>Introduction
Liberals see traditionalists as being draconian and patriarchal, old fashioned and outdated. However, in their push for liberalization, liberals have taken the high horse stance, adopting the very “holier-than-thou” attitude they accuse traditionalists are guilty of.
It occurred to me while these two ideals may clash, traditions somehow have an appeal that lasts and imprints on the minds of people and society, far longer and deeper than liberal ideas.
To prove a point, let’s look at one of the most successful Screenplay of our time – “Fiddler on the Roof”. Can any modern liberal group that projects “modern lifestyle” (like Brokeback Mountain) match the impact Fiddler on the Roof has?
Struggle between Tradition and Change is nothing new -
Fiddler on the Roof was released in 1971 as a movie, based on a play of the same name in 1964. This movie (and play) is still popular among theatre goers after many decades. This shows the long lasting impact the theme of Fiddler on the Roof has on its fans.
The story of the Fiddler on the Roof is about a Jewish family set in 1905 in a small Russian town. The movie shows the struggle of a Jewish father who has to see his young daughters being overwhelmed by the changes that threaten to erode the Jewish Family Tradition. As can be seen, this “change for modernity” is as ancient as the existence of tradition itself!
Before we look at parts of the movie, let’s look at terminology.
- Jewish refers to ethnicity. Like Chinese, Malay or Indian.
- Judaism is a religion. Like Christianity or Islam.
- Hebrew is the language of the Jews.
- Israel (which only existed from 1948 onwards) is a country. Like Singapore or Malaysia.
- Israeli refers to citizenship (of Israel). Like Singaporean refers to being a citizen of Singapore.
- Zionism is an ideal. Like Nazism. Nothing to do with tradition. Orthodox Jews don’t recognise Zionism.
For a Jewish family living in Russia in 1905, the issue was that the changing societal landscape threatened their Jewish tradition, which includes Judaism, the religion. Israel was non existent then. However, by holding onto tradition, in this case Jewish Tradition (which of course includes Judaism), it is hoped that the Jews were able to keep their culture alive. Just like today, traditionalists and conservatives look towards tradition and culture to keep our roots alive.
There is really nothing “modern” about “change”, is there? The struggle between tradition and change has always been there and it is as old as mankind itself.
Below, is a clip of a scene from The Fiddler on the Roof, explaining how tradition keeps the Jewish lifestyle intact, in spite of the outside threats to erode the Jewish culture.
The setting was 1905. Note that the Family is the central backbone in Tradition. It’s the same in all societies and culture, no?
Of course today, the liberals and feminists will squirm at the fact that it is the father that is the head of the family who decides how the family is run. This includes how marriages are arranged and approved by the dad, with little involvement from the children themselves.
Liberals and feminists gripe that family, patriarchy and tradition should be a thing of the past. Aren’t we stuck to this same argument the last 100 years, as seen in this 1905 setting? What’s so modern about the idea we should abolish tradition and have change?
Watch the clip here and you will know what I mean.
Oh btw, take note that Jewish women cover their heads like Catholic nuns do too! Headscarves are not just a Muslim thing, no?
Fiddler on the roof – Tradition
Middle aged man – young girl marriage is common in many traditions -
In another scene, we have a celebration among some Jewish men. They were celebrating the agreement between a man who gave his daughter for marriage to another man his age. The groom was old enough to be the bride’s dad himself. Note while this is common practice in many traditions (not just Jewish), today’s world would see that as “unacceptable”, particularly of the fact that the bride hardly had a say in the arrangement.
The scene also depicts the tension and love-hate relationship between the Jewish community (minority) and the Russians (the majority). Just like the Malays and Chinese in Singapore.
This scene was masterfully done. Note how the Jewish community celebrated in the beginning, with Jewish music and dance, then how it seamlessly changed to a Russian theme when the Russians joined in celebration with the Jewish community. Doesn’t this remind you of how the Chinese celebrate with the Malays when they have their wedding?
In the middle of the celebration, the Jewish lead actor accidentally bumped into a Russian dancer and for a brief moment, there was high tension – just like how a move to appease the Malay community by removing the pig from the Chinese horoscope (by McDonald’s) caused tension among the Chinese here.
Then after all misunderstanding was cleared, the celebrations continue – with a mixture of Russian and Jewish music and dance to project the ever fragile love-hate relationship between the two communities – like the Chinese and Malays here.
See this clip yourself. The indication that this is a pre-wedding celebration between a much older man and a young woman is only obvious at the very end of the clip.
Allusion to the “Modern” World -
So much for the “modern” society where it is believed that the call for change is only recent. However, change has indeed arrived in the Jewish Community and many young Israelis today have abandoned their Jewish Traditions. This includes having free sex, illicit sex and even gay sex. Much of Jewish Tradition (and Judaism included) has eroded among many young Israelis.
The Fiddler on the Roof has in fact portrayed an accurate picture of what would happen to the Jews if they abandon their tradition and culture. Actually it is the same for every culture in the world.
My Conclusion -
Having said all this, Fiddler on the Roof is a masterpiece and in my opinion, the biggest pull factor is the theme itself – preservation of traditions.
I have yet to see a masterpiece from a “liberal” group, promoting liberal themes, that is able to produce a play or movie that is able to draw the hearts of millions around the world.
Perhaps themes like free sex and gay lifestyle are not as appealing as good, old family traditions after all.
Finally, the idea that the call for change to move from tradition because we are in a modern world today, is not a very modern idea at all. In fact, it is as old as the existence of the very tradition these “modernists” try to abolish.
