Do we really need a Jewish history month? I am not the least anti semitic but this is ridiculous.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/fl20_schultz/AJHMpassage.html
We don’t even have an Amerind day let alone month. Yet it appears we will have an American Jewish history month.
I agree that Jews are part of our heritage as are many other peoples. But do they need a month?
When you think of Jews and American history what comes to you mind?
Should we or shouldn’t we have one?
No, and no black history month either.
Oy Vey.
No, we do not need a Jewish History Month. These are throw-away resolutions. And will paid as much attention as March being Woman’s History Month, Sept 15 to Oct. 15 being Hispaninc Heritage Month, October being Family History month and Italian American History Month and … oh yes, November being National American Indian Heritage Month. It goes on.
Chill dude.
Yes. Absolutely. Triple affirmative. Duh.
Overall I think social studies would benefit greatly from more mandatory teaching of origins, contributions and cultural celebrations of major American ethnic groups.
Why the hell don’t we have an Amerind Day?
I always remember a heritage week in 6th grade. We studied cultures from around the globe and had a small street fair type event right in school.
Their was Chinese, Jewish, African, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Korean, Italian and German booths run my parents and kids and then Russian, French, British, Scottish, Mexican, Native American, Egyptian and Dutch run by teachers.
It was fun and educational. I am sure it does no one any harm. I suppose these days it would now included Indian and Arabian.
As **DSeid ** said these months are largely meaniless and do no harm, so why worry about it.
Jim
You know, all in all, I’d say society would benefit from a Jewish History Month. The Jews have a long, interesting History and the accomplishments of Jews are quite extraordinary. And I do mean extraordinary. Did you know that something 25% of all Nobel Prizes have been won by Jews - an ethnic group that is like 1/2 of 1 tenth of 1 percent of the world’s poplulation.
Not for nothing, but if we are going to celebrate individual ethnic groups in this country, I’d say that we could do worse than celebrating the Jews.
I’m not Jewish.
I would disagree with you and DSeid and state emphatically that these months are far from meaningless. But they are voluntary in their participation and as such, easily ignored. Not the same thing.
Okay, poor choice of words, I see you will accept largely ignored.
That is close enough to what I meant.
Jim
How long do you think it’ll be before O’Reilly et al start agitating for a Christian heritage month?
I met a Rabbi from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati who, I believe, would be thrilled. He is involved with Jewish-Christian relations and believes that anti-Semitism is on the rise and that to combat it there needs to be more effort to increase awareness and interaction between Christians and Jews. He was of the belief that as Holocaust survivors died, that the world would turn again to its hate of Jews. While many may choose to ignore the month, I have hopes that it raises awareness of the atrocities that Jews in America fled to get here (and even the anti-Semitism they faced here), so that it never happens again.
In addition to that there’s Einstein, Mel Brooks, the US has the second largest population of Jews in the world (second to Isreal), bagels (some claim we got bagels from Jewish immigrants), and matzah!
In a way, that’s what he’s been doing–or thinks he’s been doing–for the past several weeks.
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/14/60minutes/main1127684_page3.shtml
Shall we divide this country even more than it is now?
Well, Morgan is entitled to his opinion. I disagree with him. For myself, I like black history month as a motivation to get some learning and consciousness-raising. I don’t limit myself to one month of black history any more than I limit myself to “good will towards humanity” only at Xmas. Sometimes we just need a bit of refreshment.
Jewish history month? Well, I’m Jewish. I don’t think I need it, particularly, but it can’t hurt. It is largely symbolic, and completely voluntary, but it is a good excuse to explore Jewishness here in the US. We might all find stuff we never knew!
I think it divides the country if we identify ourselves only as an ethnic group that is separate from American fundamentals. If we look hard enough, we’ll find that this is impossible to do. Our personal culture is a mixture of our special heritage, our American life and personal history, and our encounter with other cultures within the US.
It’s the last part that I find the most valuable. Of course, I happen to live in Silicon Valley, which is a wonderful worldwide bazaar.
I think a month for Jewish Heritage is unnecessary and a mistake.
When do you stop with the months of honor? There are a ton of religions, but no one worried if they are labeled “anti-Christian”, “anti-Muslim”, or “anti-whatever”. But, label someone "anti-Semitic” and it doesn’t wash off easily. So sadly, I see this passing into existence.
I am not Jewish, but I have many Jewish friends and acquaintances. To a man (and woman) they identify themselves as Jews first and Americans second, if at all. If does not surprise me that a Rabbi in Cincinnati thinks anti-Semitism is on the rise. Most Jews do. Most blacks think racism is on the rise. Maybe it is. But will a month stem the tide of anti-Semitism? Hardly. Most people don’t give much thought to these “months”, except the groups that the month honors.
If anti-Semitism **is ** on the rise, perhaps the Jewish community needs to ask itself why. I honestly don’t believe that Jews have been persecuted through the ages ***just ** * because they reject Christ. There must be other, base characteristics and behaviors that upset and irritate the population at large.
