Displaying 10,291 To 10,320 Of 10,917 Comments As you so astutely point out, Islam has never had a Reformation. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 3:07 pm He was an avowed anti-Semite, and re-published “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”– a racist tract still in circulation. In fact, when you see a bunch of “Audit the Fed!” comments on some sites, you’ll find their justification has a lot to do with international Jewish bankers– and little to do with the actual good reasoning for an audit. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 3:03 pm Interesting! You point out that saying what you did is easier on this site– true. And the reason it is safer mirrors the feelings of the minority communities in GB and everywhere– they circle the wagons in the same way that we would do on HP, for example. It is very hard to speak out against one’s group when being attacked from the outside; there seems a need to be defensive to outsiders who are critical of one’s group. I have played that out on HP. I won’t criticize Obama there as freely as I might here, because of the trolls. The Muslims in Europe probably feel the same need to defend Islam from the nationalist “trolls.” » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 2:58 pm We are agreeing, Khirad. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 2:13 pm I agree that Muslim bashing has become somewhat more socially acceptable and I am astounded by that. But don’t you think, as Ebadi says, there must be more outrage from the Muslim community? I do. In the same way I think that until mainstream Christians renounce prayer breakfasts to kill health care reform, Christians will all be painted with the same brush too. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 2:11 pm LOL– See? leave it to him to state it that way! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 2:05 pm Actually, that’s from the Talmud. Having read the Koran, I didn’t see that exact quote, but certainly that sentiment. And the rest of the quote is: If you save one life, it is as if you saved all mankind. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 2:01 pm That sounds excellent– thanks Alpha, I will look for that. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 1:59 pm I honestly don’t know, Javez. It could be both, because we know how easy it is to distort a religion to suit one’s aims. I do think that AlQaida uses the Koran to its own purposes, but there is a strain in almost all religions that allows for war on The Infidel. I think that’s part of their ideology. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 1:55 pm America is a warlike nation. It’s always a “war on” something– terrorism, drugs, poverty, crime. Any day we might declare a war on climate change. And we don’t climb Mt Everest, we “conquer” Mt Everest. What’s up with that? We are trying to express our desire to devote all our energies to something in order to accomplish something, in the way, I suppose, that we put all our energies into winning WW ll — as a united effort, a statement of purpose. But is there no other metaphor we can think of than “war?” Once we declare a “war on” terrorism, it begins to suggest the means of winning. Winning is not the only, or always the best way to accomplish something. How about we start saying we want to declare a teach-in on terrorism? Or a think-tank on terrorism? Maybe then we could accomplish the eradication of terrorism without becoming terrorists. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 1:51 pm Nellie, your post got me thinking about terrorism again, but in a different way. I do believe some terrorists are not so much politically motivated as unstable, but they are in the minority. Crazy violent people will always be among us, and while they do terrorize us, they are not what I would label as terrorists. But you are right– terrorists are violent freedom fighters too. I see the IRA that way, and the Irgun in Israel and the Palestinians as violent freedom fighters. I haven’t thought this through yet, but for now, it seems to me that Al Qaida and their ilk are something different than freedom fighters and more like crusaders. They are violently promoting a religion and a way of life. They are not promoting a political ideology, nor even a freedom of religion, but rather a theocracy. What to do about them, I have no idea. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 1:35 pm Scher– we do have many things in common! What’s your “junk” email addy again? I like to talk to you. Thank you, Scher, for your loving words– and I do feel the good fellowship from you and all the others here on this wonderful Planet! And no worries– I’m over that slightly wistful Christmas feeling. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 4:37 pm Hey– that’s similar to us, except it’s champagne, take-out Chinese, and we last until about 10:30! We might rent some movies that I will fall asleep watching. Oh, and we’ll dance around the living room a little first. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 4:04 pm Thank you, Javez– you know how much I love Barbie! