Yes, I think that being a Democrat is the lesser evil...

After Shabbos, I got wind of the story about Rush Limbaugh getting duped by an Obama thesis hoax. Ok, so it does happen from time to time in today's fast-paced, sensationalist media that news stories are talked about before all the facts are checked. And political talk radio consists of mostly opinions, and a very warped view of facts anyway.

No, the kicker here is Rush found out that he had been had during the show. Yet his response was that he did not care if the quotes are fake, "I know Obama thinks it". Really Rush? Are you G-d now, you know the "thoughts" of random people? Now he did equate his conclusion with one that Dan Rather said about G.W. Bush; but come on now Rush; you sound like nothing but a spoiled little child here.

I don't know why Republicans are not out on the streets rioting over these mindless hijackers of the Republican party. While there is some murmur underfoot about this travesty, the reaction is still too subdued. Why is there not a single conservative, political commentary voice out their who will just tell folks like Rush and Anne Coulter to just be quiet already? While I do not find Glenn Beck to be as bad; I see him as a smart entrepreneur who is reaping huge returns on sensationalism and pandering to the latent fears of many Americans (conservatives and not). But even he won't stand up and call out the ridiculous showing that political talk radio/TV has become.

Yet on the side of the Democrats, we have no, serious intellectual political commentators to combat this evil force either. In fact, the Democrats are curiously quiet - for being in the GOP position. I am not sure why this is. After 8 years, we have returned back on the scene. Why no excitement, why no surge in growth and support of the Democratic platform. Isn't this what we have been praying for?

So I am not so up to speed on political commentary and news. I decided to Google to find some sort of way to disprove my thesis, and discover a liberal Glenn Beck counterpart. I didn't find anything. But I did find that Starzlife writes about Michelle Obama's wardrobe, and that there is going to be some sort of reality show called "The District" that is supposed to star Obama; in an indirect way (still trying to figure out how they are going to pull this off...but whatever).

So here we are, in one of the most prosperous, most rights-granting country on earth, and the populace does not seem to encourage diverse political thought. We would rather have the loud mouths speak on our behalf and go back to oogling over waif-looking actresses and singers. Behind us are the days when the youth were interested in working through the political system to make changes in how this country operates. The deep economic divisions have spilled over into our idealogical thinking and middle to low-class Americans have lost interest our political system. I wonder if it is not the system that is broken, but rather the people.

The American left and right have become so polarized; in my humble, totally non-expert, I feel that it will be a huge stumbling block towards getting anything fixed in this country. Democrats seem to be fine with being painted as shallow, devoid of morals, and irresponsible. The media, even the "leftist" media imply that Obama did not win the presidency because he is qualified, but rather because he has a great personality and an element of "star power" about him. I voted for him because he was qualified...I hope a minority of others voted for him due to the latter scenario.

Born Racists

On several fronts, I got wind of a Newsweek article that is being touted by many as being "liberal propaganda". Well I broke down and read it. Like most other Newsweek articles, it likes to avoid going into any depth of a single scenario and instead string a bunch of situations together into one long, noncohesive article. But in spite of the campy journalism, I do not see the "big liberal conspiracy here"; just like I failed to see the giant hoopla about President Obama's speech to schoolchildren. I have no clue when or how people became so super-sensitive...and also so adverse to things outside their own comfort zone.

I found the article very interesting, and if it were a presentation, would find myself nodding my head through most of it (most...but not all). It is funny, because in spite of the title, "Even Babies Discriminate", the article mainly focuses on children...and not babies. The revelation here is that white parents by far do not explicity address the issue of race. Instead they feel it is better that their children be "colorblind"; in that skin color is irrelevant. But it is relevant; in where that lies a big part of the problem. This is what I gently (or maybe not so gently sometimes) try to tell people. You cannot sugar coat reality and present that to your children as truth. Just like you should not try to teach your children that all criminals are put in jail; you should also not try to teach your children that all _____ people are treated as equals (unless you live in some unknown utopia somewhere that is).

