tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post2712016967413446857..comments2023-08-16T11:24:07.170+03:00Comments on Chopping Wood: Part of the World or Not? Us Against the GoyimUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-42239120858406657852009-08-05T21:02:17.969+03:002009-08-05T21:02:17.969+03:00It's frightening how much we think alike. Here...It's frightening how much we think alike. Here are my comments I posted on the Orthonomics blog about the speech:<br /><br />He unfortunately provided some mixed messages:<br /><br />-they really are out to get us, therefore we need to be conscious of our behavior at all times<br /><br />-they aren't out to get us, therefore we need to be good citizens and stop trying to game the system<br /><br />Which is it?<br /><br />There seems to be three justifications used when Jews are caught breaking the law:<br /><br />1. They're out to get us, so we need to take all we can<br />2. It's too expensive to live as a frum person, the only way to make it is to cut corners<br />3. Everyone else is doing it (variant on #2)<br /><br />(there's also, "because I can," the Madoff rationale, but that is more rare.)<br /><br />It's easy to counter #1 by pointing out that modern Western countries (and the US in particular) allow us the freedom to learn, daven, dress, and truly live the way Hashem wants us to. Not only that, the government provides subsidies for our schools and our poor, and the US government even funds and protects our foreign interests more often than not. How DARE any Jew think that they are justified in subverting even the most minor laws of this great country?<br /><br />If you can break down #1, then #2 and #3 are, in some ways, the easiest to address. If you don't have any justification other than "this lifestyle is too expensive" you have to find a way to make the lifestyle less expensive, or you change the lifestyle. The Torah certainly does NOT allow you to skirt taxes so that you can keep your son in law in kollel.<br /><br />Oh, but wait, no, they're out to get us. (I believe he meant the media, primarily, but the damage is done.) If they really are still out to get us, some will remain justified in whatever they can get away with. Until they're caught.Avi Greengarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14267040237664555562noreply@blogger.com