I found orthodox Judaism to be too legalistic.

That was the point of it I think, from a “civilizational” point of view. Others found it dry too. So we got the Hasidim.

As far a Christianity-it chose me.
I didn’t choose it.

Good. I think most religions can take you where you want to go(although I’ll pass on Islam, which includes a political component I find repulsive, and lacks a reformation.)

annoyinglittletwerp on January 7, 2009 at 4:46 PM

I believe in Jesus now-but I’m sure there are others like me…that partially left Judaism due to political alienation.

annoyinglittletwerp on January 7, 2009 at 4:24 PM

Not sure why you just didn’t become a religious Jew, but I assume you have your reasons. I’m Jewish but not religious, and have nothing to do with the secular community because of it’s liberalism, and little to do with the religious community because of it’s too strict doctrines and exclusivity, which doesn’t appeal to me. I feel alienated from American Jews. I try to learn a lot about all faiths, and fashion something that works for me. I’ve pretty much settled on a born-Jewish gnostic.

I believe in Jesus now-but I’m sure there are others like me…that partially left Judaism due to political alienation.

Actually, guys like Derschowitz are more useful to conservatives when they REMAIN liberals. Consider three headlines:

“KNOWN CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTS ISRAEL” (yawn)
“KNOWN LIBERAL SUPPORTS LIBERAL CAUSES” (ho hum)
“KNOWN LIBERAL SUPPORTS ISRAEL” (WOW!! Really?!?)

That third headline is an attention grabber, and has the POTENTIAL to cause some left-leaners to reconsider their opinion on Israel — and, who knows, maybe even other issues as well.

If Derschowitz were to ‘become a conservative’, his statements would trigger the first (non-newsworthy, non-helpful) headline, instead of the third (newsworthy, helpful) headline.

Furthermore, his being a liberal does very little to help the liberal cause generally, because when he supports an increase to minimum wages or some other liberal boilerplate, it is “dog bites man”, and no one cares.

So as a liberal, he does the conservative cause generally little or no harm, but does the conservative cause on Israel some considerable good.

why do you continue to identify yourself as a man of the left?

This a question that remains unanswered for many who support Israel.

What justification can any thinking rational person of Jewish heredity condone the liberalism that frankly would let Israel be destroyed.

Its like riding the Democrat party bus that the marquee says Hell on.

As Greens follow their path to karma they must admit humanity itself is a curse to the planet and yet, yet it feels so good to ski at Tahoe or swim with dolphins. So they make a few exemptions for themselves while carrying the guilt of knowing they are the rodents of the earth

Jewish liberals accept the world must be re ordered and yet the handbook says zionism is a criminal offense, so they must divorce themselves from their identity.

Jewish liberals have the double burden of wanting to swim with dolphins and pretending that being a liberal jew is not the same thing as being a jew, so no one will blame them for destroying world peace.

It is like a black hanging out at a klan meeting thinking he is one of the guys because he also believes in racial separation.

One issue doth not a conservative make.
The acid test? Sneak up behind him and whisper “Sarah Palin” and see if he chokes on his caramel macchiato.

whitetop on January 7, 2009 at 9:32 AM

So no choking would conservative make?

Summer on January 7, 2009 at 10:52 AM

Also, I think that many people are confused by the term “Jewish” when referring to American Jews.

When we speak of the Christian community in America, we tend to me the Christian religious community.

By contrast, the “Jewish” community in America generally refers to the majority non-religious community. I think that helps explain why so many people don’t get modern “Jewish” voting patterns. Replace jewish with secular and modern liberal and it will make more sense.

The religious jewish community in America tends to be conservative.

Summer on January 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Very well said. I also used to call myself a democrat. 9/11 opened my eyes and I grew up and realized the dem party was insane and no longer stood for anything I believed in.

nukemhill on January 7, 2009 at 10:47 AM

Thank you =)

Johan Klaus on January 7, 2009 at 10:42 AM

I agree for the most part and it is very sad to see. It’s why I’m no longer with them.

JiangxiDad on January 7, 2009 at 10:39 AM

Thank you. =) Yes, I agree on the “progressives” thing. I like to think of them more along the lines of “regressives”, really. I know that they won’t be happy until we’re all living in a tribal group in some rain forest somewhere and dying at the ripe old age of 20 due to lack of any civilization whatsoever.

But as to calling myself a Democrat, I no longer do that. Not since 2001, and I probably will not do so ever again.

Summer on January 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM

The democratic party has turned into the socialist/communist party.

Summer on January 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Good comment. There are many classical liberals here. They too are no longer Democrats, or never were.

I prefer when the Left uses the term “Progressives” to define themselves. I can smell the socialism in it. I regret they expropriated a fine belief, liberalism, and began the process of morphing that into fascism.

Why bother with the what ifs?

When was the last time a liberal had consistent positions on anything?

vinman on January 7, 2009 at 10:05 AM

Except welfare, gun control, ect……….

I’ll explain. =)

I’m not Jewish. Never was Jewish. I’m also a total atheist (as some here know). I believe in the right for same-sex “marriage” (although I don’t mind calling it something else to soothe ruffled feathers). I’m pro-choice, pro-NRA, and pro-adult entertainment. I don’t believe in ID or any creationist story out there. Oh and I’m for lowering taxes.

I also am a die-hard Zionist.

In fact, I’m such a die-hard Zionist that in 2006, I hopped on a plane and went to Israel to show my support and did things up north to prove it. I probably was the only blonde goy girl around, and I was proud of it.

I don’t consider Islam to be a “valid” religion. I base this on my judging all religions equally, obtaining different results from each.

So why do I support the War in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, etc? Why do I support Israel?

Because, much as it really pisses off a lot of die-hard conservatives to admit it, Western society, including Israel, is a “liberal” one.

I don’t mean “liberal” as in “left”, but as in classically liberal. Whether we approach the goals of a liberal society from a Right or Left viewpoint, the end result is the same in many respects.

As I see it, our “liberal” society is under threat from Islam. There’s really no two ways about it. Christopher Hitchens is very much correct and I was very sad to not see more liberals take his side in this war on “terrorism” – Islam, really.

The point is, I still view myself as a liberal in some areas but I try to take a broader view of “liberalism” than just a party line. I don’t tend to identify with party lines. I’m talking about societal philosophies here. Whether we are conservative or liberal (and our society is made up of both), we have a duty to defend what we have helped to make. And as dysfunctional as our societies can be sometimes, we are a far, far, better society than any others out there that I know of – certainly far better than anything in the Muslim world.

So as a “liberal”, I support these actions – because I’m a liberal. Just as many here support them because they are “conservatives”. What we really are supporting is “westernism”, and I make no apologies for it. I’m proud of it. I’m proud of our history’s accomplishments in a way, even if I may have had almost no impact at all in my life. It is something I wish would spread over the world. If it did, then the world would be a far better place.

But as to calling myself a Democrat, I no longer do that. Not since 2001, and I probably will not do so ever again.

When was the last time a liberal had consistent positions on anything?

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