The Jewish nation. Time to stop taking offence?
Time to stop identifying with the past!
Fear of being called antisemitic or transphobic has shut many people up.
We can make jokes about the gay mafia in creative industries and the establishment can support Black Power, because Black people are nowhere near power. But jokes about the Jewish mafia and support for Jew Power? No, Jewish people are too close to power.
We can't admit that we find the customs of dress and behaviour of the Chosen People, deliberately designed to make orthodox Jews stand out from the rest of us plebs, plus the stigma of 'marrying out', diluting the purity, a bit insulting. That carrying around a massive chip on one's shoulders when almost no one alive had anything to do with what happened to one's ancestors is a drain on everyone. That 'lest we forget' is not helping. That letting go might actually be better than constant holding on. Let’s all stop carrying around this oppression/guilt baggage.
The Tory government’s use of antisemitism as a weapon against peaceful protests for peace shows the power and scope of the Tribe. It swung into action immediately after Oct 7th. But the Holocaust industry really overplayed its hand with the recent Israeli UN rep’s pantomine of wearing yellow stars.
The high profile UK journalists, who make it known that they are Jewish (does any other non visible group or religion feel compelled to do this?) are complaining that the Israeli victims are being forgotten by calls for a ceasefire, that only Jewish people are remembering them, show that a) they think that indiscriminate bombing without trying to understand, negotiate nor have a trial is a fair reaction (great religion folks) and b) Palestinian women and children's deaths already out number Israeli by 10 to 1; so Jewish lives must be at least 10 times more important than non-Jewish ones.
An offence to one Jewish person is said to be an insult and a danger to all Jews. The Tribe is determined to be distinct from the rest of us and not regard all people as just people.
I think the trans agenda and banning of hate speech was the warm up for this. It should not be illegal to say things that might offend people. Saying a man is not a woman might offend a transexual. So what? It is impossible to give offence; only to take it.
Saying you one supports Palestinians in their struggle against oppressors apparently makes one antisemitic and offensive to Jews in the same way standing up for women and women only spaces makes one a transphobic TERF, offensive to transexuals.
Only it doesn't. And we have every right to stand up for anyone and everyone and say whatever allegedly offensive things we like.
The obsession with identities is also to blame. Encouraging identification as this, that or the other, man, woman, cat, dog, teapot- all identities are divisive, restrictive and unhelpful psychological constructs. We are all human beings for god’s sake, different in form but part of one consciousness.
We respect people but we don't have to respect their ‘identities’ nor their beliefs. Like Dawkins says of the Icelandic culture and tradition of murdering whales; they need to get a better culture.
When one believes that one is chosen by God and belongs to a very powerful, influential but victimised tribe that can dispossess, humiliate and kill with impunity those not in the tribe; it's time to get a better belief.
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Your subtitle: "Time to stop identifying with the past." . . . I would say with an exclamation mark.
You are also totally right to stress the tribal nature of . . . well, not all Jews, the Hasidic Orthodox. Jews.
Most people are not aware that there are three branches of Judaism. The Hasidic Orthodox Jews, are the most religious and with the most rules to live by and preserve the ancient traditions. Plus, they are the most tribal branch of Judaism, and let you know that by how they dress.
Then there is the Conservative branch, with several selected traditions getting bar mitvahed and some other practices plus adding in holidays.
The least religious is the Reform branch, which, I really can't say is more than just holidays, few get bar mitzvahed and may seldom celebrate holidays.
Zionism is not the religion. Zionism was first formed around the 1840s and sanctioned by one of the Rothchilds who funded it. Many Jews are against it.
What is extremely interesting, is that a selected number of Jews who spent a number of years in Asian countries studying Buddhism during the 1960s' when they came home, started the original Buddhist meditation centers in North America. Two, you might have heard of: Jack Kornfield who started Spirit Rock in Woodacre, California; and Joseph Goldlstein who opened the Insight Meditation Center in Barre, Massachusetts. There are others
What this represents of that these Jews--all educated with degrees, who lived abroad, discovered that Judaism, stops. Meaning, it doesn't allow its believers to evolve in the world.
You might also know, that Buddhism, is the least of the "isms". It embraces the NOW, and stresses having compassion for all living beings. Internalizing the meaning behind suffering is a constant reminder that all of us can't stay.
Well, My Dear Georgie&Donny, what I am trying to point out--I hope I am not getting myself into trouble--is that not all Jews are the same; and one other thing:
The Jews and the Arabs have a 4000 year history. There are times when they got along well, and other times when they fought brutal wars. There were times where Jews and Arabs lived together side by side, until the international politics from the Ottoman Empire took over and the rest is history..
I am morning the people of Gaza, with the 4,000 or more children. This is genocide. It is very evident, the Jewish people, or the people of Israel, have forgotten their pledge: "Never Again". Never again should be all genocide, not just for them.
I don't live in the states, but am well aware of Israel's hold on the US government. What seems very clear to me, is that the people who are in power: in Israel, US, UN, Congress, and elsewhere, don't have a conscience. They are very lost souls and have blocked off any feeling of the devastating suffering they are causing. At this stage, it is very unlikely, they will ever be human and a seize fire will not happen, nor a two state solution. The Zionist-Israeli government wants Gaza for oil. Many people are saying this is a false flag. I don't know, but one thing I do know is, we will all grieve their evil..
Bless
Well done!
Why are Americans in America being faulted for caring about the health and safety of the Palestinians? I feel more like a human being when I do so. This is NOT wrong.