<p>The anonymity of the internet certainly brings out the worst in some people.</p>
<p>I worked for an Orthodox Jew for 10 years. He left every Fri early in order to get home by sun down. He never worked on Sat. When he traveled he carried/shipped kosher food. He had a hand book of every kosher grocery store/restaurant in the world because he loved to travel to learn about other cultures. I had great respect for him because he walked and talked of his religion. He didn’t just practice it when it was convenient for him. Whether I shared his religious believe, I respected his conviction.</p>
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Rodney - I think POIH has managed to offend people who follow any religion, including atheism, thanks to his insensitive and thoughtless posts.</p>
<p>I don’t know what POIH’s religious beliefs are but apparently if anyone doesn’t happen to think exactly like him in this area, he labels that person as uneducated. POIH needs to educate himself on what ‘educated’ means.</p>
<p>Even the thread title comes across as uneducated. :D</p>
<p>soozie: the thread title makes no sense (which is actually why I opened it; couldn’t imagine what it referred to)…</p>
<p>ucsd: even after being on CC for almost four years, I was not aware of the “history”; thank you</p>
<p>^^ I meant even in just his posts on this thread but yes, his remark about ‘all orthodox … uneducated’ is reaching new heights for even his over the top comments.</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad…totally agree. </p>
<p>POIH’s post on THIS thread here comes across as uneducated and the opposite of liberal thinking. I am wondering if POIH truly understands how he is coming across. The teen in the article doesn’t come across at all as uneducated or non-liberal.</p>
<p>Also, equating religious laws such as the ones that this girl was following on her religious holiday as “superstitious,” comes across as frankly, dumb. </p>
<p>The notion that her obeying the laws of her religion on that day interfered with others is ludicrous. She won’t be traveling by car. No effect on others. She won’t use a microphone during the observance of the holiday per her religious laws, and her speech will be recorded to be given anyway. No interference in anyone’s lives. I cannot imagine anyone who would not applaud her efforts to stay true to her religious beliefs and to follow the laws of her religion and to stand up for that. One doesn’t have to be an Orthodox Jew to understand this. One does have to be EDUCATED to understand this, as well as liberal in their world view!</p>
<p>I don’t want to defend POIH, because I think his comments are uncalled for. But I can understand how someone who is not religious could interpret certain religious practices as “superstitions.”</p>
<p>I have problems with two things. First, that he correlates superstition with ignorance. Whether he calls it superstitious or I call it faith, there is no reason to assume that a religious person is ignorant. Or that an educated person is not religious. There are many scientists who are deeply religious, who have reconciled their studies with their faith. And what’s wrong with knocking on wood every now and then?</p>
<p>But what really irks me is his intolerance. If you want to live your life without religion, faith or superstitions, that’s fine. But it’s important to learn, accept and appreciate how other people decide to live their life.</p>
<p>I also agree with POIH, that I don’t want someone else’s faith to dictate my behavior. I could say more, but then this would cross the line into a political conversation. However, in this case I don’t see how this girl’s faith has affected anyone else. In fact, I applaud the school for respecting her beliefs and working with her to find a solution.</p>
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<p>Bingo! Which is why almost everyone who has posted is implicitly or explicitly questioning POIH’s agenda in starting this thread.</p>
<p>Wow. Just wow. Is this totally off-the-wall thread supposed to make us long for the posts that “only” drone on about MIT?</p>
<p>POIH- are you Hindu? Do you eat beef? What would you do if you were the guest of honor where the main course was a juicy steak? </p>
<p>The valedictorian and her school’s solution was perfect-- shows brains, ability to problem-solve, and sensitivity and respect for others religious beliefs. You can disagree, but keep the block-headed comments to yourself, thank you. She and her school are not the ignorant ones here.</p>
<p>I am a “card-carrying” atheist. To me every action taken in the name of God and every prohibition based on religious customs is misguided. But I also find OP’s post to be terribly misguided and ignorant. </p>
<p>I watched the video and I thought it was actually a very nice story- a story of a girl who was able to go to graduation and have her speech delivered without compromising her own personal religious belief. To me, that is what matters- that you can be true to your own belief (or lack thereof). I am an atheist, so I act accordingly. She is an observant orthodox Jew, and she acts accordingly. </p>
<p>ETA: Deleted some speculation on OP’s religion. I don’t want to go there.</p>
<p>It is hard for me to wrap my head around the attitude…I mean nobody is asking anyone to agree with her beliefs…I can understand why many would not as they hold other beliefs or customs in their own religion, but it is very difficult to comprehend an educated person (who is supposedly one who uses liberal thought) who is intolerant and not understanding that someone else holds different beliefs in a different religion and is obeying the laws of their religion and upholding their belief system. I can respect others of other cultures, religions, and customs for what they believe, even if I don’t agree or believe the same things. Isn’t that what an educated society is about?</p>
<p>soozie, et al, </p>
<p>I like to share the story of my alma mater in Houston, an all-girls’ Catholic high school. Several years ago when I was at a reunion, I was talking with the head of school (a nun). She told me that the school had had two or three Muslim students enrolled at the school, because their parents valued the quality of education so much. So the head of school made arrangements for prayer rugs to be placed in the school’s chapel so that the girls could continue to honor their religion during the school day. </p>
<p>Just goes to show you that both respecting other religious traditions and valuing elite college prep education can coincide.</p>
<p>What a beautiful story of this young woman being able to remain true to her faith and still retain the joy of being able to accept the honor that she earned thanks to creative thinking and the flexibility of the adminstration in adapting the graduation ceremony. They all should be commended. OP thank you for bringing this story to our attention. While I am befuddled by your response to this lovely story, I appreciate that you took a moment to share it with us.</p>
<p>POIH…in the spirit of “educating others…” and even though I am not an Orthodox Jew…please allow me to provide some information…</p>
<p>Orthodox Jews have various laws and customs they follow. It has nothing to do with superstition. On the Sabbath and certain holidays, Orthodox Jews refrain from working in order to observe the holy day. They are to refrain from business transactions on the holy day. Same with using powered transportation and electrical appliances. These observances and laws are based on what’s in the Torah (bible). It is not a superstition but rather a day of observance and to put aside everything of this nature on that day. These are traditions and customs, not superstitions.</p>
<p>I believe in the situation with the girl in the article, the graduation wasn’t on the Sabbath but rather on the holiday of Shavuot. This year that is on June 7-9 and Jewish holidays commence at sundown the night before.</p>
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<p>Hmmm. Anyone remember that Star Trek episode where Mr Spock tells the robots “Everything that I tell you is a lie”, and then watches the robot’s brain explode?</p>
<p>I hereby present: </p>
<p>[MIT</a> Hillel - Orthodox](<a href=“Home | MIT Hillel”>Home | MIT Hillel)</p>
<p>Oh noes! What will POIH do?</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Pretty ironic that this was the first thread I saw after turning on my computer after the end of Shavuot (we just observe one day of the holiday).</p>
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<p>Don’t you think it’s making a mockery of the system?</p>
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<p>What does that have to do with anything? I’ve a problem with the education system which is succumbing to students superstitions.</p>
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<p>Didn’t you question, what’s he doing at Harvard? If he can’t think that the dorm over whether kosher or not will produce the cookies based on his skills of baking then he shouldn’t be there.</p>
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<p>When did I say I’ve problem with Orthodox Jews. I said I consider all orthodox people (who believe in superstitions as uneducated).
If education can show you the light out of superstitions then nothing can.</p>