Beyond BT: Of Penguins and Eagles
Beyond BT, a Ba’al Tshuvah apologetics site, is running a slew of stories that seek to prove that the BT and frum world is the one that promotes individuality, and the secular world is the one that focuses merely on the external, “non-conformistâ€? trappings, instead of the more important, “Individuality.â€?
In order to just slightly tip the balance a weenie teeny bit towards the frum world but still maintain a fair and balanced contrast, the secular world is represented by ancient Sodom.
Let’s see which of the two is the better social model!
According to Rabbi Dovid Schwartz of the Jewish Heritage Center, there is, in fact, no “Individiuality� to be found, only non-conformism. Only in the Torah world is there apparently true Individuality, for as opposed to the silly, externally based non-conformism,
“Individuality, on the other hand, expresses the central Human longing for self-actualization and the resistance to external oppressive forces that would squash it. It is a wholesome drive that unites rather than divides BTs and FFBs.�
In fact, there is plenty of misunderstanding between these two groups, and plenty of contempt towards those BT’s who don’t tow the line sufficiently. Guess that means those BT’s themselves haven’t learned true “Individualism,� that is to say, not only dress, but also think, in accordance with the normative black hat folk, since that’s True Individuality.
Rabbi Schwartz continues that,
“An eagle that has grown up among marching penguins does not take flight to spite the penguins and mock their black and white conformity. The eagle flies because that’s what eagles do. Even when both are at rest the eagle is qualitatively unlike the penguin. It need not behave differently to be different. Yet, its very being compels it towards unique behaviors.�
Exactly. As long as the eagle looks, thinks, sounds, accepts the group leadership of, and behaves in every identifiable way like a penguin (not my term, his), Individualism is celebrated. That’s individualism. And if you don’t accept that, you won’t be accepted as part of the group. You’re just “quirky.”
7 comments
Kvetcher,
First off, you have never been banned from our site. Nobody has been. Neither have any comments by you ever been edited or deleted. You, and anyone else, are more than welcome to comment on our site.
Second, I think our blog reflects many varying viewpoints vis a vis individuality and conformity. We are a group blog comprised of BTs which vary from each other in age, geographic location and hashkafa.
As to Rabbi Schwartz’ particular point: Rabbi Schwartz is a Guest Commenter at beyondbt.com and his opinion is his own. Please feel free to comment upon it on our blog.
Be well,
David
David,
I have not been able to post on Beyond BT blog since my first post there, so something seems to be wrong. If this is not the case, I will be happy to post primarily on your blog with my own comments. But if I continue to be banned, I will write my responses elsewhere.
This is the first time I am hearing of that and I can guarantee you that it has not been done by Mark or me and we are the only admins.
You can contact me directly if you wish, beyondbt {at} gmail(.)com
Kvetch on.
David
Got your email and just returned it. I will try again. Thanks for telling me.
David:
Now that you are aware that your inability to post on Beyond Teshuvah was caused by a browser/firewall problem (and now that you can and have been actively commenting on the site), I hope you have the integrity to edit your post to remove the allegation that you have been banned from the site.
Good Shabbos
David Linn
Thanks for the edit.
Be well.
Thanks for the edit.
Be well.
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