Item 1: It’s insulting and condescending when someone from group X uses that appeal to circumstance lecturing group Y on why most of them are wrong.

I am sorry if it?s insulting to you. That?s not my intention. I am not lecturing on the Jews. My focus is on similarity and I think that many conservatives should accept the Jews as they are. I am not even saying that they are wrong. In fact, I am trying to reach out. Note that I also respect that the Arab people have the right to exist just like the rest of us. It’s the extremism in radical Islamist that I oppose.

Item 2: And it’s silly to tell Jews that some opinions are against “Jewish culture” when those supposedly unJewish views are held by most Jews. To the extent there is a “Jewish culture” in America, what that culture is will be decided by Jews as a group.

What I know about the traditional Jewish culture is based on what I have heard and observed from my Jewish friends. Some things are very clear, though: Jews are a minority, Jews stick together, Jews have have “kind heart” to the poor and needy. I don’t have any problems with those views, in the first place. But I still observe that both secular and traditional Jews have their own distinct way of living, something that I refer to as ?Jewish Culture?. And I respect that. In fact, I enjoy their food and drink during their special days (i.e., feasts) except for the traditional Jews? Passover, of course. I am not sure if you are a Jew or not. But my respect of you as an American is what really matters here. And I speak of the same to everyone else, be they democrat or republican.

Item 3: *A higher proportion of Jews oppose the war than Americans generally; Jews are overwhelmingly pro-choice; same sex marriage are far more likely to support it. *

I am speaking of traditional and conversvative Jews. If I read you correctly, I would say that you are accusing ?all? American Jews of some principles that many of them don’t believe in. Some Jews may even take that as a serious charge (especially if it?s coming a Jew) because not many of them really believe that. The idea that many Jews are democrats because they are ?pro-choice? and ?pro-gay marriage? is antithetic. I still believe in the Stanford study that concluded that because of their minority status, American Jews tend to align themselves with liberal propaganda of “diversity”.

In fact, that’s a major issue that even Jews argue by themselves. Here is an example of two Jews arguing on the issue. Link

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Basically, what you’re up to is blaming American Jews for misleading their fellow-citizens, their communities, their friends: pretending to be aligned with American society while they really aren’t. This is a serious charge, with potentially grave consequences — a charge that shouldn’t be made lightly just for the sake of toying with outrageous ideas. And I must say I am not yet convinced about your motives (if you haven’t noticed, I’m the self-appointed responsible adult in this crowded neighborhood of rogue writers).

So the question arises: Is this accusatory description of American Jewry even accurate? Many American Jews whom I know — who take the trouble to constantly marvel at the extent to which they are an integral part of the great American melting pot — might dispute your narrative. And they might be even right. *They see a tolerant society that can put up with the cultural and religious differences inherent in so many groups playing a part in it. They see an influential group overcoming the difficulties of being a true American minority while preserving its distinctiveness and uniqueness. * This, they will say, is not “lying” or “posturing,” but rather living a complicated and rich life in this shining city on the hill.

In the above, a Jew is saying that the major reason for the political inclinations of liberal Jews was basically due to their “minority status” in terms of population.

Item 4: Maybe your complaint is that the majority of Jews aren’t meeting your standards of Jewishness.

I think you are unfair on this. I am speaking of practicing Jews, not the secular American Jews. And it is my belief that practicing Jews and practicing Christians are not that different when it comes to social values.

Now, if you are referring to liberal, modern-day generation of American Jews who believe in gay marriage and pro-choice, the same thing should be said with the so called Christians who have the same stand. It?s not religion anymore. In fact, it?s about secularism within both Jewish and Christian communities that make them cling to liberal ideologies.

Item 5: *If you want more Jews to vote Republican, you have to convince more Jews to agree with the positions of Republican candidates. It doesn’t work to postulate that because they’re Jews they must already be pro-victory and pro-life, but Jews are voting for those anti-war pro-choice Democrats because they’re too dumb to know their positions. *

Please note that I?ve never said that Jews were ?dumb?. Never. I have no right to say such a thing. In fact, I believe that?s a sweeping statement. But that obviously did not come from me. I heard that before from Ann Coulter but she was speaking to Democrats in general.
That?s why I am focusing on similarities, to point out that Jews and conservative Christians don?t differ so much. I repeat: If you are referring to American Jews, they are also not different to American Christians who are pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. I believe that their position on these issues have nothing to do with their religion.

Item 6: And if you want to persuade a Jew or anybody else to come around to your opinion, you’ll have a lot better chance if you leave out the “Jews should support…” part.

I agree with you that we should not use ?demographic labeling?. But don? be na?ve. We need to come up with a position that somehow address the issues of different social groups. Or else, we will be ?out-of-touch?. In fact, that?s the main strategy of Obama and the Democratic Party to both Jews, Catholics, and somehow the Hispanics.

Furthermore, please don?t forget that the topic of this diary is? Jewish Community ?making amends?. I don?t believe in making amends. Past is past and we should only remember them to teach us some wisdom in facing our future. Nothing more.

Item 7: On Non-Zionist Jews.

I understand that many secularized Jews are anti-Iraq War as the said position will only encourage anti-semitic views. Besides, they are Americans now and their position must be America First, rather than Israel. And I know that the MSM has already painted some pro-Iraq War Jews as neo-conservatives ? which is given by the democrats with derogatory meaning. This Non-Zionist view is now generally found to many ?young American Jews?. Jerusalem Post has an interesting idea on the matter. Link

Many younger American Jews face an absence of information and rootedness regarding Israel and its story. In part, this disconnect is tied to the politics of disregard that seemed to define American Jewish institutional disengagement from Israel during the first intifada and beyond. Many in the community seemed to remove themselves from conscious involvement with Israel.

The price of this political and cultural disconnect is a generation of younger Jews less equipped to reflect on the dimensions of Israel’s historic struggle for normalcy or on its geopolitical environment.

This may be the single greatest tragedy of American Jewish indifference.

Lastly, I am sorry if it hurts your feeling. After this, I will shut my mouth and I’ll let the Jews adresss their own issues in their own terms.