Keith Olberman doesn't go far enough, just this once...

Olberman's comparison of the US to 1930's England doesn't ring nearly as true as a comparison to Nazi Germany. The lies of our government don't serve a desperate and unrealistic hope for peace. Instead, our government's lies, like Hitler's, serve to provide cover for war, brutality, and crimes against innocents. Like the Republicans, the Nazis also claimed to be good Christians weilding the sword to protect the Homeland and Civilization from its enemies. The difference between then and now is just a matter of degree. But give it time. We've already got camps. It's not so far fetched to imagine a future Cheney administration awarding contracts leasing Boxcars that takes us all to where work will set us free.

Michael Medved, and Why Judaism is Popular

Michael Medved discussed an interesting poll that found Judaism is not so unpopular in this greenie nation on the big blue marble. He then went on to speculate on why Judaism scored so well, and discovered that it's because most Americans are ignorant about Judaism, and Judaism is a big tent that can cover everyone. Kind of like the democratic party?

But it's an interesting question. Why is Judaism popular in America? Instead of reading the tea leaves from a poll, it's not so hard to come up with a more accurate answer.

Just ask people WHY they hold the opinions they do about Judaism. This might be a good thing for Michael to try on a slow news day.

I think if the 1001 people polled answered the followup "why" in any detail the answers could be very interesting and reveal some very important information about us. An international poll with the same followup "why" would also be very instructive in explaining some negative views held in the world.

Here's my answer to "why" I like Judaism (and I'm sure reflects a little ignorance on my part). I am speaking from a Catholic background:

• Religious truths are understood more clearly and deeply in Judaism. Like other religions, Judaism's source for truths is a holy text containing the word of God, but Judaism doesn't stop there. Judaism tests a given truth against cases and circumstances to get a clearer meaning of what the truth is and isn't. I think this is called midrash.

• Judaism isn't opposed to science. It calls for people to "study, study, study" both the torah and nature. And when that study of nature produces a revolution in physics, for instance, Jewish theology doesn't recoil in fear of contradictions. It deepens to embrace what science reveals. This response advances both the religion and the future prospects of science.

• Judaism is a very humane religion. King James Christianity is "mercy" centered (begging please, mighty King God, have MERCY, don't kill me even though I deserve it.'). In Judaism, mercy is translated as "Loving-kindness" - and it's how we are to treat each other.

There are other reasons that I could mention, but that's a good start.

I would add that being disposed with kindness towards Judaism shouldn't mean blind support for Israel (which is the current fundementalist Christian attitude). Israel like all nations has to be held to account by the standards and values transmitted through Israel to the world - values which even most secularists embrace. "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal." etc. These overrule even the genocides and "wars of expansion" perpetrated by the Jews in the Old Testement days. They contradict modern policies of expansion into the West Bank, or incidental attrocities against innocent civilians perpetrated in Lebannon. The qualification might be added "except as absolutely required for security and safety of Israeli's." But that might even be excessive. Are Israeli innocents of greater value than Lebanese innocents?