"We Do Not Come From The Country Of Jew"

Also: Lots Of Republicans In Congress Went To Law School. They’ve Forgotten Every Lesson ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [View in Browser]( | [Donate [WBUR]]( [WBUR](  [WBUR]( December 15, 2019 Dear Cog reader, With an executive order this week, President Trump reclassified being Jewish as one of three things -- "a race, color, or national origin”-- under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Alex Green teaches 11th graders at a Jewish school outside of Boston. In a classroom conversation about the new executive order, one of his students asked, “[Are we still Americans]( Andrew Grainger, a retired judge, wrote about some of the tools we use to determine the truth -- including hearsay, consciousness of guilt and common sense. We also had thoughtful pieces on the[dangers of political orthodoxy]( the trauma caused by even [peripheral exposure to mass shootings](. Finally, we’re collecting readers’ stories about the most memorable gifts ever given or received. [If you’d like to submit yours]( there’s still time! Learn more below. — Cloe Axelson Cognoscenti, co-editor newsletters@wbur.org Must Reads url[Lots Of Republicans In Congress Went To Law School. They’ve Forgotten Every Lesson]( Common sense and all the other tools we use to marshal the truth are not collateral damage, writes Andrew Grainger. They are intended casualties in a partisan crusade.   #%23%23[Twitter](   #%23%23[Facebook](    [My Jewish Students’ Reactions To Trump’s Executive Order: ‘Confusing,’ ‘Unclear’ And ‘Really Scary’]( We are an ethnic group within this republic. But make no mistake, writes Alex Green, our nationality is American. We do not come from the country of Jew. [It's Time To End The Stigma Around Infertility. Our Newest Federal Judge Won't Help]( If Sarah Pitlyk had her way, writes Cloe Axelson, I wouldn't have been able to bear children, and neither would thousands of other women who struggle with infertility.  [How A Mass Shooting Changed My Childhood]( On October 19, 1974, two gunmen shot six people at my local bakery, writes Sandra A. Miller. It has haunted me for decades. [There's No Such Thing As Ideological Purity]( Voting decisions are highly individual and subjective. Democrats must reckon with the dangers of orthodoxy, writes Julie Wittes Schlack. Bookmarks “The reunion lasted about two hours. He finally had to ask: Did she have something to do with the fact that he’d managed to survive in Auschwitz all that time?” ([Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later. He Had One Question]( The New York Times) "Power is immune to truth-tellers these days, but history may not be. And women have had centuries of experience in what happens when you let the gaslighters win." ([The Women Who Still Speak Up]( Slate) "Kayla Shelfer was born without a uterus. She’s expecting a baby in about seven months." ([No, Using a Surrogate Doesn’t ‘Diminish Respect for Motherhood]( Glamour) “ But make no mistake, our nationality is American. We do not come from the country of Jew. — Alex Green, ["My Jewish Students’ Reactions To Trump’s Executive Order: ‘Confusing,’ ‘Unclear’ And ‘Really Scary’"]( ICYMI [We Need Your Help: Tell Us Your Most Memorable Gift]( Maybe it was an exciting trip, a signed book by a favorite author or a handmade scarf from a friend. No gift is too big or too small; it just has to mean something to you. Share with us by replying to this email. We'll share reader responses in a post sometime next week.      If you’d like to write for Cognoscenti, send your submission, pasted into your email and not as an attachment, to opinion@wbur.org. Please tell us in one line what the piece is about, and please tell us in one line who you are. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( [WBUR]( [WBUR]  [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [Stop getting this newsletter by updating your preferences.]( I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. [Unsubscribe from all newsletters.]( Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2019 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](