Just For The Record...

if you meet someone, and in the course of conversation, they tell you they are jewish, do not, DO NOT, say:

"oh! i knew that!"

or:

"i would have guessed that!"

or:

"well, that makes sense!"

none of the above are appropriate responses, and even if they are completely, COMPLETELY true, you will sound like a total douche, and your new jewish friend, will more than likely be feeling less friendly.

because they will be asking themselves:

"what stereotype did you buy into that makes you assume i'm jewish!?"

c'mon people. use your fricking heads. we don't go up to people and say, "howdy, you're a mexican, aren't you!"

its RUDE!

same goes for jews. hey big nose; hey kike; hey money-lover; hey neurotic; hey whiner; hey smartie; hey nerd; hey christ-killer. these are what cross our minds when you say, "well of COURSE you're a jew!" i have to stop being a person, interacting with another person (marginal person, perhaps, in your case) and be THE JEW. i have to stop being a complex human being, and wonder exactly what caricature i've been reduced to in your head.

and yes, most people have to go through this to some degree. no. most people who are of minority status have to go through this. and if its a question of "passing" for whatever is normal in the area (white usually, and protestant usually) jews have it easier than many. we're often white, in a way, and religion is usually, USUALLY, a private matter. people who are not white invite judgement just by wearing the skin they were born with.

truly, i shouldn't bitch.

but i do. because i'm pissed off. maybe because i have never met as many people with ass-backwards ideas about jews as i have in texas. maybe because those same people have no desire to be educated about the subject, but are quite happy with their ignorance, thank you very much. maybe because those people are just so happy to share, in a completely good-natured way, their views with me. maybe because i'm just born to bitch; perhaps its my raison d'etre, my purpose in life, what have you.

it makes me want to strike a new deal with the general populace. if you feel the need to tell me just what you think i am, then i will reciprocate in kind. in the most offensive and bigoted way i can imagine.

so when it happens, if it happens, you just drink it down. savor it! you've earned it!