tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post4991123436375267995..comments2023-10-17T05:01:42.650-04:00Comments on Abandoning Eden: My 10 heritagesAbandoning Edenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12696116071749613265noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-62486094174047587842012-09-19T07:53:58.565-04:002012-09-19T07:53:58.565-04:00Shana tova u'metuka and a gmar chatima tova.Shana tova u'metuka and a gmar chatima tova. Commenter Abbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07753256568022159103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-54889499661645216362012-08-27T08:59:39.265-04:002012-08-27T08:59:39.265-04:00Thought you might find this interesting
http://www...Thought you might find this interesting<br />http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/magazine/from-bible-belt-pastor-to-atheist-leader.html?_r=1&ref=magazineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-31822507331673180892012-08-17T09:39:41.965-04:002012-08-17T09:39:41.965-04:00The American/Canadian diversity discussion brings ...The American/Canadian diversity discussion brings up another issue related to your original post: What differences do we see and acknowledge? At what point do different societies see a characteristic as a heritage (or ethnicity or race or other group thing) as opposed to just an individual difference? <br /><br />For example, I was initially taken aback when you cited your stats on Canada vs. the US, and then I realized that we use different terminology. Americans "see" Latinos, who are a group that includes Whites, Natives and Blacks and various combinations thereof, as a single group, and do not "see" Hispanic Whites as being part of the White category. By contrast, through American eyes, all Whites in Canada are lumped together, without regard to ethno-linguistic background. By contrast, Canadians "see" Latinos who are White or partially White as simply being White (according to official definitions of "visible minority"). On the other hand, Canadians are far more likely to identify French-Canadians during any discussion of demographics, since they are considered a distinct group for political, historical, cultural, linguistic and religious reasons.<br /><br />In the Jewish community, I find a range of views toward seeing other identities. My Indian friends are proud to be both Indian and Israeli and see no conflict with having both identities. By contrast, Eastern European Jews who fled the shtetl don't tend to identify with other Eastern Europeans - they will identify with the specific Eastern European JEWISH community, but if someone happens to have blond hair and blue eyes, it's not unusual to hear "someone must have been raped by a Cossack". I also notice a tension in Israel between celebrating the diverse national backgrounds of Jews, vs. stressing the common Israeli Jewish identity. I know there is a shtetl fetish, but there are other cultures in danger of disappearing. We are trying to record my husband's surviving aunts now, because when they are gone, there won't be any Jews left who remember life in Iraq. The some can be said about the Ethiopian Jewish community - you have this amazing story of a religious group living in relative isolation, separated from the mainstream Jewish community for over 2,000 years, but the desire for integration is winning out and their distinctive beliefs and practices are not being preserved.Law momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01859590966207623757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-70638373062961813922012-08-14T19:51:18.641-04:002012-08-14T19:51:18.641-04:00Wonderful! This reminds me, AE, of your frequent a...Wonderful! This reminds me, AE, of your frequent assertions that your marriage is not an "intermarriage" since you and your husband are on similar pages with respect to the most important issues in life...and of course, I agree with those assertions. This makes me want to resume writing!Tovahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13810096432831688198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-65156063932043993152012-08-10T11:19:00.575-04:002012-08-10T11:19:00.575-04:00This gives me food for thought. I am part of the h...This gives me food for thought. I am part of the heritage of women artists- Cassat, O'Keefe who have an are leveling the art world playing field.AriSparkleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05353792696786575669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-90464900875137992502012-08-09T13:48:38.165-04:002012-08-09T13:48:38.165-04:00JRKMommy,
Vancouver and Toronto are VERY diverse ...JRKMommy,<br /><br />Vancouver and Toronto are VERY diverse cities. Canada overall, not so much.<br /><br />I mean, if you came to the US on a trip, and visited NYC, LA, and San Francisco, you would be VERY confused to read news reports about white evangelical Christians, thinking that they don't exist. :)Miami Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02977503720972852329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-45116147181741964692012-08-09T10:31:50.066-04:002012-08-09T10:31:50.066-04:00Well, you kinda did say that America was the ONLY ...Well, you kinda did say that America was the ONLY country like that when you said "unlike any other country", but your correction/clarification is noted and appreciated.<br /><br />Still think that the greater Toronto and Vancouver areas have greater ethnic diversity - half of the population was born outside of Canada, and they each have a wide representation of ethnicities. [Oh, and we can tell the difference between Sikhs and Muslims too.]<br /><br />As for the rest of your post...I guess I've just demonstrated my Canadian heritage! I get a little peeved at the stereotype that all Jews come from the New York area. Ditto the stereotype that all Jews are White/European - dh has a very distinct Iraqi heritage. It's also interesting that you mention "hidden" heritage, such as possible Turkish influence. In university, dh suddenly realized that his father didn't look Iraqi - he looked East Indian (to the point that Indian friends were commenting "your dad looks just like mine!"). We subsequently discovered that Iraqi Jewish traders had a significant presence in Mumbai, so we believe that's part of his heritage.