Comments on: Two more American Nobel prizes http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430 Cutting straight to the point Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:14:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Meryl Yourish http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430/comment-page-1#comment-33747 Meryl Yourish Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:20:06 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/?p=5430#comment-33747 Jacob, how can you say that Jews simply work harder because we work hard? Where did we get the respect for education and bettering ourselves? Where did we get our respect for women? Did we make it up out of whole cloth, or is it in the Torah and the commentaries? Jews don't work harder just because. It is all based on our teachings. It's utterly theological in origin. Jacob, how can you say that Jews simply work harder because we work hard? Where did we get the respect for education and bettering ourselves? Where did we get our respect for women? Did we make it up out of whole cloth, or is it in the Torah and the commentaries?

Jews don’t work harder just because. It is all based on our teachings. It’s utterly theological in origin.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430/comment-page-1#comment-33742 Jeff Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:26:39 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/?p=5430#comment-33742 Yeah but all these Nobel prize winners are voting for <a href="http://sefora.org/2008/10/08/2008-chemistry-nobelist-endorses-obama-bringing-the-number-to-63/" rel="nofollow">Obama</a>. ;-) Yeah but all these Nobel prize winners are voting for Obama. ;-)

]]> By: Robert http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430/comment-page-1#comment-33728 Robert Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:42:48 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/?p=5430#comment-33728 The strongest societies in History were known for their strong women, Sparta, for example, where women were considered equals, ancient Egypt had the same social and economic rights for women as for men. How many "modern" societies, in the 1940's had women who could step into the vacuum from men being drafted into Service and help create the greatest weapons producing economy ever known? Heavy industry, design, anything, was done by women. Western Civilization has been known for strong women, Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, Margaret Thatcher, the examples are endless... Robert The strongest societies in History were known for their strong women, Sparta, for example, where women were considered equals, ancient Egypt had the same social and economic rights for women as for men. How many “modern” societies, in the 1940′s had women who could step into the vacuum from men being drafted into Service and help create the greatest weapons producing economy ever known? Heavy industry, design, anything, was done by women. Western Civilization has been known for strong women, Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, Margaret Thatcher, the examples are endless…

Robert

]]> By: Jacob http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430/comment-page-1#comment-33723 Jacob Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:27:17 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/?p=5430#comment-33723 Meryl-- I agree with most of what you say. I'm a fairly observant Jew and even though I'm only 20 I've spent a total of 18 months of my life in Israel. I'm extremely proud of our nation's success worldwide in all the areas you mention. I disagree, however, that Islam is what cause the backwardness of the Muslim/Arab worlds. There are other factors at work here. Islam is a complex religion with many contradictions in its scriptures and can't be boiled down to one single overarching philosophy. Jews (and Israel) have succeeded not because we have the superior religion, but because we work hard. We just work harder. That's why Jews make money, that's why Jews go to the best universities, that's why the chalutzim succeeded in Eretz Yisrael when generations of Arabs before them had failed. It's not theological at all. I just wish you hadn't said it the way you did. gmar tov Meryl–
I agree with most of what you say. I’m a fairly observant Jew and even though I’m only 20 I’ve spent a total of 18 months of my life in Israel. I’m extremely proud of our nation’s success worldwide in all the areas you mention.
I disagree, however, that Islam is what cause the backwardness of the Muslim/Arab worlds. There are other factors at work here. Islam is a complex religion with many contradictions in its scriptures and can’t be boiled down to one single overarching philosophy. Jews (and Israel) have succeeded not because we have the superior religion, but because we work hard. We just work harder. That’s why Jews make money, that’s why Jews go to the best universities, that’s why the chalutzim succeeded in Eretz Yisrael when generations of Arabs before them had failed. It’s not theological at all.
I just wish you hadn’t said it the way you did.
gmar tov

]]> By: Morton A. Goldberg, DVM http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430/comment-page-1#comment-33721 Morton A. Goldberg, DVM Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:12:19 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/?p=5430#comment-33721 Winston Churchill said it best: "How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property‹either as a child, a wife, or a concubine‹must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science‹the science against which it had vainly struggled‹the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome." ~~~~~ The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248 50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899) Winston Churchill said it best:

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property‹either as a child, a wife, or a concubine‹must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science‹the science against which it had vainly struggled‹the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.”

~~~~~ The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248 50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899)

]]> By: Meryl Yourish http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430/comment-page-1#comment-33717 Meryl Yourish Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:38:45 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/?p=5430#comment-33717 Why? Because I'm implying that Islam has caused the backwardness of the Arab/Muslim world? That's why they have almost no Nobel prizes. Some nations are throwing away half their talent by not educating women, or not letting educated women work or do any kind of research. Judaism has supported education and learning pretty much since its inception. That's why we have so many Jewish Nobel prize winners. You can leave if you want. But it won't change the facts that there are far more Jewish Nobel laureates than there are Muslim and Arab Nobel laureates, even though Jews make up only a tiny percentage of the world's population, and Muslims are over 1 billion strong. I could have detailed all of those facts, but that wasn't what came out this morning. Why? Because I’m implying that Islam has caused the backwardness of the Arab/Muslim world? That’s why they have almost no Nobel prizes. Some nations are throwing away half their talent by not educating women, or not letting educated women work or do any kind of research.

Judaism has supported education and learning pretty much since its inception. That’s why we have so many Jewish Nobel prize winners.

You can leave if you want. But it won’t change the facts that there are far more Jewish Nobel laureates than there are Muslim and Arab Nobel laureates, even though Jews make up only a tiny percentage of the world’s population, and Muslims are over 1 billion strong.

I could have detailed all of those facts, but that wasn’t what came out this morning.

]]> By: Jacob http://www.yourish.com/2008/10/08/5430/comment-page-1#comment-33716 Jacob Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:10:44 +0000 http://www.yourish.com/?p=5430#comment-33716 As a longtime reader and ardent Zionist, this is, nevertheless, the posting that will forever drive me away from this blog. As a longtime reader and ardent Zionist, this is, nevertheless, the posting that will forever drive me away from this blog.

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