Jews, Chanukah and Obama's Blue America

[danielet]

I was introduced to Judaism with the story of Chanukah's: how a light burned on, fueled by faith, though the oil ran out. Today Jews burn that light symbolically in wax candles but that burning wax is symbolic of, reaffirming Jewish faith. As a young president of SYO chapters in Queens NY-- before being kicked out for being an uncircumcised goy-- I emphasized that story as the basis of the Jewish identity. It must have worked as I got official commendations of appreciation for bringing faith back in these youth chapters. As a Christian, I kept that story in my heart-- even as, through Habonim-- I was introduced to the tangle that is the Jewish state in Palestine, Israel. As demoralizing as the Middle East has been for us all, NOW-- ESPECIALLY NOW-- we must rekindle that light that keeps burning on despite the depletion of fuel. And, since we are all Americans first, let's look at the Obama victory this month, not as some sort of First or Second Coming of the Messiah, but as a testament to OUR-- yes, us all, Americans all-- faith in the power of democracy and faith in freedom-- the very faith that that I witnessed when I first arrived in America, driving my schoolmates when I first came here-- mostly Jews-- exhibited in taking American racism head on far from home in the South. Israel is a complex ethno-national issue. But racism in America is an issue of ONE people in ONE nation, ours. And WE ALL should take pride in how we Americans ultimately overcame our racism this November. In noting this amazing election, I cannot forget that , more than any other group of people, it was the AMERICAN JEWS that kept the lamp of liberty lit long after the oil ran out, waiting for the rest of us to overcome our racism. Republican Jews, like all Republicans, or ex-Republicans like me, should celebrate that they will now have another chance to escape from a party that was taken over by rodents who had scared away the majestic elephants that led it so long. The rodents this year lost, and perhaps the strong, solid and courageous elephants will now join with the blues to rebuild America in this era of critical illness. WE MUST BEGIN WHERE JEWS ARE AT THEIR BEST: EDUCATION....JEWS MUST DOUBLE, NEIGH TRIPLE, THEIR COMMITMENT TO SCIENCE AND MATH HIGH-TECH EDUCATION. In a paroxysm of xenophobia the war on terror ended our world-wide brain piracy of other lands to keep America in the high-tech lead. So Jews-- the born teachers that they are (pedagogically and by example)-- must now work to bring the least of us, at the very least, to where should be the most of us. Just as you did with your kids for JFK, Jews must send their kids into public service to teach and to do science and math. Jews are not the only but are the best at teaching people to truly apply Martin Luther King's admonition to judge each other "by the content of one's character, not by the color of one's skin." Focusing on this will not betray the Zionist obligation you bear to your brethren in Israel. For, as your example of faith that keeps the Jewish light of faith in the goodness of caring burning bright, is seen by Israelis, they will sense the mission and the challenge to bring their Arab brethren out of the one crop (oil) banana republic status of today into the high tech regional peace of tomorrow. All Arabs I know would want nothing more that to have Israel-- a close relative-- educate their children and guide them into the global high-tech economy of tomorrow that will save and green the planet. Thus, Jews will not only be "the light onto the nations," as the Founders dreamed, but also the light onto the American nation. Why Jews? Because they proved at Chanukha that the Divine Light of Hope burns brighter fueled by faith than fueled by oil-- how apt!

[rucky]

1. I'd like to introduce you to paragraphs.

I'd like to read this, but Oy! My eyes.

[monmouth]

2. Paragraphs are your friend..and mine....LOL.

[Ian David]

3. Your post makes my eyes bleed...