Freethought & Rationalism Archive

stephan huller · 08-17-2012, 11:05 PM

http://www.jewishjournal.com/cover_s...hina_20120815/

Here is a perfect example. There were Manichaeans in this part of the world. Marcionites and Nestorians. Who are the only ones who survived? You don't even need to read the article to know the answer. One day I will tell the story of my grandfather in Velodrome in Paris and my mother and her mother hiding out in Switzerland during the war. My family doesn't even say 'if the war had lasted a year longer, we'd have been finished.' No, they would have found a way, unless their luck just ran out of course.

And let's be clear - it's not 'optimism' or 'faith' that guides any of this. I don't know how to describe it. It's just what we do.

I'm telling you, people misunderstand the Jews. I don't know if I can speak for everyone of course. Jews don't walk around with 'kiss my I'm Jewish' T-shirts. There's just a pride in their collective history of tenacity. That's it. Seriously.

I meet all these Jewish doctors and lawyers who do very well. I never go to a synagogue - ever - except once when I booked a flight to Chicago on September 13, 2001 or something like that. My major client picked me up at the airport, knew I was Jewish asked if it was okay if I came with his mother and his family to temple. I said sure. It was like the biggest synagogue in Chicago. I have never seen money like that. The cars in the parking lot alone were like - holy shit - this serious money like I have never seen it. Wasn't a car under $60,000 in the lot.

It was just after 911. There were police armed with machine guns outside. The rabbi was giving the silliest address - 'the same architect that designed the World Trade Center designed this synagogue.' I was Canadian back then so I am in this crazy country, this crazy situation (the flight was empty but the airport security was jacked up), in a crazy synagogue hearing this crazy sermon speculating about the aesthetic motivation behind the hijackers.

But I remember thinking - this is what it really means to be Jewish. I don't know if a regular person would get this. Yes 911 was not an attack on Jews. But just the feeling in that crazy synagogue that day. These rich cats had completely lost touch with the reality of their past. I didn't because my family was European. But these Chinese Jews, the Samaritans, it always gives me this sense - the proper perspective - toward understanding why there is religion. No, living in the suburbs flipping through 600 channels with Mexican food heating up in the microwave - you don't need God to survive for that. But being some fucked up Jewish sect living in China, not even realizing that chopsticks in hand you are already eating the kind of food that Jewish people were predestined to like to eat.

Maybe that's why I brought the article up. The idea of Chinese Jews just excites me especially if I get invited to a Bar Mitzvah. Imagine the food.

As an aside - I think that's when I wanted to be an American. I had always taken the open border for granted. And then during the Bush years it was like fucking impossible even for Canadians to get in. That's when I said - I got to do this. Strange.

spin · 08-18-2012, 06:30 AM

Stephan, you could have spared us 95% of this o.p. You're supposed to be living, not living in a therapy session.

PhilosopherJay · 08-18-2012, 07:22 AM

Hi Spin and Stephan,

I don't think its bad for a regular longtime contributor to go off-topic a bit and share some personal feelings and observations on a side topic. I found it somewhat refreshing.

I would agree it would be bad as a steady diet, but once or twice a year doesn't hurt.

Warmly,

Jay Raskin

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

Stephan, you could have spared us 95% of this o.p. You're supposed to be living, not living in a therapy session.

PhilosopherJay · 08-18-2012, 07:31 AM

Hi stephan huller,

The diversity of cultural memes and how they come together in strange combinations is always fascinating.

One might look at how certain evangelicals freaked out over rock and roll music in the 1950's because it suggested race mixing, communism and sex." Now think of the Russian Orthodox Church persecuting the band "Pussy Riot" today.

