Filed under: Frustrations, Thoughts | Tags: Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan
While re-reading one of my most favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut (a Bloomington native, to boot) I was inspired, as I often am by his writing, by the following excerpt from The Sirens of Titan:
“Chrono-Synclastic Infundibula – Just imagine that your Daddy is the smartest man who ever lived on earth, and he knows everything there is to find out, and he is exactly right about everything, and he can prove he is right about everything. Now imagine another little child on some nice world a million light years away, and that little child’s Daddy is the smartest man who ever lived on that nice world so far away. And he is just as smart and just as right as your Daddy is. Both Daddies are smart, and both Daddies are right.
Only if they ever met each other they would get into a terrible argument, because they wouldn’t agree on anything. Now, you can say that your Daddy is right and the other little child’s Daddy is wrong, but the Universe is an awfully big place. There is room enough for an awful lot of people to be right about things and still not agree.
The reason both Daddies can be right and still get into terrible fights is because there are so many different way of being right. there are places in the Universe, though, where each Daddy could finally catch on to what the other Daddy was talking about. These places are where all the different kinds of truths fit together as nicely as the parts in your Daddy’s solar watch. We call these places chrono-synclastic infundibula.”
Although Vonnegut’s idea to the bare eye is buried in elements of science fiction, the deeper concept behind “chrono-synclastic infundibula’s” is far from ridiculous. In this country and world where we so consistently argue about everything, convinced that “we are right, for this reason, and if we are right than they must be wrong,” we too often overlook the possibility which KV highlights.
In typical arguments either side will fight tooth and nail for their side, holding in conviction that they must be right – often due to the viewpoints and background of either party. I sincerely hope we find the day – sooner than later – in which we accept our opponents as neither right, nor wrong, but simply as holding a different interpretation of “right.”
Certainly I am an idealist, but you have to start somewhere, right?
“I’m sorry I hurt you, baby, now please come home.”
Well, they might as well have said that. Russia is beggin’ Israeli Jews to return to the Motherland (this time it’s not Jerusalem), and as JPost reports, Russia is attempting to win “nice points” by getting involved in the Israeli-Syrian peace talks.
Russia wants her Yids back – 1+Million Russian-speakers have made aliyah since the wall fell – for several reasons, I’m sure. Two are most prominent: Jews are good at boosting economies (something Russia is needing), and “Putin also wants to counter the image of Russian anti-Semitism, by showing the country as a place that attracts Jews.” (JPost)
As a country with a past deeply rooted in Antisemitism, some argue that that problem continues today. Certainly, Jews will encounter persecution most places we go – but the majority of Jews who have made aliya since ‘48 have done so to live in an area which is relatively free of antisemitism. If they are happy there, then what place does the Kremlin have asking them to return (further) East.
I am not yet set in my opinion on this issue, but I think it is an important one to discuss. What are your thoughts? Does a country with a history of oppressing a certain people have grounds in asking that demographic to return – specifically in order to boost aspects of that countries society?
Shavuah Tov
Filed under: Diaspora Jewry, Thoughts | Tags: Biennial, Debbie Friedman, Eric Yoffie, Liberals, URJ
We are ready, and so it is time, says Rav Yoffie, for Reform Jews to reclaim the traditional Shabbat experience. Time to remove the enormous emphasis our Congregations have put for the past few decades on B’nai Mitzvot, and return Saturday morning t’fillah to our entire communities.We – Reform Jews – seek the communities which can, and should, be found in Shabbat morning services. Further, we yearn for the observance which our “more observant” fellow tribesmen have found through being Shomrei Shabbat – guards (observers) of Shabbat.
It is time to break down these walls. It is time to no longer accept being known – and criticized – as the non-observant denomination. Yoffie said it, 5000 strong heard him, now lets do it.
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It’s possible that I am far too hard on Debbie Friedman. I’ll be the first to admit to loving the vast majority of her songs, but in person I have never found her to be nice, or polite – just my experience. In summing up the Biennial’s major events, JTA writes of DF:
“The evening’s most moving moment came when Rabbi Daniel Freelander, the URJ’s vice president, led the audience in singing “Mi Shebeirach,” Friedman’s iconic prayer for healing. Friedman, her eyes moist, sat silently on the stage. For the prayer’s final lines, the musical accompaniment fell away, and it was just 6,000 Jews singing a capella to the woman who had given them the melody.”
Pardon my horrible sense of humor, but I am only surprised that Debbie didn’t rise from her seat, stop the song, and inform the crowd that they were singing it wrong – this being my experience, in Israel, circa Summer 2005.
_____________________________
JTA also reports that “there was politics galore at the biennial, mostly of the liberal variety.” Reform Jews? Liberal? Shocker. Bipartisanship is so overrated.
Filed under: America, Goyim, Thoughts | Tags: , December Dilemma, Holidays
This past Friday, just before Shabbos, I found myself standing in line at a crowded Rockville, MD Barnes&Noble. Next to me stood a mother and her young daughter, both of whom are decked in (tacky) Christmas sweaters – adorned with snowflakes, Frosty and Rudolph – perhaps a gift from Grandma. The young girl found herself, as many of us do during this season, singing along to the soundtrack playing throughout the store – a compilation of Christmas favorites.
