Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
Why don't Palestinians just convert to Judaism? Most of their ancestors used to be Jews and it would gain them the right to return to Israel, where they could live much better lives. If the answer is that they are devout Muslims and Christians, then do we need to save them from their own irrationality by either somehow getting them to convert anyway or by forcing Israel to give in to their demands so that they don't suffer the consequences of their bad choices?
If this happened at a mass scale, would Israel not allow it? I suppose they would doubt their sincerity and make it more difficult to just convert so that you can move to Israel.
Is this just hard to coordinate on a mass scale? Invidual Palestinians may not want to convert and immigrate and leave their communities. But that still leaves open the question of how bad things must really be if they don't do it anyway. Israel may be an ethno-state, but I think it's the only country in the world that anyone can immigrate to if they're sufficiently motivated to convert to a belief system.
Why don't reactionaries and conservatives convert to progressivism? After all progressives control all the institutions and have most of the power, they're the ones winning... Come get your email job organizing diversity and inclusion at Megacorp 39! Give up all your values, friends and family for material luxury and the dubious contempt of those who will still see you as foreign for the rest of your life!
Class and ideology is positively trivial compared to race and language. I'm pretty sure Israelis and Arabs can tell eachother apart readily, even if we can't. Plus Judaism is one of the most ritualistic and complicated religions in the world, it is very unwelcoming to converts.
People don't like changing their national/cultural identity, especially not to become like those they despise and have been in bloody conflict with for many years. It does happen but only over the course of many decades, if not centuries.
Well, there is Karlin, although one might doubt his sincerity.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link