Given Leftist hatred toward Jews, given that Our involvement in the left ironically fuels anti-Semitism, and Given the Left’s Abandonment of its Mission, should we Call it Quits ?
I think you confuse Left with liberal. Jews were in the forefront of alot of liberal movements. We understood that to help marginalized in society also helped ourselves. Jews are not Left, and while there are Jews within their ranks, most of us are not. The problem is that the right or conservatives are anathema to many liberal ideals. So as I realized decades ago, Jews are politically homeless outside of Israel. We vote for the person and not the party. That’s our only recourse.
I glossed over the differences between Liberal and Left (And didn't even mention the two very different types of liberals) because I have been crticized for writing essays that are too long. There just wasn't enough room to discuss our growing alienation from left of center politics and to define the different varieties of left of center politics
Specific Issues:
Your contention that Jews were not in the Left in big numbers:
If by left, you mean socialistic Left poltiics, I think you are wrong:
Leading Jewish socialists have been prominent in socialistic politics. Consider Bela Kuhn In Hungary, Rosa Luxemburg led the sparacus socialist rebellion in Germany in 1919 (She was later kidnapped and killed by proto Nazis), Leon Trotsky, Emma Goldman etc.
Jews have also been prominent in the New Left as demonstrated by Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Al Lowenstein
The contradictory definitions of the word liberal
The word liberal is one of the most misunderstood terms in the world:
In electoral politics in America today, a liberal wants to spend money to assist the poor, etc.
In academia, philosophy and in intellectual journals, a liberal is a person who believes in more freedom across the board. He believes in freedom of speech, press, religion BUT he also believes in free enterprise and limited or no government control or interference in the economy.
Interesting reply. I’m not Jewish so I can’t relate to a lot of that, but I can assure you that most Blacks still vote left, and still don’t like Jews, so that’s your Democratic party, And all those Jew hating protesters also vote left, so I don’t get why you do?
I always like messages that contain information, and your message contained important information. You said that most blacks still dislike Jews. I expected as much, but it is useful to me to hear the opinions of other people.
As to why I still have some residual or vestigial attachment to the left even though it often makes me sick: I have a deeply ingrained belief that liberating the oppresed, the poor, and the downtrodden is a morall imperative that we cannot shirk. Man, it often makes me ill.
We clearly see the lefts liberation of the oppressed through different colored grasses. I believe the left takes the underserved and marginalized communities for granted and uses them for votes, without doing anything but grandstanding. The ruling elite class of America is overwhelmingly rich and vote democrat. They use the poor to do their bidding and dirty jobs while insulating themselves from the masses, they pretend to care about. When I consider the Democratic Party I see the party of BLM, ANTIFA, open borders, Covid shutdown, Islam and Islamic embracement, climate change, DEI, criminal reform (like no bail, and catch and release), bigger government and higher taxes, gun control. I could go on but I have a real job. I support Israel and the US Jewish community, but if they keep sleeping with the enemy my support will have a shelf life too. Jews, I get feel like a member of the oppressed community, but the party you are aligning with, is not your friend. If you keep voting / sleeping with the enemy you have no one but yourself to blame, and eventually you will find yourself alone, much like Israel does right now .
I first began to have problems with the Left in September 1968, shortly after my 11th Birthday. My Mother was a teacher in NYC, and the teachers were being harassed by black militants who alleged that Jewish teachers were hindering black academic growth.
However, certain things have kept pulling me back toward the Left: The Jewish belief in the imperative of "Rachmones." The belief in Tseducka or charity. The Passover holiday and our repudiation of slaveholders. Also, I think for me, and guys who were young in the 60's and 70's, rock and roll was an explosive, rowdy "kick ass" phenomena, and we loved it, and some of our greatest rock stars were affiliated with the left.
Marx was not Jewish. His parents converted to Roman Catholicism before he was born because his father felt his academic position security was threatened by his religion. Marx was raised as a Catholic and was known be devoutly so as an adolescent.
Some sources say the parents converted to Roman Catholicism, others say to one Lutheran branch. I wish I could locate the book where I first read about this. It was dedicated to not well known facts about the private lives of some of the “great thinkers,” who were actually quite, uh, questionable in their private lives. If I find it, I shall update.
