By Ted Belman
On Shavuot I tried to have a political discussion at the dinner table with a couple of people I had just met. Sammy cut me off and said he can’t stand political discussion. He was adamant that I not continue. It seems that Sammy, an orthodoc Jew, was an expert on energy transmission and worked in Wash DC before making aliyah. But when it came to his field he lectured us on liberal policies on energy and the environment. He was convined of his moral superiority. He only wanted to hear himself talk. He had no interest in an exchange of views. He believed in taxing energy so we would use less of it. I fecitiously suggested we should lower our standard of living in order to use even less and he agreed.
Later on in the one sided discussion I said Obama was anti-American. He blew up and wouldn’t hear of it. I said that rather than reject my proposition he should ask me to make my case. But no, he didn’t want to talk about it. That non conversation ruined the dinner if not Shavuot.
Later the next day I got into a conversation with another orthodox person who taught at TAU. When I mentioned that Obama was anti-American she didn’t want to discuss it and said I should show more respect to the President of the USA. She wanted to discuss his policies. I tried to make the case that his motivation was an important part of the discussion and she wouldn’t let me do so because I was characterizing him.
So I shifted to what I thought was safer grounds, Islam. I said that Islam was imperialistic and fascist. That ended the discussion but not before she offered a vigorous defense of the good things in Islam and in Muslims. I was not allowed to rebut. She said, how would I feel if people called me “fascist”. I said that I would have no problem with it so long as I could defend myself. End of discussion.
What they both had in common was the need to protect their sacred cows even if it involved the limitation of free speech.
Later I got to thinking about what was and was not anti-American. When the Left, not only Obama, considers the US imperialistic and militaristic and to blame for much of the ills of the world, I would consider them anti-American. When they refuse to show patriotism by putting their hand on their heart during singing of the national anthem or wearing a flag pin, I would consider them anti-American. When they consider so little value in their country that they have to apologize for American actions, I would consider that anti-American.
I know a young person who loves Obama. He earned a Masters from Harvard and is now finishing a PhD. He loved Obama because Obama was going to make things right in the US. He was highly critical of the US for having so many uninsured people, for having so many people in prison, for a lack of social mobility (he believed that studies had shown that the poor can rarely escape their poverty), for the pollution it creates and on and on. Does that make him anti-American. If it did, all Democrats would be anti-American.
When does a person cross over the line from wanting change to being anti-American? The flip side of this is, when does a person who espouses conservative principles become a heartless bitch.
The left and Hitler have much in common:
“.. Do you now appreciate the depth of our National Socialist Movement? Can there be anything greater and more all comprehending? Those who see in National Socialism nothing more than a political movement know scarcely anything of it. It is more even than religion; it is the will to create mankind anew.”
More From Adolf:
Hitler said:
Hitler said:
Hitler said:
More Hitler Quotes:
A group should have pride in themselves only when the facts merit having that pride.
Exceptionalism must be predicated upon accomplishment.
There is nothing exceptional about the Palestinians, unless you count the exceptional depravity of using retarded children as human bombs.
American exceptionalism is based upon considerable positive achievements, not the least of which are saving the world from fascism and communism over the course of just five decades.
The world would be an infinitely worse place if not for America.
The same cannot be said of any other nation.
Ergo, American exceptionalism.
the eternal “call to Sinai” against which humanity again and again rebels.”
– Herman Rauschning, The Beast From the Abyss, pp. 155-56
The Left is the vanguard leading the rebellion against Sinai, G-d (ethical values, found in the Torah).
This is the real conflict between left and right in America and in Israel.
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“The entire purpose of our existence is to overcome our negative habits.” – Vilna Gaon, Commentary to Mishlei 4:13
Compare this basic Jewish ethic with leftist Jibberish? or The Jewish heretical (reform) universal (platonic, not Jewish) concept of Tikkun Olam, correcting the world. Jews purpose to be a light unto the nations is based on personal example and the torah is the guide for every Jew in seeking human perfection thus emulating or becoming like G-d.
The Christians corrupted this concept by adopting the Pagan original sin belief which allowed them to invent the concept of a universal and personal savior. Judaism as opposed to all other creeds and beliefs. Judaism elevates choice and personal responsibility above all else.
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I maintain that the Left today is but an extension of Nazism in basic beliefs and ultimate goals, Compare what Hitler said and believed and the current emanations of the left in word and deed:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3891781,00.html
Never name your child “Dudi”, because regardless of the spelling the relentless teasing by other kids will drive your little one insane.
