wajenberg@topcat.DEC (04/11/84)
Since I have not read most of the issues you cite, I cannot comment on them. I will, however, comment on the arguments you put forward yourself. You remark that most American Jews are "assimilated Ashkenazis" (for whom you express considerable contempt). You then complain that this is the only kind of Jew Marvel represents. Do you want Marvel to represent the ethnic mix of the United States accurately? Then their characters must consist of mostly gentiles and a few Jews. Within the Jewish cast of characters, representational accuracy demands that most of them be "assimilated Ashkenazis," since, by your own admission, this is the commonest kind of American Jew. If you feel that other kinds of Judaism should be represented, you should encourage Marvel to bring in one or two (no more, for statistical accuracy) conservative Jews -- the Tsaddik of the Seven Wonders, perhaps. Or do you want Marvel to represent some kind of ideal Jew? That is hardly their business, and would be a very clear case of propaganda. Anyway, who is to say what the ideal form of Judaism is? Obviously, you and the assimilated Ashkenazis have very different ideas about that. Earl S. Wajenberg