Warmly,

Jay Raskin

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan huller

http://www.jewishjournal.com/cover_s...hina_20120815/

Here is a perfect example. There were Manichaeans in this part of the world. Marcionites and Nestorians. Who are the only ones who survived? You don't even need to read the article to know the answer. One day I will tell the story of my grandfather in Velodrome in Paris and my mother and her mother hiding out in Switzerland during the war. My family doesn't even say 'if the war had lasted a year longer, we'd have been finished.' No, they would have found a way, unless their luck just ran out of course.
{snip}
. But being some fucked up Jewish sect living in China, not even realizing that chopsticks in hand you are already eating the kind of food that Jewish people were predestined to like to eat.

Maybe that's why I brought the article up. The idea of Chinese Jews just excites me especially if I get invited to a Bar Mitzvah. Imagine the food.

As an aside - I think that's when I wanted to be an American. I had always taken the open border for granted. And then during the Bush years it was like fucking impossible even for Canadians to get in. That's when I said - I got to do this. Strange.

stephan huller · 08-18-2012, 07:37 AM

sorry about the personal anecdotes. it started as just a link and then all this nonsense. some of it was fun i hope. maybe being informed about marvin Meyer's death yesterday made me kinda sad.

08-17-2012, 11:05 PM	#1
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	An Article on the Jews of China http://www.jewishjournal.com/cover_s...hina_20120815/ Here is a perfect example. There were Manichaeans in this part of the world. Marcionites and Nestorians. Who are the only ones who survived? You don't even need to read the article to know the answer. One day I will tell the story of my grandfather in Velodrome in Paris and my mother and her mother hiding out in Switzerland during the war. My family doesn't even say 'if the war had lasted a year longer, we'd have been finished.' No, they would have found a way, unless their luck just ran out of course. And let's be clear - it's not 'optimism' or 'faith' that guides any of this. I don't know how to describe it. It's just what we do. I'm telling you, people misunderstand the Jews. I don't know if I can speak for everyone of course. Jews don't walk around with 'kiss my I'm Jewish' T-shirts. There's just a pride in their collective history of tenacity. That's it. Seriously. I meet all these Jewish doctors and lawyers who do very well. I never go to a synagogue - ever - except once when I booked a flight to Chicago on September 13, 2001 or something like that. My major client picked me up at the airport, knew I was Jewish asked if it was okay if I came with his mother and his family to temple. I said sure. It was like the biggest synagogue in Chicago. I have never seen money like that. The cars in the parking lot alone were like - holy shit - this serious money like I have never seen it. Wasn't a car under $60,000 in the lot. It was just after 911. There were police armed with machine guns outside. The rabbi was giving the silliest address - 'the same architect that designed the World Trade Center designed this synagogue.' I was Canadian back then so I am in this crazy country, this crazy situation (the flight was empty but the airport security was jacked up), in a crazy synagogue hearing this crazy sermon speculating about the aesthetic motivation behind the hijackers. But I remember thinking - this is what it really means to be Jewish. I don't know if a regular person would get this. Yes 911 was not an attack on Jews. But just the feeling in that crazy synagogue that day. These rich cats had completely lost touch with the reality of their past. I didn't because my family was European. But these Chinese Jews, the Samaritans, it always gives me this sense - the proper perspective - toward understanding why there is religion. No, living in the suburbs flipping through 600 channels with Mexican food heating up in the microwave - you don't need God to survive for that. But being some fucked up Jewish sect living in China, not even realizing that chopsticks in hand you are already eating the kind of food that Jewish people were predestined to like to eat. Maybe that's why I brought the article up. The idea of Chinese Jews just excites me especially if I get invited to a Bar Mitzvah. Imagine the food. As an aside - I think that's when I wanted to be an American. I had always taken the open border for granted. And then during the Bush years it was like fucking impossible even for Canadians to get in. That's when I said - I got to do this. Strange.

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08-18-2012, 06:30 AM	#2
spin Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere Posts: 15,747	Stephan, you could have spared us 95% of this o.p. You're supposed to be living, not living in a therapy session.

08-18-2012, 07:37 AM	#5
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	sorry about the personal anecdotes. it started as just a link and then all this nonsense. some of it was fun i hope. maybe being informed about marvin Meyer's death yesterday made me kinda sad.

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