Reporter Dudi Cohen reports that Mashaei threatens to reprise the Holocaust, then refers to him as being a “statesman”.
Words are supposed to have meaning.
Either Dudi thinks it is statesmanlike to murder Jews, or Dudi is one sloppy journalist.
It is reminiscent of cops who arrest a child molester and then refer to the suspect as “the gentleman”.
Again – words are supposed to have meaning.
If Israel News really believes what Dudi wrote, how about this for an accompanying headline: “Statesman Threatens To Annihilate Jewish Children”.
You expect such idiocy from Al Jazeera, but c’mon Hebrews…do better.
Sometimes, I wish all reports from the Middle East were written by yamit, whose stirring command of the English language can be imitated (but never duplicated):
The man is a literary maestro.
Our resident scholar (Uncle Yum Yum) may have a few (hundred thousand) words to say about this interpretation of the Torah.
Exceptionalism is not to be used as justification to imposing your views on other countries. Nor is it to be used to pardon all your sins. But one should never allow one’s sins to define oneself. Judaism believes man is good, though he sins, and must keep returning to his goodness. It never gives up that notion. Catholicism believes man was born in sin and should repent, ie return v repent. I hope I got that right. When a child does something bad, we are not to tell him he is bad but only that his actions are bad.
I agree with you saying that Democrats/liberals see a bigger federal role than do Republicans/Conservatives. You give some examples why it is important. It becomes a matter of states rights. The Constitution leaves all matters not sprecifically deliniated to the federal government, to the individual state. Canada’s Confederation is somewhat the same. Many issues are better solved by local government. One solution doesn’t fit all. Every community ie a state, should be able to decide for itself.
One of the problems is that in both Canada and the US, the federal government has most of the taxing powers. At least that is how it has involved. Income tax is a reletively new tax. Thus the federal government usually distributes some money to the states or provinces so that they can take care of their responsibilities.
Obviously the more we reduce the role of the federal government the more we have to return to the states the taxing ability.
But it is more complicated than that. When America and Canada got their constitution, the states and provinces were really independent entities. That no longer is the case. Social security is here to stay. It is hard to imagine that devolving to the states. I am sure there are many other examples where a unified system is better.
Canada’s constitution was originally an act of the British Parliament called the British North American Act. When Canda repatriated the constitution in the seventies, ie made it a Canadian Act that could be amended only in Canada, it was necessary for Canada to negotiate with the provincial governments how the constitution could be amended. This was a huge battle. ie did an amendment need all provinces to agree, a super majority or just a majority. Quebec insisted on a veto and got it. It was called the “notwithstanding clause”. To get this accomplished Canada had to convene a couple of Constitutional Conferences.
Perhaps the US should do the same rather than simply have the feds dictate change.
the edit function needs a bit more work! The left in most countries is about transformation, and anti-nationalistic.
Yes, that is the definition of a conservative. However, when one uses Conservative in political terms in America, there is also a core principle about the role of the state, especially the role of the federal government. The political Conservative reads the Constitution, and sees no role for the federal government in health insurance, pensions, education. Amendment X of the Constitution: “The powers not delegated tothe United States by the Constituion, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people.”
The Democratic Party still has a fair number of conservatives, but, in general, Democrats see a more expansive role for the Federal Government. The Republican Party was originally the “liberal” party, with the Radical Abolitionists pushing to repeal slavery. FDR’s Democratic Party was the break from the Constitution, which took a giant leap in federalizing issues.
We are still fighting the same fight that started with Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.
It can get confusing, because Conservative and Liberal can mean diferent things in other countries.
As to American exceptionalism? When used to impose an imperial vision on others, it goes too far. When used to revise American history to hide the aggressive wars against the native Americans (all those broken treaties, Andrew Jackson’s expulsion of the Cherokee from their farms), and the blatant aggressive war on Mexico, or to justify all the Christian missionary expeditions, it is bad history. If the exceptionalists want to teach slavery as an economic institution, that is closer to historical fact. But, to say it was a civilizing force is arrogance.
From the left, the overwhelming pressure to delete ‘white male history’ goes too far in the other direction.
I am not uncomfortable with “exceptionalism”. I think it a good when a group have pride in themselves and think of themselves as exceptional because of their values. Chauvanism is good, not bad, except when it leads to discrimination. But I have to qualify this exception.
