Dennis
3/20/2013 1:14:00 PM
Shelly wrote:
> On 3/19/2013 2:02 PM, Photography by James wrote:
>> Come to ultra-liberal Eugene Oregon and see for yourself. Almost all
>> of the smaller markets, and I've traveled and worked in 19 states,
>> are filled with quiet and not-so-quiet bigots.
>>
>> The university of Oregon here is a prime example of an institution
>> with a history of anti-Semitic teachers, students, and groups like
>> the Pacifica Foundation and Al-Nakba Awareness. Even the local
>> reconstructionist synagogue keeps a relatively low profile lest they
>> encourage the local (so-called) white supremacists.
>>
>> Disagree if you will (it promotes dialogue at least)...it's out there
>> and it is dangerous philosophically, physically, and literally. I see
>> it all the time. But then again, I am not wealthy or even middle
>> class and thus shielded from what goes on in the streets, amongst the
>> poor, and in stressed economically depressed areas.
>>
>> You kill what you fear and
>> You fear what you do not understand
>
> No doubt there is anti-Semitism in the US. There is such everywhere.
> There is also anti-black, anti-gay, anti-Irish, anti-whatever
> everywhere.
>
> You, however, said (and I quote) "Once you leave NYC or LA, I have
> found the anti-Semitism is not only rampant, but in some places
> institutionalized.".
>
> I objected to that statement as being incorrect. I have lived 37
> years in the Boston area, 5 years in Philadelphia area, 30 years of
> summers in Maine, 10 years in Florida, and I have not encountered
> either "rampant" not even miniscule, anti-Semitism -- and certainly
> not institutionalized. I have also been to many other states (but not
> Oregon), and the same story holds.
I think that James is describing our rabidly pro-Palestinian ultra-
liberals.
I certainly never saw it growing up in Topeka, Kansas. There a lot of
the Jews were part of the psychiatric staff at the Menninger's Clinic; I
knew a lot of their children when I was growing up. I don't recall any
prejudice.
I myself saw a Canadian-born Jewish psychiatrist in psychotherapy when I
was young, and he was a very bad therapist. Being young and naive in
additon to needing help, and being overawed by the enormous prestige of
the Menninger's Clinic in Kansas and indeed the USA and elsewhere, I did
not understand.
As an adult, I came to realize that I was getting very poor therapy. I
have investigated this fellow and found out plenty about his serious
problems at that time.
However, I had an AlAnon sponsor suggest that part of the problem was the
Jewish emphasis on guilt.
As an adult, I had a respected friend, who shared my interest in Judaism
and the Jews, who nevertheless said, "They invented guilt!"
At some time, I'll try to start a thread on that. It doesn't seem
consistent with the positive attitude and emphasis on 'choose life',
'L'chaim!' of Judaism,
However, I have a childhood buddy who lived near Miami for a long time.
He said, "I can see why you wouldn't like them! They're loud,
obnoxious,and argue over prices at checkouts."
Late in life, I found my own father, who I have always thought very
highly of, was pretty anti-Semitic. He had some bad experiences while he
was a 1st lieutenant in the Army during WWII; I never got the details.
He said some things that I find quite appalling, which I wouldn't repeat
here!
My sister and I both observed that our parents raised us with hardly any
prejudices. Thus, toward the end of her life, she had a pretty serious
boyfriend who was black - and my parents were both quite upset!!! I was
surprised - as I was by my dad's anti-Semitism.
All that aside, I haven't encountered all that much anti-Jewish sentiment
myself. I myself am a sympathizer, of course, otherwise I wouldn't be
here.
Dennis