The article also talks about how a diverse, integrated society doesn't change jack ___ in regards to alleviating racism; in fact, it can aggrevate it. This does not mean integration is bad; but it does mean that if applied incorrectly...like affirmative action has, it can be pointless ultimately. I have seen this demonstrated...from two instances in my own life. The first is when I was in elementary school...for the early part of it, I went to a Catholic school, which was probably 90% white; then later I went on to school in Allentown, PA where the student population was probably 60% White, 20% Hispanic, 10% Black and 10% 'other'. All throughout this time, most of my very close friends were not Black. In fact, in 4th grade if you would have asked me to list my 5 best friends, 2 would have been White, 2 would have been Puerto Rican (one which was a "White" Puerto Rican, the other biracial Black & Hispanic) and the other one was biracial (1/2 Black, 1/2 Italian). When I returned to western PA for 7th grade, I did not seek out friends on the prerequisite of skin color. So I was called a "sell out" because I happened to have more White friends than Black ones. What I know now (which I did not know then) is that I never really had the social precendent set for me that I could only be close friends with another Black child because the majority of my schoolmates had not been Black up until that point. My guess is that my Black schoolmates thought I was crazy and truly believed that they had little in common with our White classmates; surely not enough to be close, close friends with them.

The second demonstration of this came when I was an adult, and I moved to Miami. In Miami the "majority" (White people) are actually the "minority" in that somewhere between 60-70% of the residents of Miami-Dade county are of Hispanic origin. When you add African-Americans to the mix, you probably have 80% "minorities" around you. So you would think it would be the most tolerant, open-minded, least racist of places, right? Wrong. Not that Miami is anything like you would find in Alabama or the like. But you do have plenty of stereotypes that are very hard to break and that create a deep divide among people....even young people. I discovered that for the first time in my life, people would meet me, and then within the first couple of sentences start asking about my ethnic background (at least in Miami...people realize that Black people are not homogenous, so they at least have that going for them). I would try to skirt around the question but they would dig, and dig. Finally I would admit, in a cursory fashion, that my father was Jamaican and my mother American. "Oh...!" they would usually say, and their face would light up with an all-knowing look. Then the comments would start, "I like how Jamaican women are...", "You looked West Indian to me" (a lie, since I look just like my American mother), "Jamaicans are so ___". It's like, didn't you hear anything I said? I was born in Pennsylvania and raised by my American family. So how do your [invalid] perceptions of Jamaicans relate to me exactly? (????). Little did I know that many people in Miami had their entire social circle determined by ethnicity. Jamaicans were leary of Haitians; Cubans looked down on Puerto Ricans; South Americans had their little quirks and quibbles amongst each other; Trinidadians would get upset if you mistook them for being from Guyana. I met several White people who wanted to play mock UN (well you can be my Jamaican friend; I already have a Cuban, a Bajan, an Indian...). It was simply mind-blowing that all of this "ethnic stuff" mattered so much as to whether or not you could be someone's friend.

I think children are born with the right instincts, and then somewhere along the line, adults mess it all up for them. We have a natural curiosity at things that are "exotic" (in that we are not used to them) and will be more comfortable around things that mirror us a bit more (maybe this is why I was always weirded out by the long-haired, blue-eyed Jesus). However a child should be taught that the surface is just that...the surface. Sometimes you walk into the library and you'll see a pile of old tattered books. Now they may have been neglected because they were not all that good to begin with, so the library is not even concerned with taking the care to organize them. However you could have a real gem in there...a true masterpiece that was always overlooked because of it's tattered ugly appearance (it may even smell funny).

The only part of the article I really disagreed with is the part about minimizing the White pride aspect for White children. This is hypocritical. But I am sure when they think of "White pride" they are thinking of the Aryan nation version. However "Black pride" as it is presented is probably of the Huey Newton version. My take on that is that there is no "Black" or "White" pride. All of us are decendents of a culture. Even as African-Americans, if we do not know our African ancestral tribe, than we have 400 years of history here in America. Again, we should be presenting reality to children, and not a fairy tale presented as reality. There is no reason whatsoever that a White child cannot be proud of the accomplishments of their ancestors. Listen to Celtic music, dance to flamenco, learn to speak French. Everyone came from a culture that had moments of glory and moments of disgrace. This is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not nearly as shameful as deceiving little children and not properly preparing them to live in the world as it really exists.