Judaism is all about descrimination. Its all about choosing, i.e. good from bad, night from day, kosher from non-kosher, the holy from the unholy, the Sabbath from the week, etc. That is the the essence of all legal systems. They must make a choice. Is the conduct complained of good or bad.
Sophisticates descriminate. That is the essence of their sophistication. They choose their wine, clothes, music etc with descrinmination. That is thought of as a good thing.
Yamit is right when he talks about tolerance and intorlerance. If everything is tolerated because nothing is better than anything else we lose our essence, our exceptionalism.
So when Palin defends American exceptionalism, she is saying America is the best and we should preserve it. But she doesn’t equate that with perfection.
Conservatives want to preserve what is good in America and make it better.
Democrats consist of liberals and leftists. I think that liberals want change to take place in America. They see less good and want to change more.
Leftists want transformational change. They want to change America into a different country. They are thus revolutionaries.
To my mind, only the leftists should be called anti-American.
I read the news and realize the world’s gotten too crazy for me. If it ever slows down enough, I’m jumping off.
Thank you Yamit (and Ted), but I meant I do not belong in any community in the real world.
The internet is one way I kill time, waiting for the end.
And since that truth is too disturbing, let’s categorically reject it and then reverse engineer the entire argument to disprove all other facts that may bother us.
It is similar to the following popular syllogism:
Middle East peace is essential.
There cannot be Middle East unless the Palestinians want it.
Therefore, the Palestinians want Middle East peace.
Facts be damned.
More proof democrats are indeed anti-American.
Dems Stand and Cheer as Calderone Bashes Arizona Law:
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/05/20/calderone-bashes-arizona/
No matter how often muslims prove to us in words and deeds that theirs is not a religion of peace, liberals refuse to believe it.
My view is that this young jerk is anti-American since all of these are flat out lies.
People are uninsured because they choose to be. They don’t regard health insurance as a priority, mostly young people. So many people are in prison because they have committed crimes. Obviously this individual believes they were just thrown in prison for no good reason. America has the highest level of social mobility of any nation. America doesn’t create any more pollution than any other nation and I would say actually less so with all of the environmental regulations.
Well actually most democrats are anti-American
The Fat Lady Has Sung
Not exactly sure, but wherever she is let’s hope the furniture is sturdy and the floors are reinforced.
Yes, I can see possibilities, Imagine!
Sure you do Bird, you belong with us at Israpundit, not much but it’s something.
I AM impressed you remember the words to “The Star, Spangled Banner”: “With a range of one and a half octaves, it is known for being difficult to sing.”
No No, I didn’t say I sang the words, I have a singing voice like Arnold Stang. I just said I remember them.
Actually it was Mrs Woodrow Wilson who pushed old Woody to make our current anthem THE NATIONAL ONE. “G-d Bless America” is easier to sing but
so so schmaltzy. Where is Kate Smith?
Naw, they have such a short life span by the time a pervert gets it up, the little beggars are dead. Unless the pervert is into flea necrophilia? Why not? I’m all for tolerance.
yamit: it is too late for me. I do not belong anywhere. just killing time.
I AM impressed you remember the words to “The Star, Spangled Banner”: “With a range of one and a half octaves, it is known for being difficult to sing.”
If America was not so anti-semitic, we could have switched to Irving Berlin’s “G-d Bless America”, which is what most Americans think IS the national anthem. Much more fun to sing.
Let’s face it, yamit.
What’s lacking in your life is a bald female contortionist who is impaled with barbed wire.
It’s not me! must be those cyber gremlins TB and DJ 🙂 or this guy
Lemme toss another argument into the hopper.
Fleas.
Because dammit – I like my Teamsters to be manly!
You can if the grooms are Siamese twins.
For the sake of Ted’s Alexa ranking, I urge you to think things through before you hit “Post Comment”.
Thank you.
The opposite of intolerance is Tolerance. Once you enter the slippery slope of tolerance your whole social fabric disintegrates. Very Hobesian,
Tolerance starts with accepting other religions and not ostracizing homosexuals. The sphere of tolerance is continuously expanded. If we tolerate all religions, why not tolerate Islam? If we tolerate homosexuality, why not accept gay unions? Soon countries are flooded with Muslim immigrants and the cornerstone institution of family is undermined by same-sex marriages. Judges will find no reason to prohibit polygamy, and the only argument I’ve heard against bestiality is animal rights; shouldn’t rape a sheep, you see. Faced with obvious immorality, leftists either have to admit their policy of tolerance to be wrong, or embrace the deviations as beneficial. They will surely prefer the latter option.
