Jewish History Month proposal up to president (House approved resolution)

[sabra]

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/13423115.htm

Jewish History Month proposal up to presidentThe House of Representatives approved a resolution Thursday calling on the president to proclaim January as Jewish History Month.


Quick, who was Judith Resnik?

If President Bush heeds Thursday's congressional resolution urging him to designate January as Jewish History Month, schoolchildren across the nation may learn that Resnik was the first Jewish-American woman astronaut. She was killed in the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.

The Jewish history resolution was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat who represents Broward and Miami-Dade counties and happens to be the first Jewish congresswoman from Florida.

She envisions classroom instruction, public ceremonies and broadcast announcements similar to those for black and women's history months in February and March. Whether Jewish History Month would gain that level of national acceptance and participation depends on whether it is embraced by schools and other educational institutions.

''There's a generation of children growing up with a fading memory of what happened during World War II or even an understanding of anyone who is Jewish or their culture and traditions,'' said Wasserman Schultz in a telephone interview shortly after the 423-0 vote in the House of Representatives. ``Through education comes tolerance.''

[savemefromdumbya]

1. sure

we should have all Muslim, Buddhist etc

[ShockediSay]

22. Freedom of Religion is a wonderful thing; it allows Christians

to worship and observe as they choose, similarly Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists etc.

Separation of Church and State, allows ordinary citizens to be free of governmental involvement and imposition of religious observations upon ordinary citizens; it also prevents Talibanization, Ayatallahization, Christian supremacy, Jewish dominance or any other form of Islamic state not previously mentioned. Separation also prevents people like Bill Frist or Debbie Wasserman Schultz using MY government to get in MY face with THEIR religious predilections and proclivities.

It is not that I am irreligious; quite the contrary. If Frist and Schultz and the Imams of this Nation want to practice their faith, let them look first to the needs of this nation's poor in keeping with the traditions of Christ, Hillel and Muhammad, respectively and respectfully.

I believe there is but One True Faith, and it has hundreds of editions (George Bernard Shaw).

And if Frist and Schultz and the Imams of this Nation wish to practice democracy in America, let them enable equality of opportunity for all, instead of Me and Mine and whatever We can take for Ourselves.

[Zhade]

2. You know what might also be nice? Native American History Month.

I mean, this country WAS built on the land of my ancestors, maybe a nod like that would be a small token of appreciation, eh?

[Loonman]

7. I'm not big being patronized, no offence to the Jews

But as an American Indian, I don't feel I need special treatment or recognition. The fact that people still know about and recognize American Indian culture is enough. Eventually all full bloods will die out, and the rest will just blend into the gene pool. I bear no animosity to any broad group of Euros or "anglos"(man, I hate that word), but get angry on a case-by-case basis(Abromoff, etcetera).

[Zhade]

11. Oh, it's not about recognition for its own sake.

I'm of the view that having a set national recognition of Native culture and history would remind all of us of the lessons of the past, and how to take care to not repeat the mistakes and tragedies.

[rodeodance]

12. We do celebrate this already. November

[AspenRose]

32. November is Native American History month.

http://www.accd.edu/pac/lrc/nativemo.htm

May is Asian American/Pacific Islander Month.

March is Women's History Month.

September is Hispanic Heritage Month.

And of course, February is African American History Month.

[still_one]

3. Morgan Freeman

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/ap_en_ce/people_morgan_freeman_5

[Che_Nuevara]

5. I knew I loved Morgan Freeman

A few years ago The Onion headlined a wonderful article entitled,

"Black History Month Ends; White History Year Resumes"

[Che_Nuevara]

4. Unfortunately, there are only 12 months in a year :( (n/t)

[sabra]

6. true that.

peace.

[Missy M]

8. All these history month's are becoming ridiculous and I doubt anyone..

in this country pays much attention. If there is a Jewish history month then there will have to be a Catholic history month, protestant history month and so on. What happened during World War II should be taught in history class, I know it was when I went to school. Everything becomes a fading memory with time.

[AlienGirl]

18. Jewish history is more than "what happened in World War II"

A small and interesting example is the history of Jews in sports in America. Have you heard of Benny Leonard, one of the greatest boxers of all time?

Tucker

[Missy M]

25. Well I certainly agree with that BUT one of the reasons Rep. Schultz..

wants this is because what happened in WWII is becoming a fading memory. I stand by my statement that if we have history months they should include everyone so it would become endless. Lets just teach history in history class. I haven't heard of Benny Leonard but I don't have a great knowledge of boxing. Boxing has many different religious and ethnic groups. Every religion has a history, as does every culture so if you have a history month for one, there should be a history month for all. I would have had the same reaction had someone proposed Catholic history month, etc. Judaism is a religion foremost.

