Lonely, Liberal, And Orthodox

Another national election has passed, and I am more baffled than I have ever been. Not because of the result – deep down I knew the Democrats were going to blow it – and not because such a flawed president executed a brilliantly focused campaign. But once again I am bemused (or amused, depending on the hour of the day) by the voting habits of the Orthodox Jewish community.

Admittedly, as a proud Democrat I am part of an ever shrinking minority in the Orthodox community. We Orthodox liberals cast votes for the Kerry-Edwards ticket and supported Al Gore even before he picked Joe Lieberman as his running mate. We don’t like Rush, refuse to be “Hannitized,” and don’t necessarily subscribe to the Fox News view of the world.

Unfortunately, our visibility diminishes daily, as the fog of “best” for Israel, “best” for the frum Jew, and a misplaced and misunderstood notion of hakarat hatov clouds our message. Today, Orthodox Jews take a narrow view of the world, often eschewing the big picture in favor of short-sighted and near-term benefit, usually by accepting the instructions of a Jewish “leader” possessing “access.”

How is it that after growing up in a yeshiva environment where we were asked to critically analyze every issue, where we parsed distinctions in law and language, we allow ourselves to be dragged down to the lowest and most degrading levels when it comes to government and politics?

How is it that the people of the mind, the people of learning, the people of intellect, refused to listen to a nuanced position and readily joined the “flip-flop” chorus?

How did we come to embrace rejectionist labels and sound-bite government? When did a people who celebrate wisdom mistake stubbornness and simplicity for strength and conviction? When did destabilizing a country and turning a region into a den of terrorists become the supportive act of a “friend?” Moreover, how is telling Ariel Sharon one thing while telling the UN and the European Union the exact opposite an act of support?

How could the people of tzedakah look askance at anti-poverty programs as mere big government waste? Why do we respond to thousands of years of oppression by supporting foreign polices that mimic those of our medieval oppressors? How is it that after ascending to the upper echelons of modern society directly as a result of enlightened and progressive thinking, we turn our backs on all those who seek the to do the same?

How is it that after experiencing a religious and spiritual renaissance because we were left alone and respected by our neighbors, we race to join the ranks of evangelical xenophobia? How do we claim to value life, yet flock to a president who won’t allow science to preserve it?

Why do we think that we justify our unique educational needs by trying to force the rest of society to pay for it ? and why are we dumb enough to think that a $2,000 voucher will actually pay for said education? Why do we think we can justify our own religious reproductive freedom by supporting restrictions on the reproductive freedom of others? Why do we think that American capital punishment statutorily or procedurally resembles halachic capital punishment?