Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - ‘Chosen people’ ideology

gloria

chosen-ism was a major factor in anti-semitism in europe. the two millenia of hatred against jews stemmed in large measure from christian hatred of their co-monotheistic faith, and sense that it challenged their own faith.

jews were blamed for killing and sacrificing babies, drinking blood, etc. it's right there in chaucer; in shakespeare even in the pound of flesh.

i think that arguing against it today is to argue against something that is not current in jewish identity or religion, so why do so? jews are presumably uniquely evil, if i follow your point. i would argue they are not different from other people. certainly the idea of being chosen was destroyed for jews by the holocaust because why would god have permitted such a thing to his people? that would be how most felt after the holocaust, and in fact israel was founded by people who favored secularism, partly due to the discrediting of any notion of "chosenness."

lastly, despite your argument that jewish chosenness is different, i disagree. the notion of superiority of a people, say tutsis or yoruba or any other group, was not really different from jews in their sense of themselves as a community.

most people, in the end, see their groups as superior. i think it is a feature of human nature to see one's self or group as different, and in the difference, better. "we do it this way; you do it that way" and unstated, but believed: "ours is the right way."

we live in an age that some view as privileging diversity, not chosenness. maybe that will help improve human society, if we can convince people of this value.

k

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

harrow@msu.edu

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Gloria Emeagwali <gloria.emeagwali@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 2:08 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - 'Chosen people' ideology

 

Well the Rastas will argue that they 

underwent "bad treatment " and so, too the Tutsis and the Black South Africans but that does not give them the right to 

call themselves "chosen". I admire several 

aspects of Rastafarian philosophy but

I reserve the right to criticize those aspects of their world view that seem

questionable to me. "Chosen people" ideology is a great political 

strategy but to elevate it into some kind of absolutist spiritual theory is counterproductive because once you argue that you are "chosen" you 

fall into the exceptionalism trap that could justify the same kind of atrocities that led you there.  I was surprised that you linked

"Chosen-ism" to  holocaust responses, Ken. That was far from my thinking.

G

On Wed, Aug 5, 2020 at 13:42 Harrow, Kenneth <harrow@msu.edu> wrote:

many jews to today renounce the epithet "chosen," probably for reasons similar to what you cite, gloria. in our liturgy the wording about chosenness is changed, especially in reconstructionist judaism here in the states. perhaps cornelius might tell us better about european, which is more orthodox.

after the holocaust, most jews felt bitter about the notion of chosenness. for some, the wording in the bible led jews to think it meant being a light unto other peoples. but faith in any special designation, after the holocaust, had to be replaced by bitterness.

how its adaptation by rastas worked out is another matter. but i think you should temper your thinking about what it means for jews of today, especially after having faced total extermination in the time of their grandparents, or parents.

i agree it becomes used instrumentally by israeli nationalists to justify the state of israel, and an excuse for their bad treatment of palestinians. i find that reprehensible. but not all jews agree with me on that point.

ken

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

harrow@msu.edu

---

From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Harrow, Kenneth <harrow@msu.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 11:39 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - 'Chosen people' ideology

 

what was this thread in response to? i see gloria quoting some posting, but only that one line.

ken

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

harrow@msu.edu

---

From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Gloria Emeagwali <gloria.emeagwali@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 10:39 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - 'Chosen people' ideology

 

"The word has been used to describe one of God's chosen people...."


"Chosen people" ideology is actually
detrimental and counter productive
in that it could even endorse genocide. It is an innovative geopolitical strategy
sometimes cloaked in theological garments, designed to rally the troops and energize communities, but it could even lead to Rwanda - like genocidal situations. It is built on
platforms of narcissism and even
triumphalism,  as seen in policies such as "Manifest Destiny"of the US, and even South African apartheid.

No people  on planet 🌏
earth have ever been specially chosen
except in imaginary reconstructions and geopolitical strategic modeling.
No one expects a  supreme being to be a supporter of apartheid, old and new - with due respect to the Abrahamic theological edifice.

GE

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