4 definitions by spliffsmoker
Historically, Hellenists were Jews who were more attracted to the Ancient Greek way of life and longed to break free from the collectivist constraints of their heritage. They valued their personal individuality, and wished to identify themselves as the popular, dominant, scintillating Greeks rather than as the traditionalist and reviled Jews.
Some Hellenists converted due to antisemitism, and may have sacrificed their Jewish identity against their will for the sake of survival. However, many Hellenists simply loved Greek culture and identified with it more strongly than with their "Jewish roots". They did not think race and blood had anything to do with their own self-created identity, and they were completely assimilated.
Hellenists don't have to be Jewish at all. They are generally people who have a Western way of thinking, valuing image, Platonic philosophy, and a high quality of life over moral stipulations. Materialistic glory and aesthetic perfection are valued slightly higher than "Marxist" or "communist" compassion and collectivism.
American "democracy" and capitalism is the scion of ancient Greek Hellenism.
Some Hellenists converted due to antisemitism, and may have sacrificed their Jewish identity against their will for the sake of survival. However, many Hellenists simply loved Greek culture and identified with it more strongly than with their "Jewish roots". They did not think race and blood had anything to do with their own self-created identity, and they were completely assimilated.
Hellenists don't have to be Jewish at all. They are generally people who have a Western way of thinking, valuing image, Platonic philosophy, and a high quality of life over moral stipulations. Materialistic glory and aesthetic perfection are valued slightly higher than "Marxist" or "communist" compassion and collectivism.
American "democracy" and capitalism is the scion of ancient Greek Hellenism.
While you prefer Mark Chagall's fiddler painting because it holds more moralistic meaning to you, I find it somewhat crude and prefer Michelangelo's David statue, it is so much more beautiful and elegant! It took a lot more skill to create! What can I say, maybe I'm just a Hellenist
by spliffsmoker September 3, 2011
that's one bad teacher, she's so pedantic
by spliffsmoker August 7, 2011
This is somewhat of a misnomer, since a "self-hating Jew" is usually not someone who really hates themselves. Rather, they identify themselves as more than, or something other, than just a Jew. They view themselves as a regular human being first, and feel uncomfortable with Jewish ethnocentrism and the "Chosen people" stigma. Even though they were born to Jewish parents, they are in direct opposition to religious Jewish dogma which they see as outdated and limiting. They may even believe that by setting themselves apart throughout history, the Jews may have unwittingly brought antisemitism unto themselves.
Self-hating Jews long to be Gentiles, because they do not like the designation and tradition forced on them by their ancestors and/or religion, which they have shed. They find liberation from their "self-hate" by identifying themselves not exclusively as Jews who are "strange" and "different", but as Gentiles; as any human being; no matter the race.
Self-hating Jews long to be Gentiles, because they do not like the designation and tradition forced on them by their ancestors and/or religion, which they have shed. They find liberation from their "self-hate" by identifying themselves not exclusively as Jews who are "strange" and "different", but as Gentiles; as any human being; no matter the race.
Jew #1: "The Nazis were overzealous in their logic which brought around their own demise. But some Jews also display the same racial, "pure-blood" thinking, which may have contributed to THEIR demise. It exposes a duality, a flaw in human nature: ethnocentrism is a flawed concept that can hurt anyone, no matter their race. This is 2011, its about time we advance beyond racial thinking"
Jew #2: "How dare you say that Jews brought the Holocaust onto themselves? Have you no pride?"
Jew #1: "Dude I didn't even say that. Besides, I do have pride, it is individualistic pride. I think for myself and I don't understand the concept of collectivist Jewish pri-"
Jew #2: "Stfu man. You're such a disgrace, you're nothing but a self-hating Jew"
Jew #2: "How dare you say that Jews brought the Holocaust onto themselves? Have you no pride?"
Jew #1: "Dude I didn't even say that. Besides, I do have pride, it is individualistic pride. I think for myself and I don't understand the concept of collectivist Jewish pri-"
Jew #2: "Stfu man. You're such a disgrace, you're nothing but a self-hating Jew"
by spliffsmoker September 4, 2011
living within the palo alto bubble is pleasant, because palo alto has a lot of genuinely good people. i remember whenever caltrain stopped at palo alto, the train operator would announce: "palo alto, friendly village". no other train stop would get a comment like this.
palo alto is materialistic. we really enjoy spending money, eating out and living large. there is a peaceful, tolerant, beautiful vibe in palo alto with a tinge of ignorance.
palo alto is not the ideal town for young people. nearly everyone who grows up here ends up leaving to seek out and discover the real world. they seek excitement and danger because they have lived their lives sheltered for so long with everything served on a silver platter.
you will usually see K-12 kids and middle-aged people walking the streets.
there exists a pestilent substance-abusing underground which many of the high schoolers who spend their parents' money on weed, alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy inhabit.
also, some kids growing up here hate this town.
gunn is extremely overrated. the students are more concerned with getting into a highly prestigious college, as if this guarantees high income. its quite a delusion that pervades gunn. academic achievement is valued over actual life-learning. the GPA matters more than your actual skills! that is why many people ive talked to say they absolutely hate gunn, and i've had a damaging experience there as well.
palo alto is materialistic. we really enjoy spending money, eating out and living large. there is a peaceful, tolerant, beautiful vibe in palo alto with a tinge of ignorance.
palo alto is not the ideal town for young people. nearly everyone who grows up here ends up leaving to seek out and discover the real world. they seek excitement and danger because they have lived their lives sheltered for so long with everything served on a silver platter.
you will usually see K-12 kids and middle-aged people walking the streets.
there exists a pestilent substance-abusing underground which many of the high schoolers who spend their parents' money on weed, alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy inhabit.
also, some kids growing up here hate this town.
gunn is extremely overrated. the students are more concerned with getting into a highly prestigious college, as if this guarantees high income. its quite a delusion that pervades gunn. academic achievement is valued over actual life-learning. the GPA matters more than your actual skills! that is why many people ive talked to say they absolutely hate gunn, and i've had a damaging experience there as well.
myself: "yea that job at starbucks didnt work out for me. i think im gonna go to school and focus on a musical career. im such a spendthrift but it doesnt seem to matter... i wonder why..."
friend in L.A. : "dude, you're from palo alto."
friend in L.A. : "dude, you're from palo alto."
by spliffsmoker September 11, 2011