Graduate Education; In The Most Unlikely Of Locations...

Two days ago I attended my Graduate School orientation at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, FL. I have never attended any recruiting events for this school, or met anyone who attended the school. I choose to enroll there mainly because of 1) the features of the MBA program 2) the low-cost tuition and 3) I was able to make the cut and be accepted. So with that being said, let me say this. This university is unlike any I have ever seen; it is in a swamp basically. Ok, well not just 'any' swamp -- the Florida Everglades to be exact. Not that this is a bad thing necessarily; here is why...

The school's address is in "Ft. Myers", but technically, it is in Estero, FL. Irregardless, this area on the west coast of FL feels very different than Southeast Florida. It seems much less molested and more representative of the South Florida ecology. The campus smells like a swamp (not a bad smell; similar to fresh cut grass in likeability I guess), and there are signs posted around campus that give a disclaimer about alligators and why you should not feed them (I looked and looked for alligators, but did not find any). Most of the buildings on campus are unassuming, and share a white/dark green color scheme. They are not nearly as interesting as the natural campus setting which includes lakes and ponds, marshes, forests of cyprus trees, and sandy beaches surrounding the on-campus lake. In fact, you would think that the school was a resort -- if it were not for the distinctive university signage and the droves of young people looming around.

Although I lived in FL for 5 years, I was taken aback at the sauna-like atmosphere at the university. Walking from building to building was enough to develop a thin layer of sticky sweat. Of course, it does not help that the campus buildings are not really close to each other. To be fair, the university is set up this way to be in complaince with various environmental issues specific to the campus. The campus grounds include crucial elements of the local watershed, and much of the acreage cannot be built upon because it will disrupt this.

The school enrolls more than 10,000, but I wonder how they all are contained. About 2 (maybe three) parking garages are under construction. However they are not open; so good luck finding a spot. School was not even in session and I had a hard time. But in spite of this explosive growth, the school is small for a FL state college. I am a big proponent of public education, but not every state school needs to be big, massive, flashy, etc. Also the graduate studies department is less pretencious. I am not looking for an easy program; but a program that can provide the support if it is needed.

Do You Miss Miami?

As I was leaving band practice last night, I noticed how humid it was. I got a flash of nostalgia for the nights in Miami; for nighttime is when it was generally pleasant to come out an about. The sun was not out, oppressing your every move. You saw lights, and neon, and all sorts of interesting people and things. The entire city seemed to morph into something completely different when the sun set. What a difference from Southwestern Pennsylvania when everything just seems to turn off when the sun sets. I remember when I was in the hospital and I spoke to my mother when she landed in Ft. Lauderdale at 11:15 pm. I was trying to talk to her and help her find my Dad who was supposed to pick her up. Her first remark to me was, "It's like 12:00 noon here, it's so busy!". I just chuckled. Because I could understand her bewilderment (she had never before been to South Florida).

Last Friday, I met some new staff members here at work. When I tell them a bit of my history, usually the question pops up, "Do you miss Miami?". My answer is pretty standard - "Yes, I miss Miami the city; but I don't miss the people, and I am glad to be away from there." While I am not lying, I definitely over simplify things when I say that. For example, I feel very strongly that Miami is my type of town. Things are diverse; things are ever changing and interesting; the weather is balmy; there are lots of Jews. In fact Miami reminds me a lot of Judaism in that you have a wonderful foundation, a wonderful framework and potential to be something spectacular, but the people ruin it. I feel that if Miami could purge itself from the majority of people who live there, and start again, it would be an excellent place to call home.

