BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

As many of you already know, I am not a fan of the current psychobabble 'forgive & forget' model of adult discourse. Some things are unforgiveable.     I am always willing to listen, discuss, open the door to considerate communication that doesn't attack or blame and of course - genuine apology that owns the behavior that caused the rift in the first place. No one should be expected to forgive without repentance by the perpetrator. No one. But blanket forgiveness? Sorry. That, in my humble opinion, is for suckers. excerpts From the political to the persona l, Americans are caught in an orgy of forgiveness. Failure to pardon, we're constantly admonished, will blight our lives. Now a psychotherapist counters that popular claim. You can refuse to absolve your lover, spouse, parent, sibling or friend, she declares, and still be emotionally healthy. Flip to any television station these days and chances are we'll be witness to some dramatic episode of fo...

Maggid Maggid - Retelling the Passover Story Raise the tray with the matzot and say: This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and conduct the Seder of Passover. This year [we are] here; next year in the land of Israel. This year [we are] slaves; next year [we will be] free people. The tray with the matzot is moved aside, and the second cup is POURED.(Do not drink it yet). Now the child asks "Mah Nishtana?" What makes this night different from all [other] nights? On all nights we need not dip even once, on this night we do so twice! On all nights we eat chametz or matzah, and on this night only matzah. On all nights we eat any kind of vegetables, and on this night maror! On all nights we eat sitting upright or reclining, and on this night we all recline! The tray is restored to its place with the matzah partly uncovered. Now we say "We were slave...

WHEREAS, the freedom to read is essential to our democracy, and reading is among our greatest freedoms; and WHEREAS, privacy is essential to the exercise of that freedom, and the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one's interest examined or scrutinized by others; and WHEREAS, the freedom to read is protected by our Constitution; and WHEREAS some individuals, groups, and public authorities work to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label "controversial" views, to distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries of materials reflecting the diversity of society; and WHEREAS, both governmental intimidation and the fear of censorship cause authors who seek to avoid controversy to practice self-censorship, thus limiting our access to new ideas; and WHEREAS, every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilienc...

I left the Democratic Party a while ago, in complete disgust. I am now independent of any party because I want to be able to vote the way I believe is best. The Democratic Party has, in my mind, failed EVERY ONE OF ITS TENETS. The article below, beautifully validates my opinions: A life-long Democrat, who has never voted Republican, the ideals espoused in the Preamble to the Democratic Party have been the coalescing force behind my dedication and loyalty. Without fail, I, along with millions of others, have rededicated ourselves to the principles that have not only “sustained” our Party but also maintain and enhance our Democracy. Unity to a common purpose does not mean “falling in line” to support a “selected” candidate. Rather, unity to uphold our Democracy and the principles of our Party are paramount. The resistance by loyal, life-long Democrats to automatically support the presumptive nominee is often characterized as an act of disloyalty; that we “sore losers”. No, on the contra...

By NEVE GORDON The Jewish celebration of Passover and Israel’s 60th anniversary coincide this year, and seem to be a good time to reflect upon, and perhaps explain, my passionate commitment to Israel. No doubt having been born and raised in Israel makes me feel most at home there. My family and friends live in Israel. I like the smells and the tastes, and I am not surprised or taken aback by the forthrightness, the occasional arrogance or the cynical humor, which characterizes many Israelis. My familiarity with the culture helps me identify and understand the nuances of social interactions. Yet this particular intimacy, which comes from recognizing and grasping the “rules of the game,” is in no way unique to me or to Israel, and I imagine many people feel the same way about their country of origin. Israel is, however, special for and to me in several other ways that I do believe are unique. My concern for it does not originate from the materiality of the place, if one means by this the...

CHRISTIAN NATION... OF IGNORANCE With a presidential election coming in about a year, there's been much chatter in the blogosphere about the candidates. Some even on this blog. I have lamented with other bloggers that there are no real leaders anywhere in either party. To me, it all seems very homogenized. I love politics and history. Always have. My late mother, however, would draw me into a political discussion with her other adult friends then chastize me severely for having strong opinions as well being able to argue point for point with her friends. She didn't like it and made me believe I was being 'uppity.' My trauma counselors believe she was jealous. I learned to keep my mouth closed and just shut down that part of me until recently. Another family member is a big politics-junkie too. And that got me going again as well as into blogging in 2003. Additionally, if I hadn't been so good with English Literature and Writing in undergrad school, I wou...

A CHRISTIAN NATION? The religious right is still working tirelessly to push America towards a theocracy. Something our founding fathers POSITIVELY did not want! Our military is being steered towards Christianity and the separation of Church and State is being chipped away at right under our noses. Precedents are not just being overturned--the five Catholic justices (John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Anthony Kennedy) are endangering jurisprudence in this nation by violating their oaths of office. Instead of maintaining judicial impartiality it appears they are imposing their religious and political ideology upon all Americans. The U.S. Code Title 28, Part I, Chapter 21 at Section 453 states the oath of justices and judges as follows: Each justice or judge of the United States shall take the following oath or affirmation before performing the duties of his office: "I, ________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I...