[Behind the Aegis]

26. that would nice.

"there should be a history month for all." Yes, there should, but there isn't! It is not taught year-around. So, maybe our efforts should be on correcting the history taught in schools today.

You also say, "I haven't heard of Benny Leonard but I don't have a great knowledge of boxing. Boxing has many different religious and ethnic groups." You heard of Mohammad Ali?

[Missy M]

27. I did a little research on Benny Leonard and he started his career...

in 1911. I wasn't around then. With modern communications I had no choice but to hear of Mohammad Ali. How many people today know much about Joe Louis or Max Schmelling? Only those with an interest in boxing.

[AlienGirl]

29. Did you know about the rabinnic gunfight in Portland?

Back around the Gold Rush times?

Tucker

Edited: it was Portland, for some reason I thought Seattle.

[cookiebird]

9. Judith

She was from the Akron area. Astronaut, before it became popular.
Didn't notice any correct anwers. Challenger, 1986.

[Chautauqua]

17. Um

Actually, it was in that paragraph in the article. BTW: She attended Temple Israel in Akron (near Fairlawn).

[patricia92243]

10. Sounds good to me. n/t

[WinkyDink]

13. Bad idea. Just teach U. S. history and world history HONESTLY and

with DETAILS.
I'm a recently retired h.s. teacher, and I can tell you that facts, causes, effects, chronologies, and God forbid nuances are treated as nuisances. After all, if the concept being studied is "War", well, heck, any one will do. Let's choose, um, the Battle of Actium!

[Copperred]

14. Ultimately this trend issad...

Entho-religious centric desires and behavior led by what are a very influential community in the States....it just leads everyone else wanting to do the same except those who believe in a fair and united country.....this behaviuor of course just divides...circle the wagons....all of you over here...we over here.......

Teddy Roosevelt and his hyphenated America was absolutely correct.

A better ammendment would be to abolish all gov't support for anything religious at all, whether christian, jewish, muslim, yank all gov't support for holocaust museumums across the country.....remove the christmas tree from the WH Front lawn.....no more ramadan dinner at the WH...

I forget who said it...but they were right....... "If American does not kill Christianity, it will kill it." Proving to be the case...with no real defensive group in action... .....Historians will look back on 90s/00s with simple analysis.

It will be interesting to see how the next phase of the US inspired crusades (whether as justification for oil wars or other) plays out.... ..u can be sure its coming unless some of these so called "Americans" really fight the good fight.

Have a happy saturday...reality is a good thing.

[Copperred]

16. Creating the Artificial Divide:.....those who do it.....and why.....

Freeman knows what he is talking about.

---------

FREEMAN SLAMS BLACK HISTORY MONTH 17/12/2005 13:43

Actor MORGAN FREEMAN has attacked the decision to dedicate a month to black history.

The OSCAR winner claims Black History Month, held each February, is a "ridiculous" concept.

The 68-year-old says, "You're going to relegate my history to a month? I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."

In an interview on American network CBS - due to air tomorrow (18DEC05) - Freeman points out there is no 'White History Month' and claims the only way to eliminate racism is to "stop talking about it".

He says, "I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man."

[IndianaGreen]

15. We don't need Jewish History Month, anymore than a Black or Latino

History Months! I agree with Morgan Freeman who said that what we need is to teach the whole history of the United States. American history, as written in textbooks and taught in our schools, is incomplete for it is basically a history of the white Americans.

[Behind the Aegis]

19. I am all for it.

I am, however, not surprised by some very typical responses that have already appeared.

[anotherdrew]

20. so why do you suppose the repubs are so PC all of a sudden?

Anyway, I'm sure this will have the same enormous positive impact on american culture that black history month has had. no, that wasn't at all sarcastic. Who wants to take bets on the next History Month... who's it gonna be? Gotta be native americans right? Let's see who then? I guess the bets should be taken on what the forth History Month we be about... Gotta have a asian american month, then a hispanic, then finally we'll have room for a european american history month perhaps. How about a mens history month too? Whoopie!

This is primarily about a few million in federal and state grant money isn't it?

[Behind the Aegis]

21. .

Native American History month is Novemeber.
Hispanic and Latino History month is April.

[anotherdrew]

23. well, mission accomplished then... have a nice history month

[Behind the Aegis]

24. I shall.

Happy Channukah!

[HuffleClaw]

28. so...

...when is islamic history month?

[AlienGirl]

30. After you write to your congressional representatives and propose it. nt

[Copperred]

31. i doubt the Muslim world cares.