Another issue I had while living in Miami is the issue of loneliness. This was a curious problem, because I am not the type of person who needs tons of friends. To be fair, I did have several friends. But no one I was especially close to; and I felt this ongoing disconnect between myself and the community of citizens around me. As a young, single, professional 20-something, you would think that it would not be to hard to find friends. But I found too many instances of situations where people wanted to be friends on the condition of "something"; whether it be for connections, for convenience, for sex, or for help in rounding out their social persona. Not to often did someone bond with me as a friend because of the person I was. I found being social in Miami to be an exhausting exercise in trying to discover the hidden agenda of people and then being disappointed when I discovered they did not appreciate me as a person in the least. Nonetheless, I do not write off all people in South Florida for being this way. I just was not successful in attracting or finding people who operated outside of this; which I saw as the norm.

And the third major issue I had with Miami is the strange economic environment which exists down there. Searching for a job as a non-bilingual employee was an excercise in patience and diligence. The fact that Miami is like a miniture version of NYC and LA; where you have incredibly rich people flaunting their wares in front of the faces of immigrants; causes unrealistic expectations from employees and employers alike. Therefore the middle class status is very elusive in South Florida, unless you really know what you are doing. You'll get people who make a decent wage, going into incredible debt trying to mirror the "good life"; a Lexus or BMW in the garage, bi-weekly trips to high end salons, mystic tans, designer clothes and bags, a house in a cul-de-sac, etc. Instead of "making it", just staying afloat financially becomes an elusive dream.

So yes, I do miss Miami. I do not regret being in Pennsylvania at this time in my life, or maybe even for the rest of my life (who knows). But Miami will always remain special to me. It is where I blossomed into adulthood, it is where I discovered Torah observant Judaism, it is where I challanged myself and grew personally and professionally. How could I not miss it?

Who Wrote These/Did This Website?

I really had to laugh at loud at some of the community descriptions of various Mon Valley towns. Who is responsible for this? Also the main page is one of the worst Joomla! based sites that I have seen in a while...

The Irrelevancy of "Black Culture"

I got into a heated debate yesterday (surprise, surprise) with a man on a list-serve for Black Jews who put it out there that Black Jews should not focus on gaining acceptance from the Ashkenazi Jewish community, but rather rally together and build a new sub-group within Judaism. A group that would formulate minhagim, customs and the like from our "shared Black culture". Well I asked him to define this "shared culture" because in my opinion, there is no "Black culture"; at least not one that is substantial or concrete enough to build a new sub-group within Judaism. Not that Judaism even needs any more subgroups. But that is a whole different discussion.

My feelings on this topic stem purely from personal experience and my own worldview. I am not trying to say that I am right; and others are wrong. However I have what I feel is a valid opinion on a very subjective term ("culture"). Yet I was insulted and called names (surprise, surprise...I have a knack for this you know) for my views. So in this medium, where I won't be subject to so much of the back and forth (and misinterpretations that come along with that), I decided to clarify my points here, on my own blog.

1) My first issue with Black culture is it's definition. What is it exactly? Black American history is a part of it...but not the main part in my opinion. The history of any group does not necessarily yield any kind of power over the same group in the present (take the unfortunate case of the Native Americans, whose illustrious history does little to help them now). Also a common history is not enough to bond people together. Historically, Jews and Muslims had good relationships. But that is not the case now. But anyway, back to the definition of culture. Let's see what Merriam-Webster says:

the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group ; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time c: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization d: the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic

Ok, so looking at the definition above, you see that "culture" is basically referring to a set of norms that mold how a person lives. For example, in urban culture (New York city and the like), you have a society which is fast-paced, lives in an environment where space is a premium, eats out a lot, and has public activity going on 24-7 (this is just a gross generic example, I don't see such a broad group as a legitimate culture either). I agree that there was a point in time where Black Americans did largely share a stronger common culture; especially before the 1960s. However, in the generations that have followed, the Black American population has become increasingly diverse; socially, economically, regionally, and by nationality. Just how much does a low income Black woman in the Bronx have with a Nigerian computer engineer in Silicon Valley? Probably just their brown skin color (but wait...East Indians are also brown...)

