Tzemach,

Isn't there a difference between structured and totalitarian and isn't that difference cruicial?

Isn't theocracy different from a represenational government? Both are structured and have people in positions of power with the cruicial difference of accountability to the electorate in a democracy and slavish adulation and submission in theocracy?

Perhaps you know Proffessor Kliger, he is responsible in AJC for FSU affairs. He thinks that the difference in American and Russian approaches is in the dominant religion of the country of origin. Russian Orthodoxy stresses the "good heart" - hense I am a good Jew at heart and that is the most important thing. American Protestenism stressed action and thus a good American Jew is the one who pays his dues at the shul and makes his pledge and sits on that comittee. A macher in short.

Maybe thats another valid destinction.

But I still maintain that no thinking person likes to be cattle in a herd. Not American, Russian and not the Iranians. Claims that this is determined by history in this context sounds like whitewash.
Max | 12.22.06 - 3:31 pm | #