Glenn Beck has brought his unique message to Israel as part of his “Restoring Courage” world tour. The born-again Mormon and former Fox anchor addressed a huge group of American Evangelical and Israelis in Jerusalem under the shadow of dome of the al-Aqsa mosque to denounce the United Nations, Arabs, and human rights organizations. That’s right, human rights organizations.
Beck calmly explained “Whatever we’ve grown to think is solid and strong and durable is under siege. The threats are mounting. The evil is growing. Darkness is falling.” It is not clear if he added to remember to tip the wait staff and stop by the gift shop on your way out.
It is of course human rights organization that have caused much of this problem by criticizing Israel, according to Beck, and his followers must fight these organizations as a matter of faith. He warned “so-called leaders are talking about human rights. But what they do is abuse the very meaning of this phrase. They condemn tiny Israel, democratic Israel, free Israel – Israel which values human life above all others.”
The words electrified his followers, including Michael Novatka, a born-again Christian and “self-proclaimed Jew” from Florida who insisted that “Glenn Beck tells the truth, but the rest of the world doesn’t want to hear it.” True, Michael, so true.
Source: Middle East and Guardian
Mike,
Being an Idiot know no race or gender…
“Now you’re an outright liar. You were saying that the Mormons establishing a university on the Mount of Olives is akin to the “triumph” of the Muslims over the Temple Mount. That is an absurdity.”
Jack,
You’re an idiot if you think that’s what I said. Have you so little sense of nuance? My point was the Mormon’s specifically established a University in Israel to extend their claims as a legitimate religion, ranking with the much older ones and a religion that inherits/incorporates not only the Torah, but the Gospels as well. It was a PR move pure and simple. That you try to twist its’ meaning into something else just shows how much you are unwilling to look at anything that might run contrary to your beliefs.
“the whole notion that it is a PR move is ridiculous, noted by the fact that both Jews and Muslim scholars are hired to teach at the University, sometimes in combined classes. This isn’t some PR pandering to the extremes, but a real effort to increase awareness and understanding of two great religions”.
The hiring too Jack is PR and as far as “increasing awareness and understanding” that is just more PR claptrap. If LDS had any real awareness of other religions it wouldn’t be doing post-mortem conversions and rationalizing them as giving to those who in life didn’t have the privilege of sharing your version of God’s “greatest blessings”.
Really understanding of you LDS people as showing such great awareness of others’ beliefs.
“Re-read what I wrote and you’ll see that I did NOT suggest that they were Jewish claims that brought the misery and suffering – they were claims that the evil and murderous Nazis, etc. used AGAINST Jews, using ignorant stereotypes, paranoia, and lying propaganda to fuel the fire as an excuse to kill.”
Above what you just wrote and below what you previously wrote. Others can decide for themselves how your words are to be taken
“So, if you want to use your waning years making wild, ignorant claims so akin to the types that brought Jews years upon years of misery, then so be it.”
I note that nowhere in that entire comment were NAZI’s ever mentioned, but you claim after the fact that was your meaning.
“Only fears that the Mormons would convert hoards of the Jewish people.”
I don’t fear Mormon’s converting Jews at all Jack, quite the contrary.
“the only “context” is a paranoia of the church’s proselytizing.”
Don’t many young Mormons spend two years all over the world proselytizing, Jack? Maybe it isn’t paranoia but a recognition of what is LDS overall policy. Maybe too it isn’t fear of conversions, but of being annoyingly accosted on the street by some young “snotnose” trying to show their version of the right path. Do you understand what a pain in the ass that is?
“HAHAHA!! I have pointed out a NUMBER of flaws throughout this discussion, and you have yet to drop the diaper, be a man, and admit that you were wrong. NOT ONCE!”
“HAHAHA!!”? Really Jack I think this topic is overstimulating you and you are becoming far too hysterical. You may think you’ve pointed out flaws, but I believe I’ve disposed of them handily.
“If you want to have an enlightened discussion about policy, practice, or facts, you will find me very amiable. I do not, however, have any tolerance for abject ignorance or intolerance. Particularly from people that think they have a place in the public forum to speak and be heard.”
Jack your first sentence to me was:
“If you want to have a beef with ghosts, so be it. But don’t bring your ignorance to a public forum:”
That was a surefire way to start an enlightened discussion wasn’t it? As far as this public forum goes I’ve been writing here for many years and I think if my ideas were as ignorant and outlandish as you proffer then perhaps I would have had much opprobrium heeped upon me during that time. The opposite has occurred. By the way you are far from the first LDS person to have commented here, but in truth they have usually been more civil and less derisive, despite the fact that my views haven’t changed from then to now.
