Bagels are no longer Jewish

Submitted by John Philips (Japan), Sep 15, 2008 at 05:46

Just two examples:

1. Several years ago I was stuck in transit in Zurich, facing a large billboard with a Norman Rockwellesque, uberWasp American family, and an American flag that came off the edge of the billboard. The message on the billboard was "Eat American food. Eat bagels." When you consider why bagels are so absent in Europe that they are considered American food, and are sold as such, the implications are frightening. The billboard did make me feel good to be an American, though.

2. The coffee shop in the local US military base sells bagels. It is impossible to buy them without ham, bacon, or some pork product. Jewish? I don't think so. Get with the 21st century, Dan. The younger generation is often surprised to learn that bagels were once considered Jewish. They're as American as apple pie now.

BTW, pretzels allegedly date from the Turkish seige of Vienna, too, and supposedly take their shape from arms folded in prayer. Pretzels are no more Christian food today than bagels are Jewish food. Times do change.

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