I would like to know what alternate universe Rick Perry comes from where Christians are a persecuted minority.

So there's this asinine campaign ad:

And this brilliant parody that manages to point out a lot of reasons why Governor Perry is a xenophobic jackass while making me exceptionally proud of my co-religionist.

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a Jew -- Heck, I'm even a Rabbi... but you don't need to be in shul on every Shabbos to know there's something wrong in our country when gays can serve openly in the military and yet they still can't get married legally in most U.S. States.
Our Jewish kids in public school have to watch as their peers celebrate Christmas -- a holiday they don't observe. They have to sit quietly as the Christian students pray in school. That just seems uncomfortable.

As President, I will fight to end this crazy talk that there's a war on religion. And I will fight anyone who discriminates against others simply because of their sexual orientation.Intelligence made America strong. It can make her strong again.

I'm Rabbi Jason Miller and I think it's too cold to film a video outside in Michigan in the winter. Who approved this?

YES. THANK YOU, RABBI MILLER.


I have been head-desking since Perry’s ad went up both about his blatant homophobia and also his subtle-as-a-ton-of-bricks implication that Christianity is the only valid religion in the United States. Which it isn’t. There is no war on Christmas, Christians are still the religious majority, and that is likely not going to change. However, this perceived sense of “persecution” that the far right feels is dangerous to every religion that actually is discriminated against. 

The United States of America were founded on the principle that every religion is free and equal under the law. However, by creating an imaginary war on Christian values, the Far Right stands to sway a tremendous number of xenophobic voters to push legislation that seriously impedes on the rights of practitioners of every other religion in this country, including those that practice no religion at all. 

There is no “war on Christianity.” There is not a “War against Christmas.” The Democratic party does not have a kill list with Jesus and Santa Claus right at the top.

All this imaginary war does is perpetuate the real war on religion that is going on in this country - the discrimination and sometimes outright hatred that Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Athiests, and all other groups perceived by the far right as being a “threat” face. 

Christian Values are not American Values. 

“One Nation, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” is. 

Stop the hate. 

Also? Same jacket.

Happy holidays to YOU

I don't actually celebrate Christmas - you may have realized this by now. I am a Nice Jewish Girl - it comes with the territory. But I do have an awful lot of friends who celebrate Christmas. I grew up in the Southern United States, so this also comes with the territory. I also know a buttload of Christmas songs, and I inexplicably own a Santa hat with my name on it.

I really like the holiday season, though. I like decorations and fake snow and salvation army santas, and I like buying presents for people I love. Unlike some people I know, I don't mind being wished a "Merry Christmas" at checkout, because it's the season of love and joy and I'm sure the girl at the register is actually cynical enough 90% of the time without me lecturing her on being politically correct and doesn't need to be screamed at: HANUKKAH, I CELEBRATE HANUKKAH. I like gingerbread and candy canes and the Hershey Kiss varieties you can only find for about six weeks between Thanksgiving and the first week of January.

(Except the Cherry Cordial variety. Gross.)

So, blog readers, although I don't celebrate it, I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas full of love and light and family, and a happy new year as well. (I do celebrate New Years, in case you are wondering)

My plans tomorrow? I'm going to go see True Grit with my family, and then will probably eat some variety of Asian cuisine. (Chinese is traditional, but we prefer Japanese and Thai.)

Here's a picture of me/A Nice Jewish Girl in a santa hat:

(My webcam mirrors everything. The lettering really does go in the right direction)

You mean these don't come standard?

Apparently "pre-Yom Kippur" dinner as defined by NYU Hillel is "pizza and bagels." Now, being a true Jewish young adult, I have absolutely no problem with pizza and bagels constituting a meal: however, if it is my last meal until 7:45 the following night, I would really like something more substantial than that. Like chicken. Or briscuit. Anything that, if I eat it, I won't be starving again four hours later. This menu just seems like they're making life unnecessarily hard on themselves. At any rate, I decided to go to the hillel thing instead of an Undergraduate Anthropology Students Association thing because I wanted a real meal, while as it turns out they will be serving pizza at both and so there really isn't a difference. :|

Pondering if I shouldn't just make chicken for myself here...

Leez.