As for your amiability I don’t think you’ve displayed it in the its’ best light here. You can get as upset as you want Jack, but some of your discomfit comes from hearing a version of reality that differs from yours and for some reason that threatens you.
Mike,
“How they got permission neither proves nor disproves my statement.”
Now you’re an outright liar. You were saying that the Mormons establishing a university on the Mount of Olives is akin to the “triumph” of the Muslims over the Temple Mount. That is an absurdity. The Mormon cooperation was just that – a cooperation, and had nothing to do with conquering anything. And the whole notion that it is a PR move is ridiculous, noted by the fact that both Jews and Muslim scholars are hired to teach at the University, sometimes in combined classes. This isn’t some PR pandering to the extremes, but a real effort to increase awareness and understanding of two great religions. And that’s separate and apart from the special place Jews have as a people in our theology.
“What experience with Mormon’s would cause the Israeli Government to request those “unconstitutional terms? Again I think you’re not presenting the complete context.”
I know you are loathe to do research, but if you spent the time you’d see that the only “context” is a paranoia of the church’s proselytizing. Period. There was no substance to the context. Only fears that the Mormons would convert hoards of the Jewish people. But don’t let the facts get in the way of your unfounded bias.
“Isn’t that special? Somehow my experience with most merchants makes your statement ring false.”
Frankly, you can be as incredulous as you want. But quit speaking from ignorance. Bashing your head against the uncomfortable truth won’t change it. Oh, and P.S.: I haven’t the foggiest about Utah politics. The latest I read was a Mormon state senator in Arizona decrying that the church has now been brainwashed by liberals because of the immigration policy they supported. There’s a lot of cracked-out Mormons – no doubt. But that doesn’t mean the reputation of the church and its members is very, very good in the Holy Land.
“Just what “wild claims” have Jews made through the years that have brought misery on themselves?”
Re-read what I wrote and you’ll see that I did NOT suggest that they were Jewish claims that brought the misery and suffering – they were claims that the evil and murderous Nazis, etc. used AGAINST Jews, using ignorant stereotypes, paranoia, and lying propaganda to fuel the fire as an excuse to kill. Nice try and twisting my words. [In case you are a novice to the law, the plaintiff brings a claim against a defendant. I’ve never seen a case where a defendant has brought a claim against himself. FYI].
“When have I claimed to represent academia?”
I concede I was wrong. Your shoddy conclusions don’t even have the appearance of responsible research, but blatant bigotry and intolerance. My apologies for assuming that you had any intention of being responsible in a public forum.
“Truth is in the eyes of the beholder and had you presented any evidence I might have had a new perspective.”
What kind of cock-eyed excuse is that? You can’t go around accusing an organization of secrets and lies without knowing what you’re talking about! That is called DEFAMATION. It’s generally looked down upon, if not illegal. The fact is, you don’t know what you’ve been talking about. You have been woefully unprepared to speak intelligently on the beliefs, organization, or activities of the LDS church, but have nonetheless been arrogantly capable of drawing sweeping, incorrect, and terribly divisive conclusions.
“I’m true to myself…”
So you, as in yourself, stand for idol bigotry and ignorant conclusions? If that’s what you’re being true to, good luck. What a sad person you must be.
“The non-material blessings of life that have already been bestowed upon me lead me to feel I’m doing something right.”
Another red herring? Stop being so presumptuous! This discussion isn’t about your reward from life, and it is certainly not about whose theology is right. Nor is it about granting you license to craft some self-thought, eloquent but irrelevant pontifications. This is about you being accountable for ignorant, incorrect, and offensive comments that you had no business making.
“That I readily admit my flaws when they are shown to me I consider on the plus side of my life balance sheet.”
HAHAHA!! I have pointed out a NUMBER of flaws throughout this discussion, and you have yet to drop the diaper, be a man, and admit that you were wrong. NOT ONCE! And you have the “hubris” to now pat yourself on the back for your good – yet nonexistent – good works? Frankly, there’s a word we use to explain people like that: sociopath.
If you want to have an enlightened discussion about policy, practice, or facts, you will find me very amiable. I do not, however, have any tolerance for abject ignorance or intolerance. Particularly from people that think they have a place in the public forum to speak and be heard.
Good grief.
