Interesting essay April, as was the essay you linked written by the divorced Israeli woman in her 40s living in Boston and meeting liberal judgemental lame men her own age. Made me think she might need to expand her dating app to include older men. My wife and I disagree on almost all political issues, except when it comes to Israel and anti-semitism, but our disagreements never lead to rancor, disrespect, or fighting. They simply don't form the basis of our relationship, which is based on trust, kindness, affection, understanding, and having each others back in all matters, except politics. When we reach a cliff we back off and end the conversation before we argue about something we can't change. It amounts to caring more about the other person's happiness than you do about yours. But not really, because it makes me happy to see her happy, and I think she feels the same.
I wonder if he's mentally ill, or low-key suicidal. He's clearly intelligent, but the kind of world he's arguing for would be an utter hellscape, and he knows that. It wouldn't even be a world he could survive in--and it probably would be even worse for his kids (I read he has kids). If he doesn't know this, there must be something very broken in his mind, or soul.
“I clearly recall when the topic was female genital mutilation... Peter argued that it was cultural practice that should be respected.” I always suspected Peter B also suffered from FGM.
I deeply disagree with Peter Beinart. His views are indefensible.
FGM is pure evil.
However, I do think that it is only fair to mention why someone might refrain from opposing FGM. People sometimes equate FGM with male circumcision which Jewish law mandates.
Someone could feel that criticism of FGM could be applied to male circumcision.
TOTALLY AGREE! There is NO comparison between FGM and male circumcision. To be the same would require cutting off the tip of the penis! And there are actually health benefits to circumcising foreskin, but there are NO benefits to cutting off a girl's clitoris or labia.
I have never in my life been a liberal. But I have tried to understand the liberal pov. Time was I could get the social issues. Not anymore. It all seems like chaos to me now. Excellent piece.
Beinart is a prototypical “As a Jew” Jew. I can’t stand him.
Interesting essay April, as was the essay you linked written by the divorced Israeli woman in her 40s living in Boston and meeting liberal judgemental lame men her own age. Made me think she might need to expand her dating app to include older men. My wife and I disagree on almost all political issues, except when it comes to Israel and anti-semitism, but our disagreements never lead to rancor, disrespect, or fighting. They simply don't form the basis of our relationship, which is based on trust, kindness, affection, understanding, and having each others back in all matters, except politics. When we reach a cliff we back off and end the conversation before we argue about something we can't change. It amounts to caring more about the other person's happiness than you do about yours. But not really, because it makes me happy to see her happy, and I think she feels the same.
I wonder if he's mentally ill, or low-key suicidal. He's clearly intelligent, but the kind of world he's arguing for would be an utter hellscape, and he knows that. It wouldn't even be a world he could survive in--and it probably would be even worse for his kids (I read he has kids). If he doesn't know this, there must be something very broken in his mind, or soul.
“I clearly recall when the topic was female genital mutilation... Peter argued that it was cultural practice that should be respected.” I always suspected Peter B also suffered from FGM.
Being pro FGM is a distinctly disgraceful POV.
I deeply disagree with Peter Beinart. His views are indefensible.
FGM is pure evil.
However, I do think that it is only fair to mention why someone might refrain from opposing FGM. People sometimes equate FGM with male circumcision which Jewish law mandates.
Someone could feel that criticism of FGM could be applied to male circumcision.
The two are very different for many reasons.
TOTALLY AGREE! There is NO comparison between FGM and male circumcision. To be the same would require cutting off the tip of the penis! And there are actually health benefits to circumcising foreskin, but there are NO benefits to cutting off a girl's clitoris or labia.
Great article & insight into one of our most loathed As a Jews of today!
I have never in my life been a liberal. But I have tried to understand the liberal pov. Time was I could get the social issues. Not anymore. It all seems like chaos to me now. Excellent piece.