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Conference taveng::bagels

Title:BAGELS and other things of Jewish interest
Notice:1.0 policy, 280.0 directory, 32.0 registration
Moderator:SMURF::FENSTER
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1524
Total number of notes:18709

495.0. "JEWISH_ISSUES" by ESKIMO::JULIUS () Mon Jul 11 1988 15:54

    Shalom Chaverim,
    
    I would like to re-address a subject so eloquently described
    in note 230.0, the name BAGELS as a title for this notesfile.
    I agree with the writer in that it continues to perpetuate 
    old, stale stereotypes like "cheap Jew", "Jewish nose", 
    "JAP", etc.  These labels serve no purpose other than 
    alienating in a very insensitive way some of us from the rest.
    
    While bagels have been consumed by Jewry for many years, it's
    certainly not the case now.  The bagel industry is booming 
    and enjoyed by everyone, (even non-BAGELS).  I think it's a
    very narrow approach to take the subject matter in all these
    494 notes and label it "BAGELS".
    
    In response to that entry back in '86 someone mentioned that
    the title embodied a Jewish American sense of humor.  I would
    say to a large extent the survival of Judaism has depended
    upon a sense of humor.  Jews have had to laugh off/ignore/
    tolerate the name calling/hatred through the centuries.  Why
    should we have to tolerate it internally?
    
    Not very long ago I was eating a bagel and an American gentile
    asked "where do you buy those?"  I felt like saying "you don't
    have to be Jewish" but I said "the Stop and Shop".
    
    I love this notesfile, I hate the name.  Does anyone agree 
    with me?  One suggestion would be JEWISH_ISSUES. 
    
    Thank you,
    Bernice
      
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
495.1An AssideLINK02::PINCKAmy Pinck, DTN=223-4335, Long Live DuckMon Jul 11 1988 16:172
    How do "cheap jew" and "JAP" work together?
    
495.2?ESKIMO::JULIUSMon Jul 11 1988 16:254
    Re:  .1
    
    What's an asside?
    
495.3a quote from some gentile guyTAZRAT::CHERSONOk,now jump through this hoopMon Jul 11 1988 17:155
    re: .0
    
    What's in a name?
    
    David
495.4A vote for the status quoDECSIM::GROSSDavid GrossMon Jul 11 1988 18:054
I kinda like the name ... it represents something of Jewish origin that is
chewy and delicious.

Dave
495.5Too much historyIAGO::SCHOELLERDick (Gavriel ben Avraham) SchoellerMon Jul 11 1988 18:0812
    RE .0

    Shalom Bernice,

    When Motti firsted started this file there was noone to suggest that
    the name was inappropriate.  There wasn't (and shouldn't be) so much
    seriousness about noting.  To be honest if somebody torpedoed BAGELS
    tomorrow and we were forced to start over from scratch, I would
    support the search for a new name.  However, at this late date I
    can't see a name change being worth the effort.

    Gavriel
495.6SHALOMANRCHY::SUSSWEINHe Who Dies With the Most Toys WinsMon Jul 11 1988 19:2311
    I really don't care whether or not the current name is changed,
    but I am strongly OPPOSED to calling this conference JEWISH_ISSUES.
    
    Many of the topics discuss issues related to Israel, which are not
    specifically "jewish" issues.  Also, as a practicing agnostic, I
    think this conference already has too many religious overtones.
    
    If you really dislike BAGELS that much, how about changing the name
    to SHALOM ?
    
    Steve
495.7with lox and a shmear and Bermuda onion!BOSTON::SOHNRage in EdenMon Jul 11 1988 19:348
BAGELS is a fine name. It is an easily-recognizable piece of our culture that
I, for one, am not ashamed of, if not damn proud of!

If not BAGELS, how about KNISH? PASTRAMI_ON_RYE? KREPLACH?

We should revel in our culture, not have to make apologies for it.

--axe--
495.8It isn't Jewish? Oh noooo....ZACHOR::SHSSteve Schwartz * ISTGMon Jul 11 1988 19:3838
    < Note 495.6 by ANRCHY::SUSSWEIN "He Who Dies With the Most Toys Wins" >
                                  -< SHALOM >-

    >I really don't care whether or not the current name is changed,
    >but I am strongly OPPOSED to calling this conference JEWISH_ISSUES.
    
    >Many of the topics discuss issues related to Israel, which are not
    >specifically "Jewish" issues.  
    
    Then why are they being discussed here?
    
    >Also, as a practicing agnostic, I think this conference already has too
    >many religious overtones. 
    
    "Jewish" does not reference exclusively to the theological aspects,
    but includes --- obviously, I hope! --- the racial, cultural, and
    societal characteristics of the JEWISH PEOPLE.
    
    >If you really dislike BAGELS that much, how about changing the name
    >to SHALOM ?
    
    Someone else is likely to complain that the notesfile is becoming
    too political.  {:-)  
    
    Seriously, I understand that this notesfile exists as a forum for
    Jewish issues.  Indeed, that is the name I use in my notebook.
    It is sufficiently neutral to include everything Jewish.
    When I want to open bagels, I head for the cafeteria.
    
    Well, not -this- cafeteria.  {;-)
    
    		    		--- Steve
    				ZACHOR::SHS
    				formerly:	
    					DESHI::SCHWARTZ
    					ISTG::SCHWARTZ
    					WHAT::SCHWARTZ
    					etc.
495.9Call a Spade a SpadeESKIMO::JULIUSTue Jul 12 1988 11:3825
    Re:  .3  What's in a name?
    
    Do these names bring anything to mind?
    
