I’ve been meaning to link to this long post by Frumdad for a while (ever since Rachel Ann pointed it out to me). The post explains how Frumdad (“frum” is a term Orthodox Jews use to means “religiously orthodox,” by the way) reconciles Orthodox Judaism with his decision to vote for Kerry.
I particularly liked his discussion of same-sex marriage. Here’s a sample:
Because if you think that Homosexuality is any more alien to the vast majority of Americans than the laws of Niddah, then you’ve been living in an urban or near-urban center with a high concentration of Jews for too long. If you think that Homosexuality is any more strange to your typical middle-American than the rules of Shomer Negiah, then you haven’t traveled enough. And if you don’t think there’s a way for that kind of power to turn around and bite us in the behind, then you haven’t been paying attention.
This is not like that whole, “first they came for the Jews” thing. This is exactly that thing.
I’m not saying, of course, that “if gay marriage is banned the Nazis will rise again,” or anything of that nature. (That would put me seriously in “get a grip” land.)
I would say, however, that for those of us in minority religions, it is shortsighted to support a law – any law – which “solves” a contentious moral issue by forcing all of us to abide by the majority’s religious views, rather than leaving such matters up to individual conscience.
This is not like that whole, “first they came for the Jews” thing. This is exactly that thing.
Wow. This is great. Thanks for posting this.
A couple of years ago, just after “Trembling Before G-d” came out, a group of Portlanders formed a loosely organized gay-Jewish group now known as Keshet. One of our most important roles in simply to exist, so that Jewish queer folk can get to know one another and find a voice in the community.
I’m not strictly observant anymore, but I do know what frumdad is talking about: many aspects of Orthodox life have a weirdness that others can only guess at! It is the ability to accept that weirdness that holds the key to our survival as a society.
Yes, this is exactly that thing.
Excellent point. I remember going through my grandmother’s scrapbook and seeing that on her various official documents from Poland she and her sisters were identified by their mother’s maiden name rather than their proper surname. This, she explained, was because the local authorities refused to register Jewish weddings.
And in what most be the most obnoxious request of one blogger on another bloggers blog comments, I would request that everyone read please Frum dads whole post AND the post by Zman from Biur Chametz (who holds the opposite view.) Both are well written arguments for their respective parties.
BTW, I’m probably addressing the choir here, but the reason I asked Ampersand to post on this was because even when I disagree with him I think he argues intelligently and without rancour.
I’d just like to add that for those of us IN the majority religion it’s short-sighted to support a law that forces us to abide by that religion’s views.
(Well, perhaps especially when the majority religion is Christianity, which is quite complex and doesn’t, in fact have A view on homosexuality or really anything else.)
But even if you are a right-wing fundie evangelical Christian, today’s law based on your religion is tomorrow’s law based on somebody else’s religion. It’s the principal of freedom to choose a religion or none that protects our faith, not somehow getting the religion right (as if that were possible).
Once again, I must plug my favorite book on this topic of late:
_Love the Sin_ by Jakobsen and Pellegrini