(In honor of those who paved the way.)

I am Sam
I am Sam
Sam I am

That Sam-I-am !
That Sam-I-am !
I do not like
that Sam-I-am !

Do you like
green eggs and ham ?

Hello, there. G. Watson Beagle here again. Pastor Dan was going to write some thoughtful piece responding to the recent spate of "I Am" diaries - "I Am A Jew," "I Am A Muslim," "I Am A Christian," "I Am A Human Being," "I Am The Walrus" - but I thought of it first. So I've sent the poor schmo off to work, where he's moving furniture around even as we speak. Tonight, when he's complaining about the pulled muscle in his back, I'll pee on the carpet so he has to bend over to clean it up.

Woof!

Sorry couldn't resist (Paul isn't really dead)

I've read with great interest the personal tales that have cropped up in recent days regarding religion, ethnicity and national identification. They are all poignant. They are all heartfelt. They are all pieces of the patchwork quilt of human history. And that is exactly what compels me to write this: Human history.

More on the flip.

My name is Nicholas.
I live in a hollow tree.

Yes, I am hastening the mockery of the 'I am a...' diaries so they will become uncool. What's your favorite kid's book? I am partial to anything illustrated by Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkin and Garth Williams. My 7 month old likes 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?' but I think its a snoozer.

There have been some interesting identity diaries that have made the Rec list recently so I thought I'd give my take. My christianity informs my desire for equity fairness and nonviolence but beyond that not much else. I think I have some perspective on the issue.  The groups involved have a longstanding fued. My contention is this to the extent to which one identifies themselves as a Jew or a Muslim or for that matter a Christian it tends to inform their politics in such a way that they choose up sides. it is very important that we try to separate our personal religious leanings from the actors in this conflict so that we not have our opinions manipulated by the action of extremists on either side.

I read NYCeve's essay, I am a Jew, with great interest and a strong feeling of identification.

As anyone who follows my blog, City of Brass, knows - I have always been a defender of Israel's right to exist. I have been  severely critical of Israel as a nation, for its policies alone, not for its Jewishness. In fact, the very idea of a homeland is one that I can identify with, powerfully.

But there is no such thing as a muslim homeland the way there is a Jewish one - and nor should there be.

read on...

It's not easy to write this on Daily Kos. You see, I'm reading many diaries these days with one hand over my eyes.

I am a Jew.

I am horrified. We are all shocked by what we see going on in the Middle East.

But would you listen for one moment as I attempt to explain what it means to be a Jew watching these ghastly events unfold around the world?

Could you crawl inside the skin of a Jew, just to read this?