1. Thanksgiving Thread: I've made this observation before, but I've seen a bunch of people Tweeting things that reinforce the analogy between politics and religion, particularly when it comes to cutting off friends and family.
2. For one example, someone expressed gratitude for not having any Republicans in the family. I could just as easily imagine someone expressing similar gratitude that all their children turned out observant.
3. There's an element of "wokeness" which reminds of Orthodox Jews who just come back from their gap year yeshivot and seminaries. One friend called them "HBFI" meaning, Hideous Back From Israel.
4. For those unfamiliar, many of such people come back insufferably sanctimonious, a transition some called "Frumming Out" or "Flipping Out."
Here's a classic song that describes this phenomenon better than I can, and it's worth a listen.
Here's a classic song that describes this phenomenon better than I can, and it's worth a listen.
5. Just as students who spend 10 months learning in yeshivot and seminary feel enlightened enough to judge and convict their friends and family, so too many others with politics and based on even less serious/critical evaluation.
6. Alternatively, you'll also find parents who write off children who go "off the derech" referring to those who are no longer observant.
7. What I find in all cases is the selective ethos people follow. Sometimes people will say things like you need to be polite/respectful/inclusive or that family is the most important thing. Other times they'll say the transgression is so severe they must be excommunicated.
8. Some say it's not really about politics but ethics and values, but that criterion would apply no less to religion.
9. My point (which I've made before and will continue to do so) is that we don't really believe in unity or exclusion, but we fight over the definitions of the boundaries. We're arguing over where the line ought to be, not over the line's existence.
10. The reason why I keep repeating this is bec I think we'd be better off if we try to be a little more honest about what we're doing and the principles we claim to follow.
11. If we allow exceptions for ourselves, we should understand others making similar judgment calls for their own exceptions.
12. If religious principles like "love thy neighbor" and "honor thy mother and father" are absolutes, then they must apply even when you think they're irredeemably immoral.
13. And if such exceptions exist, don't be surprised if others make similar judgment calls against you or others based on their own understanding of morality or religion.
14. There are always going to be scenarios when we feel it's best to cut out toxic or abusive people. We all have to make these decisions for ourselves, but a decision to do so should not be made flippantly or lightly.
15. All families have their issues. I've seen it in others and in my own. It's easy to express gratitude for the obvious when things are going well. It's far more challenging to be thankful when things are difficult.
But maybe that's when thanksgiving is most important.
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But maybe that's when thanksgiving is most important.
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