Also, one question. Is it true that there are more Jews in Israel than in the US? I thought I read somewhere that the US is first, Israel second. I will do some research later to get the actual numbers. In any case, the US has a significant population of the Jews (on the planet, not in comparison to other ethnic or religious groups in the US itself), who hold significant positions of power and wealth, who will continue to push a self-serving agenda. Personally, I could care less what you do or what you make… however when you put being Jewish in front of being American, then I do care and I have to question your motives. America first (or Canada, or Israel or where ever you hang your hat), religion second. If being Jewish is more important, go to Israel and set up shop in that country. And live a happy and prosperous life!
Morgan Freeman has it right. See me as an American first and foremost. A person. Stick your religion, your heritage, etc. in your pocket and take it home. I believe the time has come for this country to embrace its roots. If you were born here, you are American, not some hyphenated version of that.
I hope I live to see the day that a Jew or a black (or every other “group”) will think and describe themselves as Americans and not Jews or African-Americans. Please. We are all Americans. Celebrate that!
The only “group” that deserves some special recognition, IMHO are the Native Americans, who were here first and were pushed to the brink of extinction because Europeans wanted their land/resources. I may even be convinced to say that blacks, with their history of slavery in this country, perhaps deserve some recognition. But the truth is, most blacks I know are more American than I am, (in terms of family lineage on the continent), so I am 50/50 on this score. I personally don’t need a month to remember the evil of slavery.
Jews? No.
Yes, I’m sure the Jews on the board will dismiss this post as anti-Semitic. Please. I am pro-American. Without the African- Italian- Asian Pacific- Polish- Irish- Doberman- Blah Blah Blah hyphens, however.
The Blonde Bomber
“They refuse to integrate into our society!” Where have I heard that before?Oh yeah. Spain. Right before the inquisition. Now, you might not be an anti-Semite, but you are certainly carrying some of the same weak arguments.
Reread your own post and ask yourself a good question. Do you really believe you are just an American or do you think maybe you are an American with some strong prejudices?
Jim
We ALL have prejudices. I have never met anyone, including the electronic meetings on this board, that don’t have prejudices. Mine just happen to be based on my country, not on my “ethnicity” or “religion”.
If I want to go to a church or a synagogue, that’s my right. I can celebrate my religion there. If I want to go to an Italian-American club, that’s my right too, as an American belonging to a private social group. But to suggest that this country should pull certain groups out for special recognition in lieu of others smacks of special treatment. It also, as another poster pointed out, divides us further, instead of pulling us together as a nation, a people, and a culture.
And to Mr. Plaid, please. Bite me. You are comparing the Spanish Inquisition to Jewish Heritage month? Take a look at the beaches at Normandy and count the number of crosses vs. stars of David. I’d submit that this country and its people are by and large above the petty religious differences that have plagued a large portion of the world at one point or another. If not, I’d doubt a bunch of 18 year old American, British and Canadian Christians would have their asses blown to bits to save Jews in concentration camps. If this country was settled by Arabs, I’m not sure our “culture” would have cared if you were obliterated out of Europe. No one else seemed to want mass Jewish immigration to save the Jews from the Nazis.
Why can’t I be a proud American, instead of looking for a hyphen and asking for a special month? Questioning the logic doesn’t make me an anti-anything. My Jewish friends agree. Since you don’t know me personally, you may disagree. That’s fine by me. But calling or implying that someone is an anti-anything tends to make the accused defend that they are not, instead of looking at the real issues.
Do Canadians, British, etc. have Italian-Canadian heritage month? If not, how in the world do they get along?
Talk to any Australian and s/he is proud to be from Australia. I’ve never heard one of them describe themselves as Italian-Australians, even though Australia has been populated via immigration (excluding the native population).
If as a Jew, you want to celebrate your heritage, by all means do so. That doesn’t mean that I have to like it when you jam it down my throat.
Why is it alright for the rest of the world to be proud of their country, but as an American, I have to explain myself?
And how does Jewish American Month pass the smell test of separation of church and state?
This statement implies that Jews have acted in ways that led to their being killed in pogroms and the holocaust.
It could be read that you think they deserved it.
Re-read and consider a retraction.
Jim
Assuming you are blond and attractive, I would be more then pleased to bite you.
However, you don’t seem to understand what I am saying. However, I am not “comparing the Spanish Inquisition to Jewish Heritage month.”
No., I am comparing
and
too inane to reply to.
Now, let me remind you why it is important to have a “Hyphenated-Americans week”, and not a W.A.S.P. week. Every day is W.A.S.P. cultural heritage day. Do you deny this?
Part of that may well be that everyone in the group they are addressing is an American, but not everyone is a Jew. They’re carbon-based life forms, too, but so is everyone in that group, so why bring it up? It’s just not a useful distinction to make in that context.
And talk to an American outside of America, in a group that contains non-Americans and you might get the same kind of response. Australians probably do differentiate among ethnicities in their interactions with other Australians. They certainly have ethnic neighborhoods in their cities, such as Sydney’s Chinatown.
Such as what?
Many devout Christians, if it came down to it, would prioritize their faith above their country. Such as the Christian martyrs who refused to recant their faith in the face of Roman persecution. Would you really be willing to give up your religion, whatever that may be, if the country you live in said your religion was no longer OK? Many, many religious people of many faiths throughout the centuries have answered “no” to that question.
And part of what being an American means to me is that not everyone has to be the same. All kinds of people have contributed in their own unique ways to make America what it is, and we should celebrate those contributions.
