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Politics : About that Cuban boy, Elian -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Master (Hijacked) who wrote (7562)	6/14/2000 9:52:00 AM
From: average joe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9127

People today are selectively offended at just about anything. They get their training from t.v., school and the internet. They gush and wave their pom poms about certain things and go on the attack about others. The strange thing is just like E, they don't even know why. The chosen people remark would be accepted by those who openly say they are agnostic or atheist because they are trained to accept that cookie. A "Gore Gal" would gush and shake her pom pom and say "My goodness what a stunning dissertation on your evolution!" Saying certain races are like animals is an old tactic that makes it easier for some people to behave like animals and kill a perceived enemy.

To: Master (Hijacked) who wrote (7562)	6/14/2000 1:48:00 PM
From: E	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9127

Master, you write <<<That post was intended to poke fun at most religions, including Catholics. Being politically correct doesn't always make for good humor. Tomorrow I'll post you a few good Italian jokes I just recently heard which do NOT offend me at all. >>> We don't know each other, so you aren't aware that I am very hostile to PC-thought. I am even a defender of ethnic jokes as a genre. Well, funny ones. I'll post my favorite Jewish joke later, if I have the time. I truly didn't realize your comments were intended as humor. Funniness doesn't usually escape my notice, but if it was there in your remark "The Jews have the pretension that they are 'The Chosen Ones' and all others are scum," it did this time. Your P.S. seems to contradict the claim that this was humor on your part, but I'll take your word for it, of course. I admit I have never personally known any Orthodox Jews. You didn't specify Orthodox, though. You just said that "The Jews" have the "pretension" that they are "the Chosen Ones," and that they ("the Jews")think that "all" others are "scum." This is not true of any of the Jews I have ever known, and, if said of them, would be a scurrilous and unfair characterization. As for Orthodox Jews, it's true I've never known one, but I would not be mightily surprised if, being fundamentalists, they, like other fundamentalists, they were quite insular and imbued with the self-importance that would naturally come from the conviction that you and you alone were in possession of The Truth. <<<f you don't like the tone of the post I apologize.>>> I had no objection to the tone of your post at all. It was the inaccuracy of the content (which I now understand to have been humorously intended) to which I objected. <<<But in that case you should also defend the Hare Krishnas, Muslims and Evangelists which I also referred to and not just take offence to the Jewish remark.>>> This point is legitimate, but was addressed before you made it. I said this: Well, I am choosing one thing to comment on in a post that might elicit a number of comments, but it's late, and, under the influence of my own history, I have chosen the item that most disturbed and startled me. I'm also going to post the em response I got from the friend to whom I forwarded your comment. It addresses the "pretensions" and "Chosen People" remark.

To: Master (Hijacked) who wrote (7562)	6/14/2000 2:14:00 PM
From: E	Respond to of 9127

Was it on this thread that I told the story of my very amusing psychic friend who told me I was going to buy a vacuum cleaner and said she was "good with small appliances"? Seems like it would probably have been DAR.... Well, anyway, I sent your "pretensions" comment to her, and here's the em I got back this am. It is very much in her style, which, no matter what the subject, makes me laugh. (Master, do you say of Christians, btw, that they have "pretensions" to be the only ones going to heaven? ) E____, The Jews believe that they were chosen by Hashem to receive the Torah. That's it! In fact the story is told in Hebrew school that the Jews were told by Hashem that they were to receive the Torah, with all its responsibilities. The Jews refused and said it was too much for them, they couldn't handle all the responsibility of bringing law and hygiene and brotherhood, etc., into this crazy mixed up world. Hashem answered them by saying either they (the Jews) receive the Torah or He, Hashem, would drop a mountain on their heads. Thus the Jews were chosen to receive the Torah. Speaking of Jews, would you like to join me Friday morning at a literary reading for the second grade at _____'s school? It will be 9:45 a.m. ______ has written a short history of my family's journey (escape) from Europe. Because she thought the real story was too sad... she added her own spin on it. [I'm leaving out the family history, as too personal, and too sad.--E] Also, more speaking about Jews, I am upset about all the violence this weekend. Eight Hassidic men were beaten and knifed in Coney Island. I hope this will be considered a hate crime. Prejudice goes two ways. Thanks for standing up for the Jews. Love, _______ Master, my friend's account is consistent, re the "chosen" people "pretensions," with what I had understood to be the meaning of "chosen."