* Growing up I felt no cultural identity whatsoever, other than American. The first Jewish person I remember meeting was a friend from elementary school, who one day stopped and said to me, “I’m Jewish.” I stood there confused and said something like, “okay,” and then continued playing. I didn’t learn until years later that my paternal grandfather was Jewish. Nobody had ever seemed to care, not even him. It was a footnote.
I still believe that very many Americans still alive grew up like me, with no concern for these identities, these cultural or ethnic competitions. Yes, maybe that’s because we were all mostly white goys. But, again, some of us were true mixes. That’s really American to me.
* Given that Europeans created this nation and its institutions, and continue to be the dominant group, why is it surprising or considered inappropriate for Europeans to not have some privilege or advantage? It seems Europeans are being asked to give others preferential treatment and access to the institutions they created. Would other groups be expected to do the same in the nations they created? For example, would Jews in Israel be expected to give non-Jews every advantage Jews have? Would Jews in Israel be deemed to have Jewish privilege or advantage? I doubt it. So why then the constant attack on Europeans?
* Where the Anglo-Americans fell short was failing to ensure that the beneficiaries of the said noblesse oblige also internalized and practiced noblesse oblige.
Instead, they went along with or at least condoned the rapacity and clannishness of their protégés, if you will, while they still had power to correct, and now it’s too late.
