Politics & Religion -- a place to go......

[Ira]

If some of you guys knew my history as a kid growing up in my part of Brookyn, you would understand my sensitivity to religious and ethnic issues.

At the time, the neighborhood (Canarsie) was only 50% Jewish, 40% Italian, 5% German and 5% Irish, and just one black kid.

Can you imagine? Only 50% Jewish.

Every day walking home from school, the orthodox Jewish kids would push me to the ground and draw a yamulka (skull cap) on my head with a magic marker, because I never actually wore one. They teased me with haunts of, "Bad Jew! OY VEY! Ira! Where's your YALMULKA!?"

Yes, they'd eventually let me continue on my way home--after demanding to see my Bar Mitzvah certificate--but shortly thereafter, the Italian kids would bully me:

"Hey--you don't know SQUAT about cooking a decent sauce or lasagne! What's your momma cooking for you tonight--POTATO PANCAKES!? BOILED CHICKEN!? CHOPPED LIVER!? HAH!!!"

These words cut like a knife, because of course, they were right. It was boiled chicken, potato pancakes and chopped liver for dinner once again.

The German kids never really bothered me, because they were all in jail. And the Irish kids were seldom a problem either, because they were at the bars.

I never did meet that black kid, though.

[sledge]

Was his name Jackson , Ira ??? if it was , he is no longer Poor..... Or Black...... Just had to say that .

[wolfix]

Hey, why do you think the aliens don't ever land here for long?

Let's not change this to a discussion of illegal immigration.

[/quote]
POST OF THE MONTH!!!!!!

[wolfix]

If some of you guys knew my history as a kid growing up in my part of Brookyn, you would understand my sensitivity to religious and ethnic issues.

At the time, the neighborhood (Canarsie) was only 50% Jewish, 40% Italian, 5% German and 5% Irish, and just one black kid.

Can you imagine? Only 50% Jewish.

Every day walking home from school, the orthodox Jewish kids would push me to the ground and draw a yamulka (skull cap) on my head with a magic marker, because I never actually wore one. They teased me with haunts of, "Bad Jew! OY VEY! Ira! Where's your YALMULKA!?"

Yes, they'd eventually let me continue on my way home--after demanding to see my Bar Mitzvah certificate--but shortly thereafter, the Italian kids would bully me:

"Hey--you don't know SQUAT about cooking a decent sauce or lasagne! What's your momma cooking for you tonight--POTATO PANCAKES!? BOILED CHICKEN!? CHOPPED LIVER!? HAH!!!"

These words cut like a knife, because of course, they were right. It was boiled chicken, potato pancakes and chopped liver for dinner once again.

The German kids never really bothered me, because they were all in jail. And the Irish kids were seldom a problem either, because they were at the bars.

I never did meet that black kid, though.

Sounds like my neighborhood except it was religion that separated us...... We were 75% Catholic , 25% Protestant, and some kids who played hockey. I think they were Canadians. But we never really asked because they didn't speak English.

We had a Jewish kid too. But he went to the Catholic school with us. And I'm glad because he grew up to a really liberal banker...And everyone needs one of those. I was 26 years old when I realized my best friend growing up was Mexican. I never thought of him being Mexican because he spoke English.... The bath tub with the Virgin Mary in his front yard should have been a clue to me, but hey..they were all over the neighborhood.
The great thing growing up Catholic was walking past the public school on days when we only had half days of class because of a religious holiday.... There were some great fights. But no one ever got hurt.

[caseydog]

I lived in a little town just outside of Cincinnati for 2 years as a young teen. It was a bizzare situation. We were a family of Italian Lutherans living in a town full of German Catholics. Go figure THAT out.

Now, I am an unsure seeker, living in the heart of the Bible Belt. People read those "end times" novels a lot here -- and look at me funny.

I took this religion test online, and it says I'm a Quaker. If I move to Pennsylvania, will I be born again and become a Southern Baptist?

I'm so confused.

[Ira]

We were a family of Italian Lutherans living in a town full of German Catholics. Go figure THAT out.

WOW!!!

That is REALLY unique!

[caseydog]

We were a family of Italian Lutherans living in a town full of German Catholics. Go figure THAT out.

WOW!!!

That is REALLY unique!

My extended family is all Catholic. My grandfather married a German Lutheran, and when my dad was born, the local Priest came to the house while my Grandfather was at work, and told my Grandmother she and her child (my dad) would go to hell if he was not baptised and raised a Catholic. When my grandfather got home, he found his wife in tears. My grandfather went to the priest, punched him in the nose, and our family became Lutherans.

CD