Jack
“Ha! That’s why the Mormons actually went through the process to get Jewish PERMISSION?”
Aaron or Jack,
How they got permission neither proves nor disproves my statement.
“And that’s why they agreed to terms that under Israeli law were unconstitutional?”
What experience with Mormon’s would cause the Israeli Government to request those “unconstitutional terms? Again I think you’re not presenting the complete context.
“I’ve been there! I’ve bought things from vendors in Jerusalem. I’ve told vendors (honestly) that I didn’t have money to pay for their goods – and you know what they said? “Take it – we know you’ll send the money.” Why? Because they knew I was Mormon.”
Isn’t that special? Somehow my experience with most merchants makes your statement ring false. Unless of course this was someone you knew and had established a prior business relationship with. Also since you claim that Mormons are such paragons of honesty, why are there lawyers practicing in Utah working in contracts?
“So, if you want to use your waning years making wild, ignorant claims so akin to the types that brought Jews years upon years of misery, then so be it.”
Just what “wild claims” have Jews made through the years that have brought misery on themselves? Careful Aaron/Jack somethings showing in your feelings that might be somewhat distasteful. Where have I heard that claim before that all the misery the Jews have suffered they’ve brought on themselves. It’s good to blame the victim and when the victim talks back claim the victim is whining. But hey Aaron/Jack, I’m sure you and the LDS just love Jews.
“You are a disgrace to academia. You are a disgrace to truth. And you are a disgrace to your Jewish heritage.”
When have I claimed to represent academia? Truth is in the eyes of the beholder and had you presented any evidence I might have had a new perspective. Instead you became very angry and defensive. Perhaps I’ve hit too close to the bone. As for being a disgrace to my Jewish Heritage the only people who can really judge me on that are my fellow Jews. Some might think I am and some might think I’m not. I’m true to myself and honest in my dealings with others, so I’m happy with myself and to me that is the final judgment. You see if humans are closely watched by a Creator and judged by that entity, then as I said before I’ll take my chances.
The non-material blessings of life that have already been bestowed upon me lead me to feel I’m doing something right. However, like other humans, not pretentious purveyors of LDS platitudes like yourself, I admit I have flaws. That I readily admit my flaws when they are shown to me I consider on the plus side of my life balance sheet.
Mike,
Wow. First, rather than confessing like a grown man that you were wrong, you want to play victim (again) to the fact that someone called you on the undeniable fact – that you don’t know what you’re talking about. Then you make a ridiculous argument about hubris? Are you suggesting that Jews believe they are not uniquely right in their understanding about God, and that the others are not to some degree, wrong? If you do, go read some history before you make additional logically fallacious, asinine, and hypocritical comments.
[Don’t worry, it gets even better.] You want to try and turn it into a discussion about who’s theology is right or not? “If like some, you would call that gambling with my soul, game on.” Ha! Another irresponsible red herring! Then you try to conflate Fundamentalist Christians with Mormons which is again, not only intellectually dishonest but – another red herring! (Frankly, Mormons don’t believe that Jews will go to hell – another evidence of your ignorance, er…lack of reading comprehension, er….be a chap and help me with a better adjective, eh? Heaven forbid I hurt your tender feelings for the truth). Then, you on your arrogant high-horse conclude that a multi-million dollar lease/building for an institution on the Mount of Olives is for “public relations?” Before speaking, think.
“As for you building a University in Israel that is merely a public relations move to try to give the LDS greater credibility and connection to Israel. It comes from the same kind of “respect” that the Muslims showed building the dome of the Rock on the site of the second temple. It was done by them to show their triumph over a religion that they heavily borrowed from.”
Ha! That’s why the Mormons actually went through the process to get Jewish PERMISSION? And that’s why they agreed to terms that under Israeli law were unconstitutional? And that’s why they employee many Jewish scholars, professors, and employees? Just to “triumph?” Are you serious that boneheaded? [Talk about hubris!]
“Really Jack? Really? There might be an instance or two but that statement is just full of shit. How many merchants in the US would do that? What pretentious drivel you spout setting all LDS faithful as such paragons of honesty. If that’s true then I guess LDS members don’t use lawyers amongst each other to have business dealings.”
Hahahaha!!! The fact that Mike doesn’t like something makes it fecal!
