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tell a friendThose who watch the Tennessee Country Music Network or Comedy Central have come across comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Foxworthy’s shtick, based on an exaggerated hillbilly accent and mannerisms, revolves around his making pointed observations followed by his standard joke line, “then you just might be a redneck.” (Example: “If you have eight motor vehicles in your yard and none work…then you just might be a redneck.”)
If Foxworthy were Jewish, he could do a similar shtick based on the refrain (all together now) “then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.” It would go something like this:
1. If you spend more time worrying about whales and dolphins than about Jews, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
2. If you think that the essence of Jewish ethics is supporting the political agenda of the left wing of the Democratic Party, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
3. If you think Michael Lerner and Arthur Woodstock of Tikkun magazine are really sensitive or deep thinkers, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
4. If you think the highest priority for your ‘Temple’ is to have a good recycling program, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
5. If you think Clinton was the most pro-Israel president ever, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
6. If you think that American pressure on Israel to make peace is necessary and valuable, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
7. If you think Jews should support affirmative action programs, even though they discriminate against Jews, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
8. If you disapprove of the Rev. Al Sharpton but think he has a good point about Jews being racists, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
9. If you oppose voucher programs for schools and school choice, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
10. If you think Anthony Lewis and Leonard Fein make a lot of good points, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
11. If you approve of the Religious Action Center of the Reform synagogue movement, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
12. If you do not understand why America still needs a strong military, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
13. If you still believe the US should have just let sanctions work in Iraq, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
14. If you still think Nelson Mandela is a hero, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
15. If there?s even the slightest possibility you might vote for Jesse Jackson for any public office, you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
16. If you like to complain about how tough people have it in America, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
17. If you send your kids to a Quaker day school, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
18. If you think all that talk about political correctness suppressing free expression is a myth, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
19. If you seriously doubt that the media are dominated by liberals, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
20. If you donate to the New Israel Fund, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
21. If you think the courts and police are riddled with institutional racism, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
22. If you think Jews should practice zero-population growth because the world is so crowded, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
23. If you think the Israeli settlements are the main obstacle to peace, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
24. If you think that Oslo was basically a sound idea that was applied incorrectly, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
25. If you think Shimon Peres is basically a decent guy with the right agenda, then you just might be an assimilated Jewish liberal.
Steven Plaut is a professor at Haifa University. His book “The Scout” is available on Amazon.com. He can be contacted at steven_plaut@yahoo.com
tell a friendAbout the Author: Steven Plaut is a professor at the University of Haifa. He can be contacted at steveneplaut@yahoo.com.
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