Another comment wafting into the ether.
I am warning you, Ted.
The next time one of my posts disappears it’s curtains for yamit.
That depends upon how many legs you have, Buddy.
For some reason, many public schools stopped teaching civics since the 1970?s. Maybe Americans under 50 no longer understand what America stands for, at home, or abroad.
Bird I don’t know what they are teaching these days but even living here for so many years I still remember the words to the American anthem.
America is what the majority of Americans make it. Americans under 50 are that majority who decides what America is and will be. I wouldn’t fight to the death for their vision of America, It isn’t my vision either. The definition of a conservative is one of conservation of those time honored and traditional values that you wax nostalgia for.
I think it’s time for you to rethink. You can’t dance at two weddings at the same time.
Ted, one of the things that really troubled me while watching the medals ceremonies during the Vancouver Olympics was the almost universal avoidance of American gold-medal winners to the singing of our admittedly difficult-to-remember-the-words national anthem. They did remove their hats and put their hand on their chest, but could not sing. By the end of the Olympics, I was singing Oh Canada! because I so admired the patriotic enthusiasm of the Canadian medalists.
It is extremely difficult to define ‘anti-Americanism’. For some reason, many public schools stopped teaching civics since the 1970’s. Maybe Americans under 50 no longer understand what America stands for, at home, or abroad. I am uncomfortable with American exceptionalism, which the right would defend to the death.
The intolerance of other opinions is too common on both the left, and the right. Certain words certainly trigger defensive reactions.
Liberals continue to insist that the Arizona immigration enforcement law is Naziesque.
That analogy places illegal immigrants in the role of Holocaust-era German Jews.
So here is the question:
Isn’t breaking into a place where you will be treated like a Holocaust-era German Jew just about the dumbest thing anyone could do?
I have never heard a conservative denigrate the intelligence of illegal aliens the way liberals routinely do.
And liberal advocacy of race-based college admissions programs indicates they don’t respect the intellects of blacks, either.
The price of receiving liberal political support seems to be pretty steep, seeing as how that support is accompanied by suffocating amounts of contempt.
Heh Heh Heh….Heh
Sho’ nuff’.
Just like Hollywood.
Only the shitty material survives.
See.
It is just like Hollywood.
Only the shitty stuff ever sees the light of day.
Now..take four:
Okay.
Never.
Almost.
The system keeps deleting my joyously entertaining responses.
Let’s see if it lets this boring one go through.
All right.
Never.
Almost.
Take two:
All right.
Never.
Almost.
All right.
Never.
Almost.
Occasionally? Not rarely?
Occasionally.
Ayn are you serious? After reading “this is the recipe for little gator’s famous “Deep Shit Cookies” I a had a bad moment.
Believe it or not I still make SOS, in fact I had some last week after we had some ground beef left from making meatballs. I am the only who will indulge. Once in a while I will treat others by using dried beef for “creamed dried beef on toast”.
However from that experience no matter how bad food may look I will give it a try.
Yet who needs common sense when you have cherished myths and and convoluted logic and outright lies?
I also love creamed beef on toast.
Tonight, that will be the entree.
And for dessert, the natural companion to Shit on the Shingles is…Deep Shit Cookies:
Naturally, the beverage of choice will be chilled Kaopectate.
Ted, unfortunately liberals are not open minded. It’s like they are stuck in 2nd gear and are not interested in trying the others, especially reverse. They refuse to employ common sense.
The other side needs to be heard and although there may be opposites sometimes a compromise of opinions and ideas can be beneficial.
Reminds me as a youngster I would only eat certain foods that looked appealing. I was a afraid to try something different. When I was in the military the first time I laid eyes on SOS (doesn’t stand for creamed beef on toast) it looked gross and decided it should be avoided. However, while serving TDY in Thule Greenland they were short on eggs and I was left with one choice, SOS so being a hungry young man I decide to take the plunge.
I went back for seconds and third. The lesson I learned is although it may not appear appetizing you don’t really know unless you try it.
May not be a great analogy but it taught me to look at things with an open mind.