I can honestly say I don’t understand what the hell is going on with the zionists and wanting to live in the middle of the desert, surrounded by muslims who hate them. What kinda life is that? God promised they would return to the crappiest place on earth? Why? They should have asked god for Jamaica.

My main complaint about israel is frankly that country is on welfare and cannot even support itself without taking BILLIONS of our tax dollars. This should be eliminated and let the chips fall where they may. They can’t leech off of other countries citizens hard earned tax dollars forever.

I also think the hasidic jews are, well, friggin weird even by religious standards. I mean they can’t even play the xbox.

I have always felt an underlying prejudice from religious jews against everyone else on the planet. I feel like they pretty much proclaim to be the master race as well as god’s chosen and my understanding is they are vehement about protecting the pure bloodline. Not to mention that go to separate schools and live in separate neighborhoods.

Not all jews certainly, I have lots of jewish friends who can’t answer a single question about judaism. Most say they got bar-mitzvahed for the money and other than that they know nothing. Some are atheists, some agnostic and one that is like a buddhist hippie

I never hear of any criticism from jews against israel or zionism and I think that is a huge mistake because it only reinforces the perception they consider themselves separate from the world kind of an us against them mentality.

I thought jewish food was blessed and based solely on religious requirements. I only mention that because you seem to point at that as evidence of a culture where I would assume any and all religions could claim to have a culture of their own based on their traditions. If these cultural aspects are based on old testament junk then practicing it is practicing a religion is it not?

I would love to hear more about how you partake of jewish culture? Do you honor the sabbath or eat based on the biblical requirements? Ever have a ham sandwich or a bacon cheeseburger?

Our military supports israel because of it’s strategic location to defend America’s oil interests. No more oil, no more support.

I don’t get pissed at Jews any more than any other religious/cultural community with such an ethical moniker; I get pissed at people who do stupid and horrifically offensive things, like cluster-bombing innocent civilian populations. That, of course, includes the U.S. as a perpetrator.

Have ya noticed? I HATE CLUSTER BOMBS!!!!!!!!!!!! They’re a particulary despicable weapon, little more than an airborne delivery system of landmines, which I equally hate.

I really can’t say I personally know any Jewish people though, so I’m actually unfamiliar with Judaism and the Jewish culture on a closer level. Most of what I know comes from sparse reading about the subject, and I readily admit my deficiency in this respect.

But I do agree with one other point Dawnisis brings up: Hasidic Jews do seem to be freakin’ weird. Their customs are a case in point about how religion can certainly warp minds into unfathomable strangeness. Religious fundamentalism under any label can never be a healthy thing.

There is something more going on with our support for israel than what I mentioned and this definitely falls into the realm of speculation. I think the powers that be WANT unrest in the middle east, no matter how many billions it costs or how many people die. I have always viewed iraq as a part of this massive destabilization effort. Pakistan too. Nothing can happen there without our support they are ALL killing each other with OUR weapons.

I assume this destabilization creates more and more dependency on the U.S. and the more dependency the more control we have over them.

Basically we are playing them all like pawns against each other. The rich get richer is what it boils down to.

Love this article! I think it is extremely important that all citizens of the good ‘ol USA understand the difference between culture and belief.

My own experience with atheism is that I have never been able to believe in any diety. I also value honesty. I used to think I was weird and different (in respect to being able to believe) than most folks. But now, I suspect that most people value their religious and familial culture more than they value living honestly.

Believe me, I understand the desire to protect cultural and familial relationships. I have gone through a great deal of grief, inflicted on me by the religious, for my inability to believe. My constant answer is “Do you want me to be deceptive for your benefit? I could pretend but it would do me and others harm and waste my energy. No thanks!”

Keep up the good work!