I’ve been there! I’ve bought things from vendors in Jerusalem. I’ve told vendors (honestly) that I didn’t have money to pay for their goods – and you know what they said? “Take it – we know you’ll send the money.” Why? Because they knew I was Mormon. And that wasn’t a single instance – in fact, that happened 3 times (that I saw) in one day to our small group of about 12. I’m not suggesting that all Mormons are like this, but that is completely different to the fact that this is how Jews – in Jeruslaem (not the U.S. in case you missed it) – view Mormons. Why? Because they interact with Mormons daily, with waves of new students and professors every semester. They trust them because they have proven to be trustworthy. So unless you have some evidence to the contrary, I suggest you refrain from continuing to prove yourself the ignorant fool.
Mike, what is obvious is that you have a disdain for the truth, or at the very least a distain for responsible scholarship. You don’t know what you are talking about. But lucky for me, just because you’d prefer to do violence to the truth, doesn’t change the truth for what it is.
So, if you want to use your waning years making wild, ignorant claims so akin to the types that brought Jews years upon years of misery, then so be it. You are a disgrace to academia. You are a disgrace to truth. And you are a disgrace to your Jewish heritage. Thank goodness that most of the Jews I have come to know are good, respectable, responsible people that are more intent on stopping the atrocities that were committed to them from happening to others, then wallowing in their own self-pity – or worse – perpetuating unfair, skewed, and outright dishonest stereotypes. You are the quintessential example of intolerance that Jews have uniformly stood against. “Heil Mike!”
[Oh…and in case it wasn’t abundantly clear, Robin’s statement was 100% false. Part-member families are NOT excommunicated. Don’t bother with a reference to prove the contrary – I know you people hate doing any sort of due diligence.]
Jack
“why do the mormoms feel that if you want to follow their religion that your whole family must also follow or be ex communicated?”
Jack,
why is it you responded by only calling robin a name, rather than refuting her statement if not true. You seem very long on invective, but quite short in understanding.
“This is case and point of that you ARE ignorant. The fact is that the doctrine of all post-mordem baptisms CANNOT be efficacious unless the person actually ACCEPTS it in the next world.”
Jack,
Call me any other names you want, but it doesn’t diminish from my point that the process is not only highly disrespectful, but replete with a smug hubris. I’m sure that Mormons would object to their post mortem conversions by Catholics, or Baptists, who after all are “only trying to save their immortal souls”. I don’t believe in an afterlife, as most normative Jews, but if there is one I’ll see you there and despite your beliefs, you’ll be no better off than me. If like some, you would call that gambling with my soul, game on.
“The fact is that you won’t find a group with greater respect for Jews than the Mormons – evident by the fact that they have a university on the Mount of Olives and have an exceptional relationship with the Israeli government.”
Actually, Fundamentalist Christians have a large presence in Israel and talk much about “how much they love the Jewish people”. They do love us and want Israel to prosper to bring on Armageddon at which point we either convert to their belief, or burn in Hell. I don’t call that love. As for you building a University in Israel that is merely a public relations move to try to give the LDS greater credibility and connection to Israel. It comes from the same kind of “respect” that the Muslims showed building the dome of the Rock on the site of the second temple. It was done by them to show their triumph over a religion that they heavily borrowed from.
“The notion that you have some moral superiority to decry those that believe your religion is “invalid,” is a hypocritical invalidation of another’s right to his religion. Complete nonsense.”
Again, you miss my point. I don’t claim any moral superiority and Judaism doesn’t teach that It is the only path to God, quite the contrary.
LDS is the one claiming moral superiority by claiming all other paths to god are invalid. You are the hypocrite here and the pity is you don’t know it because you are so immersed in your own moral smugness.
“Not at all! Because I think such things would be fantasy! If they did, I’d say ‘thank you for the sentiment,’ and walk away thinking ‘what a useless waste of time their efforts were!’”
Jack, your pores literally drip with hubris.
“I forget where Mormons did such a thing forcefully”
They LDS hasn’t had enough of an existence to be in such a position, but give them time and where they can apply force they will. In some cases such as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, they did. All religion though is ideas at base and appropriating another religion’s ideas and therefore legitimacy is in and of itself an act with aggressive and dismissive tonality.
“In fact, it is for that reason that vendors in Jerusalem will give Mormon tourists their wares without paying because they know that if they say they don’t have the money but will send a check when they get back to the US – they will.”
Really Jack? Really? There might be an instance or two but that statement is just full of shit. How many merchants in the US would do that? What pretentious drivel you spout setting all LDS faithful as such paragons of honesty. If that’s true then I guess LDS members don’t use lawyers amongst each other to have business dealings.