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 3:04 pm There is nothing wrong, to me, in putting up blue and white LEDs as you say– so funny that you got that subtlety too! Here’s how I see it: Since Judaism is such a tiny percentage of the world’s population– not even 1%– I used to feel an obligation to pass it along to our son, and I have. Whether he chooses to continue it is really up to him. I don’t care, but I gave him the grounding to do that if he wants– and it’s harder to learn as an adult (the language, the whole culture). There is a saying– “You are a Jew only if your grandchildren are Jews.” I used to subscribe to that, but no more. But there is still some residual guilt, of course– it’s in my genes! ;~) On the other hand, I have learned the wisdom of many traditions. Black Elk said, “My land is the center of the Earth. But then again, so is everyone’s land the center of the Earth.” That speaks to me. I do not see any tradition as best. “All paths” and all that… I have decided to accept that I was born into this tradition, and it’s as good as any. And if I choose to celebrate in any way I want, that doesn’t change who I am. I’ve passed along the tradition as far as I can. But– and here’s where we started this riff– it is a modern phenomenon that I CAN choose. Inevitably, all religions adapt. Today’s Judaism is not biblical Judaism, even for the Ultra Orthodox. Has Hinduism changed over the millenia? (After all, no one has found the soma plant yet, have they?) I am very curious about Hinduism; as I think I mentioned once– I almost practiced it, but realize one cannot convert. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 2:47 pm And… Give the JewGirl toys, dammit!!! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 2:24 pm Yes– it is shameful. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 1:36 pm I am supposed to take my step-daughters shopping today, but I can’t muster the energy. Ugh. And I’m broke too. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 12:49 pm Ain’t it the truth! The most animosity– hatred really–by the orthodox is NOT toward the gentile, but to the shul in the next town. You know the old joke: Two Jews are stranded on a desert island. They build three synagogues: One for each of them and one they wouldn’t step foot in! The Ultras in Israel (and here too) have taken Israel into a very bad place. This is a pretty recent turn of events. When we visited less than twenty years ago, it wasn’t this bad– Israel was much more secular. And I know that most of the population still is appalled at the Orthodox power there. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 12:47 pm Hi, BSM! Yep. Einstein got that right too! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 12:17 pm And I really would love to hear about how you went from Southern Baptist, to Jewish, to Buddhism! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 12:15 pm Emerald– awesome!! What a true gift your grandson gave you! And how is your sister today? » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 12:10 pm C’Lady, I have been told that by a couple of other WASPS too, and I really understand it. Everyone is an “outsider” in some way or other. I hope you didn’t think I was truly complaining though– I put away those childish things many years ago. I no longer envy Christmas and I should have written that. I could certainly celebrate Christmas or Dawali or Ramadan, but not in community, unless I joined one. The main thing is to be part of community, as I know you know. And the celebrations are not in themselves important– their purpose is to ensure community. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 12:08 pm Oh, Khirad you are a card! I love to celebrate any and everything too, but I do feel that we celebrate the holidays that we grew up with from a different perspective. I would not trade my traditions for others because that isn’t necessary. I live in a country where I can be whatever I choose to be– and that’s a fairly new phenomenon. Isn’t it wonderful that,for those of us who live in multicultural places, have those opportunities? My grandparents had no such choice. In those days, you were born whatever, the community kept you whatever, and the outside world told you what you were. Those days are over, thank Astarte! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 26, 2009 @ 11:58 am Actually, the title is the best part of the book! No need to hurry our and get it. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 25, 2009 @ 6:28 pm Thank you, Nellie. Actually, I have been a jubu for many years now. Here’s a book about my rabbi’s experiences with the Dalai Lama: http://images.indiebound.com/748/645/9780060645748.jpg I love the title! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 25, 2009 @ 6:02 pm http://sfist.com/attachments/SFist_Brock/HugaJewDay.jpg I musta dreamed the ornaments! Thank you, PK, for sharing those delicious and beautiful memories. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 25, 2009 @ 5:59 pm I see it now, and what’s so funny is I almost posted something close to that– it was a cat wearing a yamulke with tree ornaments! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 25, 2009 @ 4:03 pm I’m not seeing an image– Where? :~( But whatever it is, I honestly cannot imagine that I’d want it down! » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 25, 2009 @ 3:45 pm That was wonderful– I had no idea so many myths had as much in common, KQ. And while I did know the pagan roots of the tradition, I accept them as they are and as they once were– as you say, as a Gaia celebration. Did you also know that the Virgin of Guadalupe was once an Aztec goddess as well? And as she is in a sense a “separate” Virgin, she still is an Aztec goddess. » Posted By Chernynkaya On December 25, 2009 @ 3:21 pmComments Posted By Chernynkaya
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