Encounters with Politics

By Abe Fried-Tanzer
KOC Assistant Editor
New York University

I have a habit of getting very into some odd things which end occupying a whole lot of my time. It was Thomas the Tank Engine, maps, gas prices, and comic books at various periods throughout my childhood. Now it is movies and television. But for a time, it was presidents. In seventh grade I traveled to Washington, D.C. with my family. I live outside of Boston, but had rarely been into that city, and at that point I hadn't yet discovered the majestic nature of New York City. Washington astounded me, and I loved its historical components. Over the next few months, I began researching in depth all of the presidents, at one point even memorizing the names and terms of all the presidents and vice-presidents. It was an exciting obsession, and I know that on my bookshelf at home I still have some of those presidential books that I might easily refer back to at some later date when I decide to dive back into my one-time interest.

Since then, I've had a number of encounters with politics. In high school, two of my most interesting and rewarding courses were AP United States History and AP Government. It's fascinating to explore the history and workings of the United States political system. In college, I find myself discussing politics mostly in my journalism classes, where it is often stressed that while the classes are not about politics, the media and politics are often so interconnected that it's impossible to separate them.

What interests me a great deal about politics is the high level of participation by Jews. When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to New York, I received Facebook invitations to come out and protest organized by NYU's Hillel, Columbia's Hillel, and countless others. Support of Israel is often the catalyst for such events, and I think it's also to their credit that Hillel at NYU is working with the Islamic Center to explore Muslim-Jewish relations in a creative way.

Jews in politics are also an interesting phenomenon, because it suddenly becomes a big issue when they opt to run for high office. What's wonderful about that is the outpouring of support from Jews all over, regardless of how they ultimately vote, with a distinctly positive stance which is encouraging. I followed the 2000 election closely, and thoroughly enjoyed talking about Joe Lieberman's candidacy (among other things, my family ordered "Gore/Gornisht" buttons). In my research for a journalism assignment this semester about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, I came across a story about his faith and how he supports his home synagogue and how his rumored run for the presidency might have been (or still might be) a breakthrough for Jews everywhere. It's incredible to find such stories which stand out from the pack.

This year, on the night of November 4^th, I had plans that did not include watching the news. I wasn't too keen on missing the live coverage of the election, but I presumed that being free by eleven would mean I wouldn't miss anything too important. Luckily, I got to Union Square just as news of Obama's win had broken. It's something I don't think I'll ever forget. Everyone was shouting, and cars passing by were honking their horns triumphantly. It was a fantastically exciting historical moment, and something that assures me that I'm living in a very important political time. I'd love to see, in future years, a similar outpouring of positive enthusiasm for a Jewish candidate since, as everyone I've talked to seems to indicate, we are in fact in a time of change and it's a truly wonderful thing.

[Posted 11/27/08]