2) My second issue with Black culture is that of ownership. Being a Black American does not automatically endow you with the gift of Black culture...whatever that may be. Even in my case, where I was raised by a Black family and within the Black community; here in my adult life, Black culture has very little influence over my lifestyle. Instead, my daily life is far more tempered by the laws and regulations of Judaism. My preferences in hobbys and entertainment come from my friends and acquientances who are mostly White. The food I eat is pretty standard American fare with occasional things from West Indian and Asian cuisine thrown in. Now, if Black culture were reflexive, and I could take the things that I do, and the life that I lead, and add that to the "Black culture pot", then that would be great. But I do not think it works that way. So if that is the case, than Black culture is pretty much irrelevant to me. Again, this does not mean I am glossing over Black history or the origins of my people. What I am saying is the unique norms and societal ways of those ancestors has had little bearing on my life today. This is not disrespect to those ancestors. In fact I think it is the utmost respect for them.

3) My third issue with Black culture is the double-standard it presents. If there is a "Black culture"; then there should be a "White culture" and a "Hispanic culture"....even a "Jewish culture". And many people may stand up and say that these cultures do in fact exist. But I would curious to see what exactly they present as examples of these "cultures". Yes, let's stop and think about this for a minute. Actually, it is a very scary thought; because most of what will be presented will be gross stereotypes...not true cultural markers. The reality is within these larger "cultures" you have much more accurate/valid cultures such as Italian-American culture, Cuban-American culture, Syrian-Jewish culture, Black-Jamaican culture, etc. Yet even with these subgroups, most people will have no problem accepting the fact that Maria Capecci (ficticious name), 4th generation Italian-American holds on to very few remenants of her Italian heritage. She is a Buddhist, her husband is a Black man, and her job has her working 4 months out of the year in Brazil. Should she still be forced to claim things and affiliate on the basis of her Italian-American culture?

I understand that my stance on this issue has the very real potential of being offensive. Hopefully those who really know me realize that I am not the type of person who minimizes the accomplishments of Black people worldwide and the rich traditions and various things that have emerged from our people. The issue here is not that I am not proud to be a member of the Black community; but rather what that membership requires from us. I feel that being a member of the Black community, at the present time, is purely genetic. It would make more sense to have the Black community drawn along cultural and societal lines...but it is not (and has not been, ever). In the United States, it is not like Africa where differing tribes see each other (and are seen, to a certain extent by outsiders) as different people. No. If you have African ancestory in America, than you are a Black American. This classification totally invalidates the notion of there being a "Black American culture" then, because you are glossing over all of the great, unique differences between many different types of people.

Oh I Guess I Do Have A Pittsburgh Accent After All

For some reason I have always maintained some sense of pride that I somehow turned out to be a bit more "cosmopolitan" than the majority of my Southwestern Pennsylvanian counterparts. This does not mean that I look down on them, but I just have a different set of life experiences that makes me the person that I am. With that being said, I am proud to be from this area. But I always figured that it was my little secret; that I could blend into the larger world seemlessly.

This past weekend, I was in Silver Spring, MD and talking to some of the locals. We were discussing colleges and Carnegie Mellon came up (ok, so I brought it up). A woman looked at me and asked, "Are you from Pittsburgh?" Oh; wait....how did she know that? Never for a second did I think that it was my accent or vocabulary (I didn't say "slippy" or "Liberty Tubes" or anything). But little did I know...I did. I said car-NEG-GEE Mellon and not CAR-neg-gee Mellon; like I guess the rest of the world says. But then again, maybe they are right and we are wrong, because I do [properly] say "CAR-neg-gee Hall". This woman then asked me to say "umbrella". Ok -- "UMB-rella". Ah-ha...busted! Because apparently everyone else says, "um-BRELLA". Oh well, who knew?

And how did she know all this? Well she used to have a roomate that was a Pittsburgher once upon a time. So she picked up on my accent right away; the accent I never knew I really even had!