From liberally minded to racist

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What is it that makes liberally minded individuals become mild racists once they become frum? Does entering an insular community mean you leave your egalitarian ideals behind and suddenly believe the worst stereotypes about other ethnic groups?

It's just sad.

Comments

  1. tesyaaJuly 28, 2013 at 9:28 PM

    It's a combination of the influence of the insular community, and the traditional Jewish teachings about the inferiority of the Other. I'm not sure why race has anything to do with it - in theory frum Jews should look down on all non-Jews equally.

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    Replies
    1. David StaumJuly 29, 2013 at 6:58 PM

      It might be an outgrowth of general xenophobia. In the case that prompted this short post, it certainly manifested as racism, by a formerly secular liberal friend who was commenting on Trayvon Martin.

      Delete
  2. Atheodox JewJuly 30, 2013 at 1:13 AM

    Part of the issue is the ba'al teshuva epiphany that "liberal-minded" = secular = not the "emes", that they've had the wool pulled over their eyes their entire lives and are now finally waking up, b"H.

    Then put them in a community where the same people saying "eem yirtzeh Hashem" are also saying "shvartze" and the like, and voila - you have yourselves a transformation!

    ReplyDelete

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