Jewish Guilt

Jewish Guilt

For centuries the Jews have been persecuted, hated and killed. For their survival Jews have evolved as owners. From owning financial institutions to neighborhood jewelry shops, from owning movie studios to media outlets and becoming doctors or lawyers. The thing Jews are the most proud of owning is being the superstars of Jewish guilt.

There isn't a Jew alive who hasn't had guilt put on them. There isn't a Jew alive who doesn't feel guilty about something. Family guilt is the worst. "You're not going to be a doctor because you want to be a Plumber? What will my Jewish girlfriends think of ME? Could you, at least, decide to be an Electrician?" "I know you've never seen or heard from your grandmother, but if you don't go to her funeral the family will be greatly disappointed in you."  "You're not going to college? Do you know how many hours I suffered in the delivery room getting you out of me? You could at least make me and your father proud by going to college."

And then there is my favorite. Alvy, in the Woody Allen movie Annie Hall was a troubled kid who worried about everything. His Jewish mother takes him to a Psychiatrist. The Psychiatrist asks Alvy: "what are you so worried about?" Abvy says: "the Universe is expending." Alvy's mother stands up and yells at him: "what's it your business?" Alvy grows up not only being a worry wart, but feeling guilty for worrying so much. 

No wonder Jews feel guilty about something almost every day. However, having the opportunity to meet people around the world, I feel confident I could rate people's guilt on a scale from 1 to 10 where 10 is the most guilty. The Jews reading this blog will be shocked that they are not the guiltiest.

     10- Italians

     9-   Jews

     8-   Catholics and Irish people

     7-   Black, gays and Hispanic people

     6-  Eastern European people (including the Northern Block)

     5-  French people

     4-   Arab people

     3-  Japanese people

     2-   Right wing ultra conservative bigoted Bible thumping Southern Rednecks

     1- Terrorists (they get a one because there has to be one or two that feel guilty)


I'm sure everybody reading this blog thinks their people give the most guilt. This is just my seventy years of observation. I would be very interested in your rankings.

Sooo, what is all this guilt about? Giving guilt is a controlling action. It's done to get people to do what you want them to do. When you don't have the facts or the proof - give them guilt. When you don't believe you can convince them any other way - give them guilt.

Feeling guilty is all about YOU! Why would you feel guilty if you want to be a Plumber? Do you really think your mother is going to lose all her friends? What does your mother's delivery pain have to do with you wanting to skip college? Will the family disown you if you don't drive the 100 miles to go to your Grandmother's funeral?

When are you going to love yourself enough to stop feeling guilty?