Comments | sidur_mishpacha: On being in the majority and minority...

sidur_mishpacha

On being in the majority and minority...

Jun 24, 2012 15:26

I just finished the bear of a chapter I've been working on for more than a year (I've gotten other stuff done, but really--that chapter's been eating away at me). I am beyond happy! Now--on to the next one. This one was on what makes B'nai Mitzvah authentic, so at the heart of the work. The others aren't that bad. And just two more (rough ( Read more... )

Comments 3

carol_da_queen June 25 2012, 03:34:46 UTC

I am curious if you asked her if she had been personally discriminated against because of her faith? or is she deciding that she is in this category of 'minority' as you discuss it, a theoretical thing on the spur of the moment. I am aware that the idea of being persecuted appeals to some of these churches, and they promote it to their flocks...

This also makes me think of the legal complexities that have played out as people who felt they had been subjected to sexual advances/harrassment at work can 'know it when I see it' in teh courts. This has to be true obviously on some level but it is a very tricky thing to manage in terms of litigation/court cases/charges.How do you define this outside of the context of feelings?

Random thoughts in no particular order :)

sidur_mishpacha June 25 2012, 05:36:11 UTC

No, personal discrimination is another level. In this case, it was that her Christian practice and values weren't part of the societal norms. For example, stores remain open on Sunday, Christmas (actually very few are open), and so on. I didn't ask about the "war on Christmas," but I'm sure she'd agree that there is one ( ... )

olaanar June 26 2012, 15:56:40 UTC

I think you have failed to define your terms in a clear way. The easiest way to do this is to simplify and make it specific, but since you've opted to have a broader discussion than that, it's going to take long and be harder for you to define your terms. BTW, as you said, both hangnails and broken bones hurt, it's a matter of degrees. I'll agree those things have pretty different treatments (band-aid vs. doctor's office), but they do in fact have the common theme of hurts. And if you ask someone how much a hangnail hurts on a scale of 1-10 and a hangnail is the worst pain they've ever experienced, they'll probably tell you that a hangnail is a 7 (I'm assuming they have some knowledge and imagination for other pain). It would be a pretty exceptional hangnail to be an actual 7 (oh, and that's the other thing, not all hangnails are the same). Try and imagine for a minute where Mary is coming from and her experiences before you just jump in to a general discussion of minority and majority. Also, now is probably not the best time to talk ( ... )