<br /><br />Another pet peeve of mine is the way that some in the Orthodox community will push the "follow the family/community customs" ideas, but ONLY when it involves taking on stricter rules. If they find someone who was less religious, some will say that they should take on the customs of the rabbi who made them more religious. I find that incredibly disrespectful to the family of the BT.<br /><br />Personally, I like to play it the other way. My dad was raised in Montreal's Spanish and Portuguese shul, which also happens to be Sephardic and currently has a wide range of North African and Middle Eastern Jews including Iraqis, so I'm legitimately claiming its positions. If my Orthodox bubby could tell me all about her rebbetzin wearing a tallit, and if the rabbi demostrates solidarity with the gay community over hate crimes, then that's valid for my family, right?<br /><br />Finally, I get a bit annoyed at those that would ignore the Jewish radical tradition. There's this patronizing myth by some in the frum community that Jews were led astray by outside liberal values as they assimilated in North America. It's closer to the truth to say that in many cases, Jews themselves were the rabble-rousers who were agitating for social change in the rest of society. Family minhag on my mom's side includes the United Jewish People's Order (ie. socialists), garment workers and union activism. On both sides, it includes activism and commitment to freedom and equality.Law momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01859590966207623757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-81344752216135720982012-08-09T07:49:17.410-04:002012-08-09T07:49:17.410-04:00Yes but is most of Latin America as developed as t...Yes but is most of Latin America as developed as the United States? <br /><br />Also they may have more racial diversity but do they have more ethnic diversity? Or is the racial diversity based on their ancestry (Combo of Native Americans, Spanish and other colonialists, and Black people originally brought over as slaves, right?) but most have a Latino ethnic identity? I honestly have no idea what the answer to that is. <br /><br />I think what we have here is not only racial diversity, but also cultural diversity...the fact that in some rinky dink place in the South, like where I live, I can walk down the street next to my office and my food options include Thai, Japanese, Chinese, European style bistros, coffee shops, a southern bbq place or 3, Indian, Jamaican, Mexican, "Pan asian and south american", a NY style pizza place, and a Subway all in 2 blocks. <br /><br />I'm not saying we're the ONLY country like this out there either. Just saying that compared to some places I could be, and some places my recent ancestors lived, it's pretty darn awesome to be here.Abandoning Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12696116071749613265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-48699539816047918192012-08-08T21:39:10.976-04:002012-08-08T21:39:10.976-04:00Most of Latin America has more racial diversity th...Most of Latin America has more racial diversity than the US... As far as immigrants being generally welcome and an open democratic society, see as well as Canada, Australia...mOOmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440274434662150925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-25992941343122358142012-08-08T19:18:57.856-04:002012-08-08T19:18:57.856-04:00Canada is much more White than the US- 80% of peop...Canada is much more White than the US- 80% of people are White. There are also almost no Black people in Canada (2.5%) and only 1% Latino, 4% are aboriginals and the other 12% are Asian<br /><br />In the US non-hispanic Whites are 65%, 16% Latino, 12% Black, 5% Asian and 1% Native American<br /><br />We're #1! :)Abandoning Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12696116071749613265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-44937944617073965072012-08-08T18:59:13.908-04:002012-08-08T18:59:13.908-04:00"Unlike any other country we also are the gre..."Unlike any other country we also are the great salad bowl into which all cultures mix, and we have such a diversity of people and viewpoints and cultures all coming to meld together and make great things. That's pretty darn cool. I feel lucky to have been born here, despite our problems."<br /><br />American diversity is indeed wonderful, but it is not unique. Look at Canada - Toronto is arguably more multicultural than New York.Law momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01859590966207623757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-44498262922322267032012-08-08T16:25:33.367-04:002012-08-08T16:25:33.367-04:00One of the neatest things about the Olympics has b...One of the neatest things about the Olympics has been the true diversity of the American squad...<br /><br />Most countries are pretty homogenous, the Korean teams representing both Koreas were all filled with Koreans. Japan's team, all Japanese, China's team, all Chinese. A few African and Caribbean nations had one or two people of European extraction, likely a result of their former colonial days, but overall, a single ethnicity. Indeed, except for the former colonial lands, it is a very distinct ethnicity at that.<br /><br />The American team was a true mix, people of all sorts of family heritages all competing under the American banner, all saluting the American flag, and all wearing the red white and blue of America. It was truly a sight to take in at the opening ceremonies (caveat, we look extra diverse @ the opening ceremony because the swimmers don't participate because they compete in the morning, which removes a bunch of white bodies from the US squad).<br /><br />Israel is also somewhat diverse of a squad, since Jews from all corners of the globe moved there and bring their physical diversity, even without religious diversity, something kind of neat to observe... especially given how many NY area Jews think that Jews look/talk a certain way...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com