Comments on: Well, this is special http://robinabrahams.com/2009/09/16/well-this-is-special/ Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:34:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Robin http://robinabrahams.com/2009/09/16/well-this-is-special/comment-page-1/#comment-1697 Robin Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:43:32 +0000 http://robinabrahams.com/?p=1289#comment-1697 Veronica, can I say I'm really glad to hear you're right-of-center? I don't go political much, but it's fairly obvious what my politics are, I'd imagine. So I'm really glad to know that my writing appeals to those who aren't necessarily on my side of the aisle. I always thought it <i>should appeal</i> -- that civility, and curiosity, and humor, and a genuine concern for human dignity -- ought not be political. But it seems there are many folks today who wouldn't trust a cookie recipe from someone who didn't agree with them on politics! Veronica, can I say I’m really glad to hear you’re right-of-center? I don’t go political much, but it’s fairly obvious what my politics are, I’d imagine. So I’m really glad to know that my writing appeals to those who aren’t necessarily on my side of the aisle. I always thought it should appeal — that civility, and curiosity, and humor, and a genuine concern for human dignity — ought not be political. But it seems there are many folks today who wouldn’t trust a cookie recipe from someone who didn’t agree with them on politics!

]]> By: MelissaJane http://robinabrahams.com/2009/09/16/well-this-is-special/comment-page-1/#comment-1696 MelissaJane Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:36:04 +0000 http://robinabrahams.com/?p=1289#comment-1696 Shoulda reread a little more carefully. I appear to be missing a second place. Which was going to be that there's a value to the rest of us in examining people like Madoff through a multitude of lenses, some factual, some analytical, some satirical. So, go Mr. Improbable; may all your works prosper. Shoulda reread a little more carefully. I appear to be missing a second place. Which was going to be that there’s a value to the rest of us in examining people like Madoff through a multitude of lenses, some factual, some analytical, some satirical. So, go Mr. Improbable; may all your works prosper.

]]> By: MelissaJane http://robinabrahams.com/2009/09/16/well-this-is-special/comment-page-1/#comment-1695 MelissaJane Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:33:53 +0000 http://robinabrahams.com/?p=1289#comment-1695 It may be that Commenter is correct, that the more Madoff's story is replayed, the more it fosters anti-Semitism. So what? We can't control the reactions of the malicious, the paranoid, or the extreme among us. Those people who have a rigid and extreme worldview can interpret any fact to support that view. Shutting down discourse in an attempt to appease the crazies is futile. In the first place, those who are determined to see Jews as Shylocks (or African-Americans as minstrels or monkeys, women as bitches or whores, etc) are going to persist in their beliefs, regardless of news stories about Madoff, comedy skits about Madoff, balanced reporting about Israel, etc. So, sure, the IgNobel event may somehow increase anti-Semitic feeling *among anti-Semites.* Eh. Hard to get exercised about making the crazies a little crazier. It may be that Commenter is correct, that the more Madoff’s story is replayed, the more it fosters anti-Semitism.

So what?

We can’t control the reactions of the malicious, the paranoid, or the extreme among us. Those people who have a rigid and extreme worldview can interpret any fact to support that view. Shutting down discourse in an attempt to appease the crazies is futile. In the first place, those who are determined to see Jews as Shylocks (or African-Americans as minstrels or monkeys, women as bitches or whores, etc) are going to persist in their beliefs, regardless of news stories about Madoff, comedy skits about Madoff, balanced reporting about Israel, etc. So, sure, the IgNobel event may somehow increase anti-Semitic feeling *among anti-Semites.* Eh. Hard to get exercised about making the crazies a little crazier.

]]> By: veronica http://robinabrahams.com/2009/09/16/well-this-is-special/comment-page-1/#comment-1693 veronica Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:15:21 +0000 http://robinabrahams.com/?p=1289#comment-1693 I always criticize my in group members. Maybe not publicly, but only because I don't have the proper forum. But there are certain members of my family who feel the need to email things that have been PROVEN false. During the election last year (we are a right of center family) I replied all with the links to factcheck.org. I don't take "misstatements" by the left, and I won't tolerate it from the right either. I always criticize my in group members. Maybe not publicly, but only because I don’t have the proper forum. But there are certain members of my family who feel the need to email things that have been PROVEN false. During the election last year (we are a right of center family) I replied all with the links to factcheck.org. I don’t take “misstatements” by the left, and I won’t tolerate it from the right either.

]]> By: Eeeeka http://robinabrahams.com/2009/09/16/well-this-is-special/comment-page-1/#comment-1689 Eeeeka Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:00:42 +0000 http://robinabrahams.com/?p=1289#comment-1689 I can honestly say I didn't remember that Bernie Madoff *was* Jewish. Not that it would have made any difference. Why pick on him? He's a household name (and not in a good way). I have heard of Mr. Stanford, but not Danny Peng, so I guess I don't pay enough attention or something. But no one seems to have outdone Bernie Madoff in sheer chutzpah. I can honestly say I didn’t remember that Bernie Madoff *was* Jewish. Not that it would have made any difference. Why pick on him? He’s a household name (and not in a good way). I have heard of Mr. Stanford, but not Danny Peng, so I guess I don’t pay enough attention or something. But no one seems to have outdone Bernie Madoff in sheer chutzpah.

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