(no subject)

[talktooloose]

I don't even know how to deal with this. I just walked away (quietly — like a bathroom break) from the Rosh Hashana dinner table because I can't deal with the fact that my mother is going to vote TORY!! because they are offering to fund religious schools. She admits it's wrong that Catholic schools have been getting funding all these years. AND NOW SHE WANTS A PIECE OF THE ACTION FOR THE JEWS!!

I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS. The Tories represent everything that is wrong with the direction of this country, of the developed world. They are the smug banner carriers of the free, freer, freest market — carrying that banner high over their heads as they march us into environmental and social oblivion.

I come from a tradition of secular socialist Jews, fighting for unions, fighting for social justice. And she's going to fucking vote TORY over this issue? The party of Mulroney, Harris and that charlatan Harper.

Shoot me.

Comments

[toodamnloud.livejournal.com]

Wow. That sucks. My family's voted Democrat since FDR. Just try to explain that church/state separation is much better for Jews.

And l'shanah tovah.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

My mother has been a lifelong middle-of-the-road, nice Canadian Liberal (as was her father before her, right back to the 1920s) but she gets very blinkered when it comes to her idea of "good for the Jews". The rest of the family are disgruntled NDP supporters.

My father agrees with your point. He was going on about his worry at what will be taught at the madrassas that will pop up. I agree with him, though I step farther away from the inherent anti-muslim sentiment and say that I worry about the teaching at all sectarian schools, Jewish included.

[toodamnloud.livejournal.com]

Oh, but it is the Days of Awe, so you have to forgive her.

[lux-apollo.livejournal.com]

Parents. Oi. I haven't even talked to mine about that.

I won't shoot you. Well, unless you never give me back a beta. Then I might.

*shifty eyes*

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Trying! Trying! For instance, this morning I could be doing it, but I have to do more work for my dayjob from home as I'm the only one who knows how to program the beastly survey that the client is clamouring for.

I really will try, M. I want to! At the very least, notes based on my read, a full beta if possible. So sorry to keep you waiting.

[lux-apollo.livejournal.com]

Dude, no worries. I was just looking for an excuse to 'shoot you'. Trying to be funny. Obviously not succeeding as usual. Gah.

*hides*

[briseur.livejournal.com]

Yeah loving someone whose politics are in direct oposition to the convictions one holds dearest is of course challenging. You should talk to my Friend about it.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Is the old money not down with her socialist work?

[briseur.livejournal.com]

No, the new boyfriend has judgements about her career with the Democrats.

[adoka.livejournal.com]

here is what you do. On voting day get her so drunk she passes out. Or take the spark plugs out of the car. Or hang a Quarentine sign on the door. Offer to drive her to the polls and gett lost on the way.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

But... I'll be in India. And I don't a car to drive her with. And she doesn't get drunk. And if she did, she'd probably be a nasty drunk!

Hello, who are you and where did come from? We don't share any friends that I can see and don't belong to any of the same communities.

You're welcome here, I'm just curious as to your provenance.

[adoka.livejournal.com]

Oh well, I guess you have to let her vote. :-).

I don;t recall. You must have posted something somewhere that I really liked at the time so I added you to see what else you had up your sleeve.

[painglass.livejournal.com]

To see how being all religiously tied can fuck up a country, just look south to the US. *sighs* I am sorry to hear your mother has gone crazy. You have my sincere condolences!

I will not shoot you however. You're much better alive and upset over this (and possibly pushing for good), then dead and not feeling anything. Personal preference. :)

[rfmcdpei.livejournal.com]

That sucks. I'm sorry.

[danger-aardvark.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of my relatives who are pro-Bush because he's pro-Israel. Doubtlessly they're all pro-Tory now, if they weren't before. Ridiculous how easily they can forget the greater issues when offered a small piece of the pie. I think the Torries are so popular because they appeal to people's selfish natures. While they might be sensible most of the time the offer of tax cuts, or funding religious schools, or anything that might give them a small leg up, makes them forget that they're supposed to be looking out for the greater good.

[spizzy.livejournal.com]

There's probably some people who vote for lower taxes because it appeals to them personally, but certainly not everyone who is fiscally conservative is that way for selfish reasons.

About the religious school funding, I can think of four simplified camps:

1) For funding jewish religious schools because it's unfair to only fund Catholic schools. All religions should be treated equally.
2) For funding jewish schools because they are jewish and they want jewish schools.
3) Against funding jewish schools because NO religious schools should be funded by the government.
4) Against funding jewish schools because they dislike judiasm as a religion in particular.

The people in camp 2 are the selfish ones, but there might be a fair number in camp 1. Camp 1 is impossible though, because it's impractical to start funding muslim schools, jewish schools, zeus-worshiping schools etc. Camp 4 is antisemitic. I'm personally in camp 3. I wish there was more of a separation of church and state in Canada.