How does it feel to be a Jew who voted for Obama?
First off, let me say that given the historical hatred for Jews in the world, I am loath to write an article critical of members of my own faith. But this needs to be said, and I'm going to say it. To all Jews reading this, take the time and fully digest the ideas being discussed here.…
Article comments
126 - Elvira Black
Oy vey, boys...can't we all just, er, get along?
Actually I wouldn't have it any other way...on this site, rather than the world at large.
Here's my 2 cents:
Bush reduced our standing domestically and internationally and anyone who denies it is blind. Some Repubs are very sore losers, as Obama has been doing one heck of a job, and accomplishing more in the short time he's been office than others have done in 4 or 8 years to work toward international peace.
It's no longer viable to just look at the interests of one or two countries, or even five or ten. We are all interconnected, both virtually and literally...the ripple in the pond indeed; the tweet heard round the world. Obama recognizes this.
There are others much more in a position to know than I who say we are, for all intents and purposes, already embroiled in WWIII...and we should all strive, in our own small or large way, to be part of the global solution.
Here in NYC, there are constant cyberattacks daily...thousands upon thousands of them. We could be completely destroyed by the Chinese both financially and cybernetically (?is that a word?). As has always been, our technology has surpassed our ability to handle it.
Now...as far as Obama goes...
I as a Jew felt a bit uneasy about his speech in Cairo, but for the most part was very pleased. He stressed that we are staunch allies with Israel; that the holocaust did in fact exist; that persecution and hatred of the Jews is wrong.
I also believe that perhaps, just perhaps, the protests that occurred after the bogus Iranian electin may have been influenced by the President's actions and words in Cairo and elsewhere.
This is an online President...it's how he won his campaign and he understands the new media's power for both good and evil. The Arab world uses this as a propaganda tool, and the Great Lie can be spread thruout cyberspace like a computer virus and, in fact, become a "viral" pseudofact.
The Bush presidency was a disgrace. Obama is taking a stand but he has to be more evenhanded and diplomatic. Nothing else makes sense.
And as Ruvy himself alluded to, it is not the citizenry but the leaders, both here and abroad, who make decisions that cost thousands, or even millions, their lives. Every life is precious. Children are innocent.
Jews come in all races and nationalities, and if I remember correctly, Jesus was a Jew... I don't agree with Ruvy's philosophy about intermarriage.
As far as Christianity, esp Catholicism: it was only recently that they were not told lies about how "we" killed Christ. Anti semitism and other forms of hatred can be overcome with education.
But America has problems of its own in that regard, as our educational system is lacking, and parents don't stress the importance of learning.
Jews have a heritage of learning, and I believe this is one of the reasons so many of them are "liberal." If you have dealings with people from all walks of life, you soon discover that they are human beings just like you.
Obama was not being a wimp, IMO, re: his reaction to events in Iran...as I said, I think this election has heightened our status internationally on an immense level.
Look, for example, at the agreements we have just signed with Russia.
Saying he isn't paying enough attention to the Iranian election is like saying he didn't pay enough attention to Michael Jackson's death. He is trying to address a multitude of issues, and I think he is doing an amazing job.
Young people around the world understand this. When traditional media were banned from reporting from Iran, it was all the youngsters with their i-photos and tweets (lol) that kept up solidarity and showed international support.
We can also look to the questionable tactics in our own "democratic" election process. How can we preach democracy and free elections until we practice what we preach?
Someone asked where Clinton was and as a matter of fact, she has been so silent that I kind of forgot she was even there.
I have tried to read all the comments but I didn't get to all of them. But there's a lot of testosterone flowing in this comment section, gentlemen. But I'm loving it all the same.
127 - Ruvy
Elvira,
Tha Obnoxious American is the one you probably want to argue with here. I was never a liberal of any kind and while I did vote Democratic in local elections in Minnesota, in New York, I was always a Republican. In fact, a fellow Republican from my days in the North Bronx has been making the news in a small way lately.
I've reined in some of the testosterone lately. I made the terrible mistake of letting it run loose on an Arab agitprop piece by another writer here on the Gaza boat stunt by the Islamic Students Movement a week or so ago.
In the meantime, Elvira, if you have time, check out my piece on Arab clans fighting it out in Jerusalem. I wrote it with the express purpose of proving that nobody reading here really gives a damn about the Arabs in Israel, except when they can stick it to a Jew. Everyone has stayed away, proving my point. The silence there is deafening.