It was cute. I was honestly enjoying her singing, until her mother glanced up, saw my kipa, and immediately indicated to her daughter (by some fantastic non-verbal, non-physical signal) that she needed to stop singing. My fair assumption being that she didn’t want to make the Jew feel uncomfortable.
It was fine, I assured her, insisting that her daughter should be able to sing regardless of whom she was around. I was hardly offended. The mother smiled and we went on our separate paths. Interestingly enough, had the mother and daughter gotten in line 15 seconds earlier, they would have heard me singing along to the Christmas tunes, as well, but I have already discussed that paradox.
The final for one of my classes this semester revolved around the December Dilemma and how different interfaith families in the United States have chosen to address the Christmas vs. Hanukkah issue. Some families celebrate one Holiday, and not the other; some celebrate both; some neither; and some create interesting (though controversial) blends. I am hardly an authority in deciding which method is better, worse, right or wrong, but I am quick to state my puzzled feelings about the December battle over what displays of Holiday cheer are publicly appropriate and/or “PC.”
I am all about embracing a Holiday – embracing it for what it means religiously, traditionally, or whatever sentiments are personally attributed to it. While I wish that public places – stores, Starbucks and such – would distribute their music and decorations equally among December Holidays, I accept that Christmas will always dominate in this field. Unlike others, however, this reality doesn’t send me into a rage of “not having my Holiday represented.” Instead, I often smile while being serenaded by “White Christmas,” “Rudolph” or “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” because they were all written, and often performed (Barbara Streisand and Kenny G have two of the most popular Christmas albums) by Jews!
“Leave it to the Jews to make a buck offa’ Christmas.” -Mel Brooks
Because of my pro-Holiday sentiment, I often find it ridiculous when, as I experienced in Barnes&Noble, people hide their Holiday spirit in order to escape offending others. While I am no advocate of over-doing the Holiday scene, per-se, I think we should all be able to appreciate the celebrations of our friends and community members. To be happy for them during their Holidays, and expect the same sentiment in return – isn’t that, after all, what the Holiday season is all about?
Filed under: America, Frustrations, Politics, Thoughts | Tags: Election '08, Mitt Romney, Mormons
After having this blog for nearly two months now, I have yet to venture into the territory of American politics. Now should be as good a time as ever to start…
It is no secret that the American people reflect their thoughts and concerns via the questions we ask our Presidential candidates (as well as those of other offices, of course). It is the essence of the Political system that we ensure our vote by picking the candidates who best represent our beliefs, and though it has taken the backseat to other hot issues in elections since ‘Kennedy the (Roman) Catholic’ ran in 1960, religion is back on the minds of Americans.
Of the past 42 U.S. Presidents, 26% have been Episcopalian; 24% Presbyterian; and 12% Methodist. (Click for a full list, including the other 48%). Certainly, that the Presidents not belonging to this religious trifecta were still elected pays tribute to the fact that Americans are willing to elect a Religious minority into office.
Despite those numbers, we have yet to elect a Mormon President, and hence Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (R-MA) has been fielding questions left and right as to his affiliation with the Mormon Church and his beliefs in G-d. Time and again, Romney has responded to these questions saying:
“Like [Kennedy], I am an American running for president. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.”
Good. Perfect. Kol hakavod. I agree with you. But then he says this:
“Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom.” And herein lies my problem. What evidence is there to make me believe that this man will fight to uphold our First Amendment right to separation of Church and State. Though it was (hopefully) Romney’s intent to state his personal beliefs and those beliefs alone, haven’t we already clarified that we elect officials based on all of their beliefs?
Perhaps even worse yet, though, is that in the latter statement Romney by default excludes all those who choose not to believe. Certainly he couldn’t believe that those who question – that atheists, doubters, freethinkers, agnostics – are not entitled to freedom. Could he?
“Freedom and religion endure together or perish alone,” he says.
With quotes like these it is needless to say that I am thankful for candidates who support religious diversity. That being not solely the acceptance of different religions, but also those who embrace Americans with no religious affiliation at all.
I am consistently thankful to be living in a country where we are able to choose candidates from this massive political gamut. Further, I am thankful to be in a country where technology allows us to ingrain, process and discuss the positions and beliefs of those candidates, and of each other.
Exams start tomorrow – though I don’t have any until Wednesday, allowing me a few more days of study time – then home sweet home, kinda. Chag Sameach l’kulam!
Filed under: Thoughts
Ever notice how much easier it is to get things done on rainy days? The minute it becomes dreary outside, I always feel compelled to stay inside, put on something comfortable, make a cup of tea, light a good smelling candle and get work done.
Such is the case at present.
I have three essays (two short, one long) and two tests to study for.
Thus begins “dead week” in Bloomington and on many campuses across the country.
It’s certainly pouring out now, and there is no sign of the sun. I’ve already made a visit to Starbucks (I plug them so damn much) so it must be time to get productive…
