Jewish Paranoia

[salinen]

Surrounding the WH inner sanctum is this large, powerful group of Jewish ideologues that we know as Neocons. Wolfowitz, Perle, Kristol, Krauthammer, etc. They see the world as them against evil. They push for the extreme: Star wars, pre-emptive assault, get them before they invade the U.S. or Israel mindset.

Now most of my older relatives are in their 80's, and I remember as a child that they would always remind me of how everyone hates us and wants to kill us.

My Uncle remembers traveling in the south in the 40's and seeing signs that said "No Niggers or Jews" in restaurants and elsewhere.

My other Uncle would never buy a German made anything. He'd say that another Hitler could come along anytime.

My Mother thought Jews were superior, and that's why we are hated so.
BTW my Mother was a really average, non-educated person.

Nonetheless, I think that the phenomenon of Jewish Paranoia has become part of the policy in Washington for many decades. It's not to say that Jews should not be paranoid, but that it leads to a condition that I would call "A Security Fetish" They never feel secure, and the feelings of insecurity lead to ever new ideas on how to become secure.

I also feel that the mindset of never feeling secure leads to some psychosis, and not necessarily foaming at the mouth psychosis.

Any thoughts?

[Dover]

1. A very thoughtful post

I think we can all become victim to our own fears. It's a viscious circular cycle. And there is also the risk of becoming the very thing you fear most.

[salinen]

4. I see in this election

that the person who people feel will protect them is who they'll vote for. Helping this along is an administration ceaselessly reminding everyone of terror. Fear is so easy to manipulate.

[catbert836]

2. Yes, but they're not doing it by themselves

They're in power because people of Christians like Bush, Ashcroft, DeLay, and Rumsfeld believe we have to save Israel or else the Second Coming won't happen, and the USA is the one to make sure it does happen.

[salinen]

6. Those are the

foaming at the mouth types.

[catbert836]

7. Yes,

but the same evangelical persuasions hold true within the administration, even if they don't show it off.

[silverpatronus]

13. haven't they ever seen a movie? an episode of buffy?

the folks who try to make 'prophecies' happen never have them quite turn out the way they thought it'd happen.

[Eric J in MN]

3. What's George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld's

excuse, if Jewish paranoia is Wolfowitz's excuse?

[salinen]

5. Yeah,

Paranoia is certainly not limited to the Jewish persuasion.

[Joylaughter]

8. Let's scapegoat the Jews!

Good. Really nice. While I don't practice any religion, I am considerd a Jew. People tell me I look Jewish. My parents are Jews. So maybe I am a Jew. I have no bond to Israel or to those Jews who currently support Bushler. I am afraid that the facists will plunder and when someone needs to take the fall the Jews will be blamed because of a few evil men. Your post scares me. I am suspicious toward the government and society because it is only prudent to never place complete confidence in that by which we have even once been deceived. That is why Bush must go along with his cronies, their plural ethnic heritages not-withstanding.

[Cleita]

10. I understand how you think of yourself.

Although, I don't believe in religious myths, I was raised a Catholc and I guess culturally I am a Catholic. Most of the people I have associated with my life are Catholics because we were all raised together. It doesn't mean I give a cent to the Church or walk into one unless it's a baptism, wedding or funeral, but it seems to be with me all the time whether I like it or not.

[salinen]

12. Scapegoating?

I find that the current occupant and the surrounding staff see the world black and white and good and evil. They have chosen radicalized thought as their vehicle toward who knows what. Most Jews are not republicans. But somehow, this bunch has latched onto the paranoid Jews that I remember from childhood.

[Cleita]

9. Fifty years ago, there was a lot of hate and prejudice against

Jews in certain sectors of America. Fortunately, most of us, who were children at that time, went to school with Jewish kids, played with them and got invited to their homes for birthday parties and other occasions. We graduated together and went to each others weddings, so I believe, my generation was the first not to be anti-semitic in America. I am very surprised when I run across it in some of the rural pockets of America. I blame it on the fundamentalist churches.

[Joylaughter]

11. Thank you

I still come across racism, predjudice of all sorts now and then and am way to sensitive about it. I just want to live in harmony. Your post was nice. Thank you.

[PlanetBev]

14. Good Post

Being from a liberal Jewish family and then seeing this paranoia manifest in former liberals like Ed Koch and Ron Silver makes me so sad. It's also sickening to see a chicken-hawk neo-cons like Wolfowitz help send so many young people to their deaths. It feels like "Invasion of the Body Snatcher", where the pods are taking over the Jews.

I'm living in Mondo Bizarro.

[henslee]

16. What the heck happend to Ed Koch???

[henslee]

15. I do think its PTSD from Holocaust and centuries of persecution.

I attribute this security fetish you refer as an inherited dysfunctionalism which I see in my family and which results from being victims of genocide and persecution. I'm sure blacks, Armenians and other victims of genocide have similar realities. In the case of Wolfie, Perle and the like, this dysfunctionalism has for some unknown reason manifested itself in extremist tendencies. It certainly isn't representative of Talmudic values and an "evolved" morality which represents the best parts of Judaism. For me, the secular Judaism and Yiddish culture that existed in Eastern Europe at the turn of the century exemplifies the best our religon has to offer. It is the Judiasm I am most proud of and the one I wish that non-Jews can grasp and appreciate when they think of "Jews". It espouses learning and education, hard work and civic duty, charity and the embracing of other cultures and the less fortunate. Too bad, Yiddish culture is is a virtually extinct today. I do not identify with Zionism and likewise Zionists look down on me, also a Jew. I think is wrong and judgemental yet indicative of the mindset you describe in your post.

(edited a little)