I think you confuse Left with liberal. Jews were in the forefront of alot of liberal movements. We understood that to help marginalized in society also helped ourselves. Jews are not Left, and while there are Jews within their ranks, most of us are not. The problem is that the right or conservatives are anathema to many liberal ideals. So as I realized decades ago, Jews are politically homeless outside of Israel. We vote for the person and not the party. That’s our only recourse.
Terminology impedes so much convesation.
I glossed over the differences between Liberal and Left (And didn't even mention the two very different types of liberals) because I have been crticized for writing essays that are too long. There just wasn't enough room to discuss our growing alienation from left of center politics and to define the different varieties of left of center politics
Specific Issues:
Your contention that Jews were not in the Left in big numbers:
If by left, you mean socialistic Left poltiics, I think you are wrong:
Leading Jewish socialists have been prominent in socialistic politics. Consider Bela Kuhn In Hungary, Rosa Luxemburg led the sparacus socialist rebellion in Germany in 1919 (She was later kidnapped and killed by proto Nazis), Leon Trotsky, Emma Goldman etc.
Jews have also been prominent in the New Left as demonstrated by Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Al Lowenstein
The contradictory definitions of the word liberal
The word liberal is one of the most misunderstood terms in the world:
In electoral politics in America today, a liberal wants to spend money to assist the poor, etc.
In academia, philosophy and in intellectual journals, a liberal is a person who believes in more freedom across the board. He believes in freedom of speech, press, religion BUT he also believes in free enterprise and limited or no government control or interference in the economy.
I've no idea why any Jews support the left.
They never ever should’ve become one or believed them !
Interesting reply. I’m not Jewish so I can’t relate to a lot of that, but I can assure you that most Blacks still vote left, and still don’t like Jews, so that’s your Democratic party, And all those Jew hating protesters also vote left, so I don’t get why you do?
I always like messages that contain information, and your message contained important information. You said that most blacks still dislike Jews. I expected as much, but it is useful to me to hear the opinions of other people.
As to why I still have some residual or vestigial attachment to the left even though it often makes me sick: I have a deeply ingrained belief that liberating the oppresed, the poor, and the downtrodden is a morall imperative that we cannot shirk. Man, it often makes me ill.
We clearly see the lefts liberation of the oppressed through different colored grasses. I believe the left takes the underserved and marginalized communities for granted and uses them for votes, without doing anything but grandstanding. The ruling elite class of America is overwhelmingly rich and vote democrat. They use the poor to do their bidding and dirty jobs while insulating themselves from the masses, they pretend to care about. When I consider the Democratic Party I see the party of BLM, ANTIFA, open borders, Covid shutdown, Islam and Islamic embracement, climate change, DEI, criminal reform (like no bail, and catch and release), bigger government and higher taxes, gun control. I could go on but I have a real job. I support Israel and the US Jewish community, but if they keep sleeping with the enemy my support will have a shelf life too. Jews, I get feel like a member of the oppressed community, but the party you are aligning with, is not your friend. If you keep voting / sleeping with the enemy you have no one but yourself to blame, and eventually you will find yourself alone, much like Israel does right now .
It’s been time, now it’s overdue and overtime
I first began to have problems with the Left in September 1968, shortly after my 11th Birthday. My Mother was a teacher in NYC, and the teachers were being harassed by black militants who alleged that Jewish teachers were hindering black academic growth.
However, certain things have kept pulling me back toward the Left: The Jewish belief in the imperative of "Rachmones." The belief in Tseducka or charity. The Passover holiday and our repudiation of slaveholders. Also, I think for me, and guys who were young in the 60's and 70's, rock and roll was an explosive, rowdy "kick ass" phenomena, and we loved it, and some of our greatest rock stars were affiliated with the left.
Marx was not Jewish. His parents converted to Roman Catholicism before he was born because his father felt his academic position security was threatened by his religion. Marx was raised as a Catholic and was known be devoutly so as an adolescent.
This is news to me.
Some sources say the parents converted to Roman Catholicism, others say to one Lutheran branch. I wish I could locate the book where I first read about this. It was dedicated to not well known facts about the private lives of some of the “great thinkers,” who were actually quite, uh, questionable in their private lives. If I find it, I shall update.
Just excellent
If by excellent you mean my essay, thanks so much.