On choosing a Jewish identity rather than that other thing.

Well, a Gentile friend says I'm Jewish, dammit, and I'm not going to argue with her. I always wanted to be something, growing up nothing. And why not Jewish? I'd be proud to be a Real Jew. The Jews have the lion's share of the great violinists, biochemists, movie moguls and tough generals with eye patches. I'll go with that. Anyway, it's easier to be a Jew without having anything to do with the religion, per se. Saying someone's a Jew is tantamount to saying they're Irish. That is, just as you don't have to do anything except wake up and there you are, blang, red hair and gab, and a tendency towards fistfights, being a Jew doesn't mean you have to stand up and be counted in temple at High Holy Days to prove it. Whereas being a Christian, well, that implies a proactive, participatory religiosity, does it not? Along with a slow-talking, high-waisted, neatly-combed, somewhat Talibanistic zeal for cultural censure.