the history and masquerades in Venice, by the Mardi-Gras in New Orleans, by Indian and African rituals. You'd probably think yourself worldly and "well-rounded" to know the cultural traditions of others. -- but somehow, not so with your own. Not everyone who has a mind of their own wil use it to their best ability, but those sheep in the world will invariably be led by SOMEone and it makes no difference if it's a "fancy costume"d Rabbi or Hare Krishna or Professor of Philosophy, or the great expounders of "multi-culturalism". They move forward in a great mindless wave. Too many caught in their various "waves" of unconsciousness. I consciously choose the Rabbi with the wits I've been granted and you're free, of course, to do as you will. We all do the best we can with the tools at our disposal. If we've been predisposed to certain prejudicial thinking, however, I do believe it get in the way of free-thinking and one's ability to choose with an open mind.

As a democrat and a liberal I am against forcing anyone to learn something they don't want to learn. I imagine it would be counter-productive. Haredim should be free to live according the doctrines they have lived by for centuries. Forcing people who aren't prepared to fight into the army is also detrimental to all sides. But they should bear the risks of their choices. Those who choose not to work should not recieve hand-outs. Haredi communities should not be protected by non-Haredi army and police etc etc Each community makes it's choices and lives with the consequences of those choices.