Good morning,
Tonight is the Winter Solstice. This is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Things are looking brighter from here on, as the days grow longer!
A number of people have written to me regarding my observation that, not only are minority ethnic and religious groups identified and often vilified by many in the majority, but those minority groups often choose (and I would argue should choose) to be identified as such. Being part of a common “family,” with a common heritage, should be seen as a positive. Most people agreed and shared stories of this important identification—as being American and also being a member of a smaller group, rich with its own stories—of survival, tradition, and success.
BELONGING TO A DISCRETE ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS OR NATIONAL BACKGROUND
I wrote a few weeks ago about the pendulum swing from “we’re all in one big melting pot” to a desire by many to identify with a culture or a people. I posited that those ostracized in society always have been forced into identification with their group, while those who are part of a vast non-descript majority long for connection.
As David Rochkind points out, the desire for a sense of tradition, heritage and belonging is exemplified by the explosion of interest in businesses like “23 and Me” and its sometimes inexplicable analyses of our backgrounds:
“I find is amusing, not to be confused with schadenfreude, when folks who identify as, for example, Italian, Irish, or Scottish go on a pilgrimage and purchase kilts or get tattoos of flags or symbols (e.g. clovers, Celtic patterns) only to take a DNA test and find out that they are eastern European. It just proves your point of people seeking belonging and the desire to be part of something and have an identity. I don’t envy those who thought they were something they weren’t and are now disappointed or lost.”
I share David’s amusement with those who think they’re German only to find out they’re Scottish. I have friends who learn that they’re 98.5% Ashkenazi Jew. Then there are those with Jewish blood in their backgrounds. Or those Southern whites who learn that their blood is not nearly as “pure” as they had thought!
THANKS, MICROSOFT
I’m really stuck now on how these algorithms work. The other day, when I went to confirm a Musing hit my inbox (and, therefore, yours), it was nowhere to be found. I discovered that it was redirected to my Junk Mail. There is nothing that happened in the day between its last delivery and that day. It was something to which I subscribed (so, notably, not junk). And it was FROM me TO me. I am at a loss to understand…
DOWD HAS IT RIGHT
Maureen Dowd hit it right the other day in the New York Times on the topsy turvy world these days, stating a few things that should be pretty obvious to most of us…namely, why is so difficult to “make the case” on matters that matter?:
“[There is] no excuse for what Hamas did on Oct. 7, but Oct. 7 is also no excuse for Israel’s relentless bombing in Gaza.
I think this is still America. But I don’t understand why I have to keep making the case on matters that should be self-evident.
Why should I have to make the case that a man who tried to overthrow the government should not be president again?
Why should I have to make the case that we can’t abandon Ukraine to the evil Vladimir Putin?
Why should I have to make the case that a young woman — whose life and future ability to bear children are at risk — should not be getting persecuted about an abortion by a shady Texas attorney general?
Why should I have to make the case that antisemitism is abhorrent?”
Amen.
HOUSEKEEPING
Consistent with last year, there will be only three Musings a week for the two upcoming weeks of Christmas and the New Year. The regular ridiculous pace of five days a week will begin again the week of January 8th.
Have a great day,
Glenn
Happy Holidays! We are on the same page!