Thursday, September 17, 2009

Why Are Jews Liberal?










Retriever said...

Can't wait to check out the links after work. But hold fast on the piercings...(of course, he will probably sneak out and have them done anyway? A friend's son got the ear pierced when he went on a (parentally approved of, because college admission promoting) school band trip...

Piercings, ICK! Not something we do either. Odd, tho, as we know plenty of okay people who do not share our views...

In general, I took the line with my kids about it making them less likely to be hired in future. Along with gang related clothing, tattoos on women, etc. They would point to friends of mine and say "But so and so has one".

I sympathize, and yet am also reminded of a wise friend who was calm when her beautiful blonde daughter dyed her hair first blue then fuchsia: She said seemingly calmly that better an outward and visible rebellion (even if making one scared about other more sinister affiliations and behaviors) than more dangerous behaviors (sex, drugs, cigarettes, booze, delinquency, etc. at an early age). Her kid turned out fine.

On the other hand, when one has lifted a person away from potential negative influences, one is justified in being hypervigilant about signs of identification with any of them going forward.

My kids say I ruined them being so strict about such things, so what do I know??? :)

a psychiatrist who learned from veterans said...

Saw your post over at Volokh; funny interaction with your interlocutor. Ii is somewhat amazing how uncomfortable the Jews are joining a group which has a significant religious right section even in a 'bottom up' organization like the Republican party. I guess I'm pleased they seem pretty comfortable with Catholics. Related to your subject of piercings, when I saw a tatoo of the SAC lightning bolt over my son's gracilis muscle (inner thigh), I thought, 'Well there goes your chance for Air Force Intelligence (probably just as well).'

Elisheva Hannah Levin said...

I am reading this book as well. Since I am not finished, I have not reviewed it on my blog yet, and the High Holy days have intervened with their own wacky contribution, a progressive rabbi's Sermon of the Smear!

With respect to piercing and tattooing. I said "no" to the 15 year old. My reason: Jews don't do that. Period. But a friend's daughter got a Yemenite tattoo on her shoulder. Where? On a NIFTY trip to Israel. Oy.