By the way as for the Israeli Government, I’m a Jew and a proud American, not an Israeli. I don’t approve of many of the policies of the current Israeli government and of those of some in the past. It is again your hubris that would identify me as some sort of participant in Israeli politics. As far as Bachman goes, were it not for Romney and Huntsman, much of her beliefs would seem to go down well in Utah and you know if she won the nomination, she would carry Utah in a tidal wave of votes against Obama. I wonder why?
Robin,
“why do the mormoms feel that if you want to follow their religion that your whole family must also follow or be ex communicated?”
I apologize – Mike is not the standard for ignorance. You are.
Jack
Mike,
Let’s get to the heart of the matter.
“4. The history of Jews is replete with larger religions appropriating our “Torah” for their own purposes and then trying to forcibly convert us to their beliefs. Through the ages literally millions of Jews have met terrible deaths because they wouldn’t betray their deepest beliefs. You, however, so convinced of the “truth” of your beliefs would yet do that again, post mortem, against people murdered for who they were born and/or what they believed. You don’t understand how that is disrespectful.”
This is case and point of that you ARE ignorant. The fact is that the doctrine of all post-mordem baptisms CANNOT be efficacious unless the person actually ACCEPTS it in the next world. Vicarious work in the Mormon faith does nothing but provide an OPTION – which must be affirmatively accepted! So, even if we all assume that such baptisms are actually valid and are of some consequence and worthwhile to cry about (which I can’t possibly believe that you accept), they are completely useless if the person didn’t actually want it! The only thing more baffling than your tizzy is the strawman upon which it is premised!
“I’ve read the book of Mormon and other Mormon writings so don’t play your little rhetorical games with me.”
Then you need to increase your reading ability, because you haven’t the foggiest notion about what you are talking about. Period.
“2. You are lying about family members who were Mormon’s requesting post death conversions of Shoah victim’s, that is just LDS propaganda. Most of the ones done when the LDS was hiding the truth were not engendered by family members, but taken from lists of Shoah victims. It is secret now because the LDS doesn’t admit to still doing it, but does.”
I bet the Nazis called the Jews liars too, huh? That’s where it all starts, right? [Goodwin enter stage right.]
I will not have my integrity impugned from a crazed jihadist like you, intent on flaming his poorly crafted yet indignant tirade. The fact is that the church has an independent research department to put the records together. As soon as the concern was raised, the church – although it didn’t need to – stopped. Those records were not disseminated for baptisms. None of those records were again used. They went through extraordinary means to stop individual members from independently submit such names. So if any continued, it wasn’t because it was secret. It was because the use was unknown. And frankly, they’ve now been able to stop even those submissions. People like you should be applauding an effort that they had no right to demand, and which cost time, money, and resources – but that the church tried to comply with all in an effort to be sensitive to the Jewish community’s sensitivies.
“3. How is it dishonorable (and disgusting)? It is because these people died simply because of the ethnicity and religion they were born into. They were murdered by people who felt their religious belief was invalid. In the same way LDS Baptisms also connote that these victims religion is invalid….”
Possibly one of the stupidest, and short-sighted things I have ever read. The fact is that you won’t find a group with greater respect for Jews than the Mormons – evident by the fact that they have a university on the Mount of Olives and have an exceptional relationship with the Israeli government. The notion that you have some moral superiority to decry those that believe your religion is “invalid,” is a hypocritical invalidation of another’s right to his religion. Complete nonsense.
“Take your “greatest of honors” and shove it up your ass.”
How rich the hypocrisy! For your sake, I hope your bowels don’t suffer from the same incontinence as your mouth.
“Suppose for instance Jews, or Catholics, or Baptists , or even Moslems deciding that bestowing their religious values was the greatest of honors and started doing their own post-mortem conversions of Mormons, who in life didn’t have the “privilege”of sharing their version of God’s “greatest blessings”, you seriously wouldn’t think that enormously disrespectful.”
Not at all! Because I think such things would be fantasy! If they did, I’d say ‘thank you for the sentiment,’ and walk away thinking ‘what a useless waste of time their efforts were!’ But offend? Of course not! How can you be offended where (1) no offense is meant, and (2) nothing of person, property, or value is being infringed! Frankly, the conjured outcry by said grown-men like you should be responded to with one phrase: Grow-up! Again, careful chasing ghosts – heaven forbid you trip on shoelaces and blame someone else!
“4. The history of Jews is replete with larger religions appropriating our “Torah” for their own purposes and then trying to forcibly convert us to their beliefs.”
