Once, a very long time ago, I was in a negotiation, a casual one, in my capacity as Union rep for a group of social workers. Easily the hardest job I never got paid for. The guy represented some kind of minority coalition, which was thinly disguised as a sort of noisy coalition for African Americans. At some point I asked about that; How many Chinese, women of any color, homosexuals and Jews did he represent. He made up an answer (I knew the answer) and when it came to Jews he said there weren’t any. I told him I was one; he said yeah, but I could pass. I lost my shit at that moment, security came in, because we were loud and in a visiting room and that’s their job. Other shit happened but that’s not the point.
I think it’s a sort of prevalent idea about the holocaust; why didn’t people, especially ones who look like me, just say they weren’t Jewish, or, at bare minimum, cool it on the prayers and shit. It’s not that hard of an answer. America has been in two wars, pushing three, in the last decade, with a volunteer army. Most of those will tell you they will die for their country. That’s not what that means, it means dying for the ideals of the country as they know. The direct threat to America is tenuous. Is it really that hard to believe that civilian Jews had the same stoic nationalism regarding their religion?
America was based on that ideal, freedom of religion. It’s gotten a little fuzzy of late, but it’s there. Separation of church and state was designed to allow any worship without regulation or threat. That doesn’t mean you have to come to America or that the citizens won’t flick you shit, just that you have constitutional recourse. It wouldn’t be necessary if, primarily Europeans, had such rights in Europe. Standing up for what you believe is a noble endeavor, one of the very few, why would any well living man or woman try to pass? It’s an insult.
I’ve told the story before, with all the verses and ultimate outcome, that’s not what I’m getting at. It’s just the idea. There’s a reason for most stuff in the bible, whether you believe it to be truth or not (and you shouldn’t, there are many parables designed to explore humanity not as a history lesson). In the New Testament Peter denies Christ three times when he is asked. The parable is, if it is one though its such a minute detail it almost has to be, is, I believe, eat salt and bread and speak the truth, be who you are and be so with the courage of conviction not fear of retribution.
Today Israel, a fairly new country, has one of the best armies and possibly the best intelligence on earth. Part of it is necessity, surrounded by enemies, and part of it is an unwillingness to compromise their belief. That was the spoil of war America took from WWII. It’s why are government takes a pro-Zionist stand, despite sympathies you might have for Palestine.
I don’t really have skin in the game, just wanted to write something.
Loading comments...