Nothing like a rant to get my blood moving

[madbaker]

Ultra-Orthodox Jews riot in Jerusalem

Here's what bothers me the most about the situation:

"In recent weeks, ultra-Orthodox Jews and authorities have clashed repeatedly over the Jerusalem mayor's plan to open a municipal parking lot on the Sabbath. Ultra-Orthodox Jews oppose the idea because driving is forbidden on the Sabbath, saying the move would violate the city's religious status quo."

This offends me for the same reason imposing any religious restrictions offends me. Driving is forbidden on the Sabbath? Great - don't drive. But don't tell me, a non-adherent of your faith, that I am forbidden (or compelled) to do so. The same goes for eating fish on Fridays, wearing a niqab or burqa, displaying images of Mohammed, having an abortion, and so forth.

Don't tell me what to think or what to believe. Especially don't tell me how to behave based on your morality. I am capable of making my own choices.

What I'm reading: Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker

Comments

[vitrarius.livejournal.com]

I agree, live and let live.

[bonacorsi.livejournal.com]

I am so with you on this, but you knew that already.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I wonder if rioting is forbidden on the Sabbath?

[fionnbharro.livejournal.com]

Oh, assuredly, I agree with you, here. Completely.

But ...

... We're *Here*. Not *There*.

If you think back to your college 'Moral Philosophy' classes (tell me your ed-u-ma-cay-shun wasn't all just math, right?), you'll remember that cultural actions (such as this case) must be taken in cultural context.

Yes, Jerusalem is a secular city; but remember it's secular -- but just barely. The history is well-known, and is most definitely *not* secular: The ultra-Orthodox community is present, active, and most-importantly *integral* to the city and the way it functions.

As an example: My 'morality' demands kindness to others; and one natural expression of that kindness means not playing loud music at 4AM. I expect the same in return from my neighbors -- but not out of imposing my morality on them; I may do it out of a moral sense, they may do it out of adherence to local norms. They may find it *inconvenient* to not be able to listen to loud music whenever they want, but do they find it 'offensive'? I doubt anyone would think so.

Similarly, there are two tracks to understanding the parking issue -- for one group, it's a moral argument; for the other, not parking is merely an *inconvenience* regarding local norms, not a moral issue -- nor would it be 'offensive'.

In the context of the integral role the ultra-Orthodox community plays in Jerusalem, from a cultural perspective -- and this includes the secular perspective -- and, importantly, the context of 'keeping the city's religious status quo' (about which whole books have been written for the modern context) some consideration must be given to that group's concerns.