I forget where Mormons did such a thing forcefully…. [But I know you’re not one for facts – seems like Bachman is your candidate?] In fact, I seem to remember that the Israeli government was pressured by conservative jokers/extremists like you to stop the construction of the University on the Mt. of Olives because of such ridiculous notions that the church lies, etc., etc., but have since pleasantly found that their demand that the Mormons not proselyte in Jerusalem – although illegal in the first place – has been abided by with the utmost loyalty. In fact, it is for that reason that vendors in Jerusalem will give Mormon tourists their wares without paying because they know that if they say they don’t have the money but will send a check when they get back to the US – they will. How nefarious!
Intellectual laziness and dishonesty is no excuse for “bias.” Just a convenient excuse.
Jack
Mike, I realized this fella was (put your own word here) but felt it needed to be said, although I also wrote in a follow up that I would not continue to reply to him.
You have been through hell and back. I am so glad your family was there for you. You most certainly understand, more than many the ways of empathy, compassion, and help.
After all of the fight you and your wife put into keeping you among us I have no dealt there is PTSD. How can there not?
(I am getting your reply but do not see it here, I am going to assume this will be near it if not under)
Interestingly, the stereotype is wrong. Woman, as a result of estrogen, have a lower pain threshhold than men, testosterone raising theirs.
Often we cannot ‘win’. We go to the doc, our hair undone, our clothes somewhat wrinkled, because the pain keeps us from looking our best and doing what needs to be done, and we are diagnosed as depressed. If we come in looking good, hair nice, clothes good, then we are complainers or malingerers.
I have heard of that show but not seen it. It is interesting that you would catch that part of it, the women’s disease maybe being more mysterious because she is a woman. Would it have been diagnosed more easily and quickly in a man?
I wish more people had the level of understanding about it that you do. (I have a feeling your wife is very lucky.) I hope if you have a chance you will check out my blog, http://apainedlife.blogspot.com/ where I have talked about this (and more).
Carol
“To my surprise another post, on “Nuremberg revisited” had one reply exceedingly antisemitic, ‘the Jews were behind 9/11.’, and I have yet to see one post condemning that belief.”
Carol,
That came from an on again, off again troll named BuenaVistaMall, who is crazy and never responds to comments. We’ve just learned to ignore him here.
“I think the empathy is too scary; if I can feel, truly feel and understand, what it is the other person is going through maybe it makes it more possible that I will have to feel that kind of pain myself”
That is true and the added part to it is one then realizes not only their own mortality, but also how random life can be at times and that is something most people are afraid to contemplate. As for me, I’m doing fine now because miraculously I had a heart transplant about a year ago. I have life and “a life” once again. I never would have made it through without the devotion of my wife and my children. However, the process of dying and the medical effort to keep me alive was a horror show and I think to an extent my wife and I are still recovering from a form of PTSD.
In terms of your own travails I think that especially with chronic pain in women there is a societal disregard and general lack of sympathy. It is a dichotomy of our social system that while from a male perspective women are considered physically weaker than men, physiologically and psychologically they are actually much stronger. Subconsciously males know this and they find it hard to accept emotionally. When a women is in physical pain they want to deny it.
Another problem is the tendency of the medical profession to see any woman’s condition that they cannot readily diagnose as being psychological in nature. Too often it is their lack of diagnostic skills that gets in the way, but doctors never want to seem fallible and so blame it on the patient. Women patients being perceived by them as more passive, bear the brunt of the victim being blamed. It’s good you have a support group. There is a documentary show on cable called “Mystery
Diagnosis” that has documented cases of women suffering and being somehow mistrusted for it, many, many times until the true diagnosis is discovered.
(To my surprise another post, on “Nuremberg revisited” had one reply exceedingly antisemitic, ‘the Jews were behind 9/11.’, and I have yet to see one post condemning that belief.)
You describe beautifully the reason for the sense of oneness.
I am so sorry you went through what you did, not only physically but emotionally, including the abandonment of many of your friends.
I think the empathy is too scary; if I can feel, truly feel and understand, what it is the other person is going through maybe it makes it more possible that I will have to feel that kind of pain myself, I will have to accept that it exists, and this is not something I want to even consider.
(I hear this from members of my Women In Pain Awareness Group and it is also my own experience, having been treated very poorly by family and others who preferred to disbelieve and even try to refute the reality of my pain, and then turn away, completely.)
I hope you are doing well now. Carol