I hope those of you who are offended by the jokes in this thread as well as those who are upset that some people didn't register disapproval of it can put yourselves in the shoes of those of us who cannot claim any Jewish ancestry for just one moment.

This thread was started by someone who can claim Jewish ancestry. That puts the those of us who can't in a very confusing situation. Some people see it as permission to go along with what was started by someone who supposedly knows what's acceptable and what isn't, to people of Jewish ancestry.

At the same time, it's a bit difficult for those of us who don't have Jewish ancestry to tell someone who does, what is appropriate and what isn't for their own ethnic or religious group. That would be a bit patronizing, wouldn't it?

Have a little compassion for those of us who want to do what is right, but who have been put in the middle of what is essentially, a controversy between people of the same ethnic group.

Here's what I posted earlier in this thread. I think it's a good question and deserves an answer. It's the closest I could come to expressing the concern I had about this thread without being patronizing to someone who has a better right than I have to decide what is and is not offensive to Jews.

Subject: RE: NON IRRITATING JEWISH JOKES
From: CarolC
Date: 01-May-01 - 04:14 AM

Here's what I wonder. I wonder with what sort of response this thread would have been met had it been started by someone who could not claim Jewish ancestry.

I think the answer to that question would tell us whether or not a thread like this one is a good idea.