Cultural Clash on America West Airlines

Flying back from Kansas City to Phoenix I lumbered into seat 12C and
saw that luckily there would be an empty seat between me and the guy
in 12A. I've flown on America West so many times I know the good seats
and the drill; with a little luck you can get extra leg room if you
watch your bookings.

Anyway, the guy in the seat by the window was a pleasant enough fellow
so we began talking. He turned out to be a Mormon seminary teacher; a
person who teaches young members of his church before and after school
about their religion. He had just taken a group across the country by
bus visiting historic sites for the Mormon religion. Beginning in New
York state where Joseph Smith reported finding the Book of Mormon on
gold plates, they had visited sites all across the country including
where Joseph Smith was killed in Illinois and coincidentally at
Haun's Mill, which is the next town over from where I was born and
raised where young and old Mormons were martyred and killed by local
people in the early 1800's out of ignorance. I told him a bit about
what I knew about Joseph Smith and other founders of his church's
involvement in the Masonic movement of which I am a member. He told me
that he had went back to school and got a Masters Degree in Education
so he could be a better teacher. He had been raised in a suburb of
Salt Lake City Utah and his family were active in the Church.

We had a fascinating discussion of his mission as a young person.
Many,but not all, Mormons take 2 years and go to another country or
the US and go around teaching about the religion to others. I took
the opportunity to learn how it works and it seemed fairly well
thought out; it was a time for young people to reflect on life and
think of others. They are allowed to call home only twice a year but
now in the days of internet they can send and receive emails if they
have access to a computer. I explained to him that I 'water' all young
religious workers I see here in Fountain Hills Arizona and talk to
them because it must be a lonely life and in retrospect I may be the
only Jew they will ever meet who will talk to them about religion.

Anyway, he asked me about my religious life. I explained that I have
been raised as a Methodist/Presbyterian, that my mother's father had
been a priest who left the Catholic Church, and that at age 27 I
became a Reform Jew. He said "Oh, that is interesting. In Utah and
Idaho we have an older member of the church who comes and visits
seminaries and impersonates a Jew and scares the heck out of our
children. He even has the little curls of hair on the side of his
hair." This immediately fascinated me: It got me to wondering what
is scary about old Jewish men, since I am fast becoming one at age 54.
I wondered if he sang songs from "Fiddler On The Roof" off key,like
me, or told stories non-stop like some friends of mine do or perhaps
he tries to control the Local Media or banking in the area? After
thinking about it for a while I asked him how many Jews he personally
knew; he told me that I was the first 'real' Jew he had ever met
This put alot of responsibility on me as a convert to Jewish life to
tell him what Jews are really like. I gave him my card and told him
that I'd find a real Jew to come meet with his kids sometime in the
future and that I'd promise they wouldn't be scary. The flight ended
and my seatmate had to go to catch another flight and he promised to
email me the next day to continue our dialogue. This "old Jew" walked
off the airplane amazed that in today's society there are still people
who deal in stereotypes and haven't had much exposure to cultural
diversity but it made me realize that as human beings we must continue
to talk to others and tell our stories and help others understand that
there isn't much difference between people. Two weeks later I'm still
waiting for my email from my seatmate; perhaps the 'Jewish
impersonator' told him not to trust a real Jew; who knows. But I
tried and that is what it is all about; we have to help each other
understand. I imagine he was confused when he looked at my head and
didn't see horns or even a beard. He had met a real old Jew; hope he
emails me. (NOTE: THe religions aren't important to the story but the lack of knowledge in the 21st century of the diverse nation we live in is...amazing.)

__________________
Moderator - State Licensing Forum

Still skeptical after all these years.
This is it. There are no hidden meanings.WYSIWYG

http://www.internetmedicalschool.homestead.com

http://www.chiropractormds.homestead.com/index.html

You handled yourself like a true gentleman. I don't know if I could have tollerated this person! Much respect, and your not an "old jew." That is a horrible label of a person.

__________________
"Primum non nocere"

Actually I am an old Jewish person; 54 is not middle age since we don't live to be 108 so I am past middle age. Jew is not a bad label; it refers to ones religious belief,eh? Like Old Christian, Old Muslim. Old Atheist,etc. Our job as humans is to demystify ignorance. I have learned many lessons from listening to others and telling our stories to others helps them learn---never forget for instance that you may be the ONLY medical student,etc. that the person has ever met. It is part of our job in life...keep teaching/learning.

__________________
Moderator - State Licensing Forum

Still skeptical after all these years.
This is it. There are no hidden meanings.WYSIWYG

http://www.internetmedicalschool.homestead.com

http://www.chiropractormds.homestead.com/index.html