Great writing and great was the first one too, but.
Palestine! What the heck Palestine, it was named by Roman terrorists ~ 1970 years ago, 200 years before the Christian Church. And the name came from the land, not the Arabs, and not the Jews who were eventually murdered and expelled from Jerusalem and its surroundings.
Thank you for such a thoughtful article. It is an imperative to think about how, in these divisive times, we need to reflect on how we perceive ideas from the many sources we read and balance those perceptions so as to really understand what people are saying.
This resonates so well with me. Yesterday I wrote about having a civil debate (i am not a professional writer). I, too, had a similar experience when I voiced the same opinion you began this article with. I also get my news from some of the same sources you do (with the exception of the Hebrew language one). Just wanted to let you know this is extremely relevant and I love the four questions.
Because of your article, many people will assume that everything you hear on Fox news is fake. They wont ask the 4 questions and they will have never even watched Fox news. They will assume that what they watch on CNN and MSNBC etc. is the "real news". You should have mentioned the Left bias news outlets as well. Remember your followers take every word you say as Talmud. They "assume" .......and will miss the point of your article. ahimsa papa j
Wonderful article and so true if we lived in a perfect world. Realistically, many people want to align with those who reinforce and agree with their beliefs or ideas. It does make us feel good and a member of a like group, which is why some only tune in to Fox, CNN, MSNBC. So much has become politicized, there is no room for actually listening to others with different ideas, and having a civilized conversation where we can disagree, learn something, and go home without hate and resentment for the other. Perhaps in the future, it will turn around and people can learn to appreciate ideas unlike their own. Until then, people will stay in their respective, labeled boxes missing out on the enrichment of learning from each other.
Your analysis of the two party system in the USA with respect to the dangers to Jews was very balanced. Closed minded people carry beliefs that are immutable, even if the facts show otherwise. Prior to the Holocaust, the lack of pertinent and real time news may have made it more difficult for the Jews of Europe to fully comprehend the direction of future events. Today, with heightened awareness, the Jews have to very carefully discern the fake from the true information but ultimately, the dots can be connected more quickly in accordance with the pace of events. Following strategic analysis of the facts and supporting statistics, the end results may contrast with your preferred outcomes but survival instincts and associated, preventive actions must take precidence. We can't be complacent and we can't afford to ignore current events as well as the painful lessons of history. Conveniently or foolishly placing our trust in others will not secure our salvation.
Our universe is based on assumptions. We make an assumption and then we try to prove that it is correct. Sometimes we succeed, the majority agrees with us, and sometimes we fail.
Giordano Bruno failed to convince the church that his assumptions were correct and was burned alive at the stake. The poor guy believed that the universe was infinite. What a stupid assumption, right?
The bottom line is that there is nothing wrong in making assumptions.
My assumption is that Republicans are much better for Israel than Democrats.
Here is how I prove it.
Israel was doing well during Trump. It was a time of piece and prosperity.
I do not need fox, ynet, or any other corporations to prove it
Of course my assumption might become wrong or irrelevant tomorrow but today it is the truth.
Yes, you can assume, but I interpret that both sides have their own extremist movements, which are harmful to Jews living in the USA. When it comes to foreign policy, both are equally lousy at diplomacy, both have their own weaknesses and strengths, one thing is certain, the Jews have to compromise between the anti-Semites found in both camps.
While I can easily name at least a dozen openly anti-Semitic politicians on left, the squad, Michelle Obama, etc, I am having hard time naming even one Republican.
Are you a Republican yourself when you don't want to remember Steve Bannon.
It doesn't matter to me what is US policy. I see the actions of the people of the USA. In the Trump era, anti-Semitic acts statistically increased in pro-Republican extremist movements, although they were also carried out by the far left on the left. The extreme right-wing movements have the characteristic that they idolize Hitler, who was the last so-called great religious political head of state.
Hitler did not create anti-Semitism, it is an older root, which Christianity refined into a religious mode in the Acts of the Apostles, although the hatred towards Jews is even older, which is not political and was not talked about then, and was not known as so-called religions than politics, as we talk about it now.
