Independent Thought

Was watching an Interview with Richard L. Rubin on JBS within the last few days, recorded so I could watch the hour long interview in about three segments. He had written a book about Jewish in America about how American Jews became fully American but how we retained much of our identity to capture the opportunities that America offered.  Being a Professor of Political Science at an elite liberal arts college, he had a professional interest in surveys and data.  He cited a Pew Report of the American population that included enough Jews to provide sufficient statistical representation.  In the Pew survey of education, the Jews stood out from other ethnic groups.  Asians, who have been highly successful in their American schooling, tended to value determination and discipline as the measure of success.  We Jews preferred acquiring the ability to think for ourselves above all else.  Both attributes continue on long past our school years. Asian exceptionalism clusters around scientific prowess.  The successful Jews seem to acquire a broader spectrum of excellence, not only science but literature, commerce, political presence, public media, pretty much anything but athletics.

Despite this underpinning, when we congregate amongst ourselves more of a GroupThink emerges.  It seems out of character, but drives some of our central institutions.  Maybe to our detriment.