My natural inclination is to think that Jews and all things Jewish are the best and that at all times and in all places they are superior to their non-Jewish alternatives.
I converted to Orthodox Judaism. I changed my whole life and identity to do this Jewish thing. My whole being is wrapped up in being Jewish. I naturally incline to seeing what’s awesome about my new identity and to denigrate those who are outside the tribe.
Unless I put myself in a philosophical frame of mind, unless I picture myself miles above the earth looking down on humanity with objectivity, I side with my group.
I expect members of other groups to be similarly chauvinistic. I remember that when I was an Anglo-Christian, I took for granted that we were God’s chosen people, that we were superior, that we created the most awesome countries.
Because I take this kind of chauvinism for granted, I find admirable people who are able to accurately criticize their own.
I don’t know exactly why I blog. It is probably some kind of compulsion. I blog about what I need to work out in my own mind.