And when I got into history, the history of the new continent is not such a beautiful story. and you haven't learned anything from it either. The Indians were driven to reservations, and now with the political system, you make sure that the disadvantaged people and those who immigrate to the country do not at any point get to influence the part of the well-off and the politics. it is a repressive policy today. When i look further away from here, it doesn't look pretty. rather a caricature of democracy.
Very good article. But here’s the thing there is a concerted PR effort being made here to discredit Israel, rewrite history, and arguably bring about another holocaust or inquisition.
What are Jewish people going to do?
I agree you can’t count on anyone for sure. That’s because you are relying on the innate goodness or willingness of people to believe you are the good guys.
Jewish people, our friends and neighbors, Israel, need to create an organized response to the organized agression. I mean from the ground up. Jewish people have the intelligence and the wherewithal to do this.
It’s not Germany (yet) or medieval Europe, you aren’t forbidden from protecting yourself or speaking out. So far all I see are individuals speaking out in défense of Israel and suffering the slings and arrows of an organised response.
My assumption is that people can‘t help but assuming things about the world and about other people because we simply know so little. By asking, though, we can broaden our horizon a little, especially in important personal interactions with others.
The polarization we are experiencing creates a difficult dynamic. And it gets worse because it gets exploited constantly. In some ways though it could be beneficial, because to repair it will require that we learn to talk to one another again. The person who has all the answers and doesn’t want to have an open mind is a difficult nut to crack. But the person who is willing to recognize what they don’t know can often be persuaded by the truth. Of course you have to factor your life experience into things. It’s natural as we gain experience ( get older) to recognize certain patterns, and to be more selective about how and with whom we engage.
And some things are exactly what they seem to be. But the polarization works mostly for the benefit of the polarizers, not the rest of humanity.
Good article, but I really only learn when I see a challenge of opinions. I would love to read a debate from two people who question assumptions, but differ in their conclusions.
Thank you. I had trouble understanding what you meant with this phrase: "we could rather quickly fan the flames of this pressing desire that results in knee-jerk assumption-making." I usually think of "fan the flames" increases the flames. So I imagine that "fan the flames" would increase conflict? But I don't think that was your intention?
Great writing and great was the first one too, but.
Palestine! What the heck Palestine, it was named by Roman terrorists ~ 1970 years ago, 200 years before the Christian Church. And the name came from the land, not the Arabs, and not the Jews who were eventually murdered and expelled from Jerusalem and its surroundings.
Thank you for such a thoughtful article. It is an imperative to think about how, in these divisive times, we need to reflect on how we perceive ideas from the many sources we read and balance those perceptions so as to really understand what people are saying.
This resonates so well with me. Yesterday I wrote about having a civil debate (i am not a professional writer). I, too, had a similar experience when I voiced the same opinion you began this article with. I also get my news from some of the same sources you do (with the exception of the Hebrew language one). Just wanted to let you know this is extremely relevant and I love the four questions.
Because of your article, many people will assume that everything you hear on Fox news is fake. They wont ask the 4 questions and they will have never even watched Fox news. They will assume that what they watch on CNN and MSNBC etc. is the "real news". You should have mentioned the Left bias news outlets as well. Remember your followers take every word you say as Talmud. They "assume" .......and will miss the point of your article. ahimsa papa j
Excellent article. Thoughtful.
Wonderful article and so true if we lived in a perfect world. Realistically, many people want to align with those who reinforce and agree with their beliefs or ideas. It does make us feel good and a member of a like group, which is why some only tune in to Fox, CNN, MSNBC. So much has become politicized, there is no room for actually listening to others with different ideas, and having a civilized conversation where we can disagree, learn something, and go home without hate and resentment for the other. Perhaps in the future, it will turn around and people can learn to appreciate ideas unlike their own. Until then, people will stay in their respective, labeled boxes missing out on the enrichment of learning from each other.
Your analysis of the two party system in the USA with respect to the dangers to Jews was very balanced. Closed minded people carry beliefs that are immutable, even if the facts show otherwise. Prior to the Holocaust, the lack of pertinent and real time news may have made it more difficult for the Jews of Europe to fully comprehend the direction of future events. Today, with heightened awareness, the Jews have to very carefully discern the fake from the true information but ultimately, the dots can be connected more quickly in accordance with the pace of events. Following strategic analysis of the facts and supporting statistics, the end results may contrast with your preferred outcomes but survival instincts and associated, preventive actions must take precidence. We can't be complacent and we can't afford to ignore current events as well as the painful lessons of history. Conveniently or foolishly placing our trust in others will not secure our salvation.
