This is being written after a number of questions and comments I received. It is well worth reading the posting from yesterday, which you will find directly beneath this one. One interesting aspect of the comments was the attitude of a number who felt that the blog should contain items and articles of interest to them and were indignant that this was not the format. Well, certainly I hope that people find this blog of interest and service, here and in the USA and out there in the world, but I must confess that the reason I began this blog was to service my needs, primarily the need within to speak up and out, the need to allow my writer desires to come forth.
In any case, one comment, which struck me the most, was the one wherein a Jewish woman stated to another person that basically what ticked her off and some of her friends was the fact that I wrote about Jews. Really! So what should I have written about? Inuits in Alaska? The indigenous tribes of the Amazonian rain forests? The melting of the ice caps and the retreating of the glaciers? Soviet foreign policy and its replication in the Putin government? Whether we should have a censoring of food policy? And the list can go on and on. Some of these I have actually touched upon and others not but I am sure there are blogs that concern themselves with these and other topics. BUT I am a Jew and I say that proudly. I grew up in a home steeped in Jewish learning and tradition even as we were part of the modern world. I attended Jewish day school and high school before going on to college and gaining my degrees, ending with a post graduate degree in my chosen field of work. I have much family in Israel (so, government figures, does that make me untrustworthy as you have so stated recently with others?). I lost over 200 relatives that I know of in the Holocaust and had many close calls with the family in Israel. So, yes, I write about Jews. And let me ask you a question. Why are you so upset about that? Are you an adherent of those who would hide that fact, one of the new generation of people who are afraid, especially in Europe, to display outward signs of Judaism as they fear for their lives, or do you believe in being silent and how'd that work out for us in the 30's and 40's?
So on to the next topic. I am an American and as such believe passionately in democracy, in civil rights, in promises made to us by our Founding Fathers and in the unfortunate shrinking of such rights and I fight this wherever I find it - out there, or in here. I am a liberal in social policies. I hate and despise Fascists, no matter the disguises they attempt to use and hide their true intentions, but fascist beliefs and actions are obvious and cannot be hidden. It is only when we allow it to flourish that we find ourselves in a situation that has unfortunate consequences and no end in sight. So, yes, I write about that.
And I write my opinions and two cents worth of thought about varied issues. I wrote about politics, for whatever that is worth. I write about books and movies, about art and life. I even write at times about family and friends and I write about whatever comes into my head and mind and heart. If one does not like these topics, don't read my blog. That is the beauty of a blog - no one can censor it or limit it - only the blogmeister and for this blog - I am it.
I know that I am blessed with a large and growing readership and I feel that I have been extended a privilege to reach out and talk to people, to touch their hearts and minds and I am grateful for that. That is why I write what I write and how I write. And yes, in the writing of it there are people that are annoyed or frustrated or angry or agreeable. Wish to comment? I have opened it up, with control over posting. For obvious reasons.
And as far as the criticism or commenting on particular people, or asking questions of them, asking them to justify their actions or non actions - this has nothing to do with whether the person or people involved are "nice" or not on a personal and individual level. Some of the people I question here are , frankly, sweet and lovely on a personal level but I disagree vehemently with their actions and beliefs and so I speak up. I have friends who are ready to hit me over the head when I voice my opinion of the presidential race but we are friends. One cannot be overly sensitive to criticism if there is a fact or a good question behind it, expressed logically and contains no personal vitriol. Have I done that for the most part? Yes, I believe so but have I fallen off the log at times? Yes, as a human sometimes I had enough, but these people who instigated that are now just as smelts, of no consequence.
So once again I have tried to write and explain the state of mind of this blog and between the two postings I hope that it is now clearly understood and perhaps even receive approval. Freedom. Pride in identity. Care for the world, large and small. Politics. The environment. Dangerous people and political beliefs. All this and more - and for free too. While there is no physical food, I do hope that I provide some food for thought to the readers.
So thank you, readers, for reading, for contacting me via various channels and I thank those of you, the many of you, who sent positive statements. The blog will go on, with my choice of topics or those that are forced upon me by the deeds, actions, and statements of others, local and not, and I will enjoy doing the writing and in Act III that is the best that we can do for ourselves - enjoy life and use our talents, skills and interests as we wish and can.
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