    Auschwitz		The Golden Gate Bridge
    The Last Emperor	Marilyn Monroe
    IBM			Charleston Chew
    Mickey Mouse	Communism 
    Madame Curie	Rembrandt
    Boston		Oldsmobile
    
    Your name is your tag, in the military you wear it around 
    your neck, it's your i.d., your reputation, if you will.
    To CB'ers it's your handle, that which distinguishes you
    from the others.  To the bank your good name gets you the
    loan, your bad name clouds the decision of the jury.  If
    you're known as a liar, who will believe you?
    
    Like it or not, there's a lot in a name.  The point I was
    trying to make in my original note is that the title of
    this notesfile does not appropriately identify the 
    subject matter included within it.
    
    Thanks again,
    B
495.10I second SHALOMLINK02::ALLISTERAlex DTN 223-3154 MLO21-3/E87Tue Jul 12 1988 11:5613
    I agree w/ .9, and I would also second name SHALOM somebody
    mentioned earlier.
    
    If this was a conference on Jewish humour or international cousine, I'd
    have nothing against the present name, but the discussions here cover
    many mostly serious issues. I think I do understand Motti
    ex-moderator's motivation for choosing the name, but I do not see many
    good reasons for preserving it. 
    
    Alex
    
    PS  On the other hand, with all the self-flagellation going on in
        this file, I think you should keep the name ;-)
495.11self flagellation?DELNI::GOLDBERGTue Jul 12 1988 12:184
    re: .10
    
    What "self flagellation"?7
    
495.12I see the minds are at it again..4024::SAADEHWill there ever be peace over thereTue Jul 12 1988 12:2013
re: to all

		Don't press the panic button....


		How about Falefel_vs_Bagels.

		oucccchh!!! who pinched my cheek.


		Good day,
		-Sultan

495.13I don't like stereotypesATSE::KASPERBiology grows on youTue Jul 12 1988 12:5213
    Well, as long as it's been brought up, I'll voice my feelings on this.
    I don't like the name BAGELS either.  It made me wince the first time 
    I saw it, and it still does.  It seems to me to be self-denegrating:
    Don't worry, folks, we're not going to discuss anything serious here...

    I think JEWISH_CULTURE would be good - Israel is a part of that, as 
    is Halacha.  SHALOM would be okay, too, since welcoming is a positive
    image.  I guess as someone who has been fat all my life, I don't like
    the "all she thinks about is food" image that Bagels conjures for me.

    Beverly

495.14Lighten Up, Folks!FDCV03::ROSSTue Jul 12 1988 14:479
    Fer Cripe's sake (that's so I don't offend the Christian readers
    of this file  :-) ) people, will'ya all lighten up just a tad?  
    
    Life's too short to be so serious all the time.
    
    Every word or phrase shouldn't always have to have a pejorative
    meaning in our minds.
    
      Alan
495.15I hold my breath...ULYSSE::LEHKYI&#039;m phlegmatic, and that&#039;s coolWed Jul 13 1988 06:5118
  	
    I guess, I'm still learning. I was absolutely unaware of the fact that
    BAGELS stood for Jews, in the US, interesting! But then, this looks to
    me as a non unfriendly nick-name... I've seen and heard MUCH worse in
    Europe and the US. I mean, it's like they call the Italians
    'Spaghettis', and the Germans 'Krauts', no? Seems to be an American
    habit. 
    
    One of the better things in life is to spend a morning in bed with Lox
    (and/or Cream Cheese) and Bagels, the Sunday Times, and a chilled
    bottle of Champaign! I admit, this is one of the 'rare' things that
    a snobbish European like I could accept from the American culture
    as a valuable contribution for leveraging the quality of life :-)
    
    In short: don't you even THINK of touching this name!!! I promise,
    I will hold my breath, otherwise!
    
    Chris
495.16It's PersonalESKIMO::JULIUSWed Jul 13 1988 12:2216
    It's hard work trying to fight city hall, or DEC hall
    as the case may be.
    
    I discussed the issue at hand with Rabbi Schneider 
    last night and he said that whether or not you take
    offense at the title of this notesfile, BAGELS, could
    reflect your personal experience with anti-semitism.
    This makes sense to me.  If you have been subjected
    directly (we have all been subjected indirectly) then
    I think you have a sensitivity in this area.  Do you
    concur?
    
    For those of you trying to tell me to lighten up, I'm
    sorry to disappoint you.  For those of you that 
    support me, thank you, toda raba.
    B
495.17Practicing agnostic?!NOTIME::SACKSGerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085Wed Jul 13 1988 13:336
RE .6:

    � Also, as a practicing agnostic ...

    What's a "practicing agnostic?"  Could you give some examples of
    agnostic practices?
495.18BOLT::MINOWIt&#039;s not pseudo eclectic, it&#039;s real eclecticMon Aug 08 1988 17:0713
re: .17:

    What's a "practicing agnostic?"  Could you give some examples of
    agnostic practices?

To somewhat paraphrase Lenny Bruce (or was it Woody Allen?), you know you're
a practicing agnostic when the Ku Klux Klan burns a question mark on your lawn.

But seriously folks, you can change the way this file appears in your
notebook by entering the Notes command
	MODIFY ENTRY BAGELS/NAME="Felafel"

Martin.
495.19ESKIMO::JULIUSWed Aug 10 1988 11:475
    Thank you for the suggestion Martin, now when I open 
    notesfile, JEWISH_ISSUES, I'm not offended in the 
    least.
    
    Bernice_who_loves_to_eat_bagels_not_read_them