be incest or sex with kids…probably sex with kids. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-greatest-taboo/128975.md?page=3)