Thanks for this very thoughtful essay.
Our universe is based on assumptions. We make an assumption and then we try to prove that it is correct. Sometimes we succeed, the majority agrees with us, and sometimes we fail.
Giordano Bruno failed to convince the church that his assumptions were correct and was burned alive at the stake. The poor guy believed that the universe was infinite. What a stupid assumption, right?
The bottom line is that there is nothing wrong in making assumptions.
My assumption is that Republicans are much better for Israel than Democrats.
Here is how I prove it.
Israel was doing well during Trump. It was a time of piece and prosperity.
I do not need fox, ynet, or any other corporations to prove it
Of course my assumption might become wrong or irrelevant tomorrow but today it is the truth.
Yes, you can assume, but I interpret that both sides have their own extremist movements, which are harmful to Jews living in the USA. When it comes to foreign policy, both are equally lousy at diplomacy, both have their own weaknesses and strengths, one thing is certain, the Jews have to compromise between the anti-Semites found in both camps.
I'm surprised they haven't left the country.
While I can easily name at least a dozen openly anti-Semitic politicians on left, the squad, Michelle Obama, etc, I am having hard time naming even one Republican.
Are you a Republican yourself when you don't want to remember Steve Bannon.
It doesn't matter to me what is US policy. I see the actions of the people of the USA. In the Trump era, anti-Semitic acts statistically increased in pro-Republican extremist movements, although they were also carried out by the far left on the left. The extreme right-wing movements have the characteristic that they idolize Hitler, who was the last so-called great religious political head of state.
Hitler did not create anti-Semitism, it is an older root, which Christianity refined into a religious mode in the Acts of the Apostles, although the hatred towards Jews is even older, which is not political and was not talked about then, and was not known as so-called religions than politics, as we talk about it now.
And when I got into history, the history of the new continent is not such a beautiful story. and you haven't learned anything from it either. The Indians were driven to reservations, and now with the political system, you make sure that the disadvantaged people and those who immigrate to the country do not at any point get to influence the part of the well-off and the politics. it is a repressive policy today. When i look further away from here, it doesn't look pretty. rather a caricature of democracy.
Very good article. But here’s the thing there is a concerted PR effort being made here to discredit Israel, rewrite history, and arguably bring about another holocaust or inquisition.
What are Jewish people going to do?
I agree you can’t count on anyone for sure. That’s because you are relying on the innate goodness or willingness of people to believe you are the good guys.
Jewish people, our friends and neighbors, Israel, need to create an organized response to the organized agression. I mean from the ground up. Jewish people have the intelligence and the wherewithal to do this.
It’s not Germany (yet) or medieval Europe, you aren’t forbidden from protecting yourself or speaking out. So far all I see are individuals speaking out in défense of Israel and suffering the slings and arrows of an organised response.
My assumption is that people can‘t help but assuming things about the world and about other people because we simply know so little. By asking, though, we can broaden our horizon a little, especially in important personal interactions with others.
The polarization we are experiencing creates a difficult dynamic. And it gets worse because it gets exploited constantly. In some ways though it could be beneficial, because to repair it will require that we learn to talk to one another again. The person who has all the answers and doesn’t want to have an open mind is a difficult nut to crack. But the person who is willing to recognize what they don’t know can often be persuaded by the truth. Of course you have to factor your life experience into things. It’s natural as we gain experience ( get older) to recognize certain patterns, and to be more selective about how and with whom we engage.
And some things are exactly what they seem to be. But the polarization works mostly for the benefit of the polarizers, not the rest of humanity.
Good article, but I really only learn when I see a challenge of opinions. I would love to read a debate from two people who question assumptions, but differ in their conclusions.
Thank you. I had trouble understanding what you meant with this phrase: "we could rather quickly fan the flames of this pressing desire that results in knee-jerk assumption-making." I usually think of "fan the flames" increases the flames. So I imagine that "fan the flames" would increase conflict? But I don't think that was your intention?
You’re right, that was the wrong word choice. I meant the opposite!