I saw Fiddler ont he Roof last night....- Page 3

[Alex the Cat]

Posted: 2/21/04 at 12:10am

Sorry, Elvis- I just can't agree with you on this one. 'Discrimination (in the U.S.) against us virtually nonexistent'- ? Anti-Semitism is alive and kicking (just ask Mel Gibson)... although perhaps more subtle in this country now. And it is back with a vengeance in Europe... Just this week the EU held a conference, where speakers including Elie Wiesel tried to get the EU parliament to take action to stem the rising tide of violence (synagogue burnings, etc.) against Jews. As with any form of racism, it never goes away. This is why we have to employ a full time security detail at my synagogue.

As far as casting non-Jews in the show, I can't say how good or bad this cast is until I see it... but this isn't a high school or regional production, so it's not like their choices were limited to the senior drama club! If I wasn't Jewish, maybe it would make no difference to me either- but I think a lot of members of other ethnic groups would feel the same way I do, and this issue has certainly come up before with other ethnic groups and other shows.