tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post5706031006010713025..comments2023-10-11T05:23:33.173-05:00Comments on Dennis - The King of Nothing: Letters From Camp – The PrequelDennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15917954423962512385noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-20328983873324012612007-11-21T15:30:00.001-05:002007-11-21T15:30:00.001-05:00Sue - we had all of those things too, but my memor...Sue - we had all of those things too, but my memories are not exaggerations. I'm glad you had a better experience. I was there in the early 70s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-8315229838982501352007-11-21T15:30:00.000-05:002007-11-21T15:30:00.000-05:00Sue - we had all of those things too, but my memor...Sue - we had all of those things too, but my memories are not exaggerations. I'm glad you had a better experience. I was there in the early 70s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-18188288691642936612007-11-16T16:49:00.000-05:002007-11-16T16:49:00.000-05:00Dennis, I also went to camp Ramah in the Poconos. ...Dennis, I also went to camp Ramah in the Poconos. While I am currently not now an observant Jew (I'm more of an agnostic), I am proud of my heritage. I don't know when you went to Ramah, but my experience was extremely different. Everyone spoke English; Hebrew was not foisted on anyone. Nobody I know had to be "deprogrammed". Yes, there was a lot of praying and we did have Hebrew classes for about an hour or so (which I often cut), the bulk of the camp consisted of swimming, sports, crafts, evening activities such as color war, etc.. In short, the usual camp activities. You make it sound like a nightmarish cult retreat with your incredible exaggerations. You come across as a self-hating Jew; perhaps you might want to explore that aspect of yourself, since you sound very circumspect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10216237398356609665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-78618978613910796142007-04-04T14:33:00.000-05:002007-04-04T14:33:00.000-05:00Michelle - The Jesus camp sounds familiar. What w...Michelle - The Jesus camp sounds familiar. What was so weird about camp Ramah, wasn't that the emphasis was so much on religion (though that was present) the emphasis had to do with being Jewish, and what it meant to be a Jew in the world today (or in the late 1970s then). It was more about what you should do or not do and no so much about what you should believe. I'm looking forward to posting more on this. I'm leaving for vacation Friday and will be back the 13th. I hope to post while I'm away, but it might be after I get back. Thanks for visiting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-46274286335509577322007-04-04T02:52:00.000-05:002007-04-04T02:52:00.000-05:00:-):-)Rob Kistnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11365982588165098990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-18421496152283629882007-04-03T18:46:00.000-05:002007-04-03T18:46:00.000-05:00Dennis - I am looking forward to seeing the letter...Dennis - I am looking forward to seeing the letters. This definitely sounds more like cult than camp, but I know a lot of people who went to different kinds of "camps" and ended up getting a lot more than their parents bargained for. Even the 4-H camps can do it sometimes. I think it all depends upon the camp director. It seems like camp is the perfect way to "get to children" if your aim is to brainwash: out of the normal environment, away from familiars, not in contact with parents...it's just ripe for it.<BR/><BR/>I never went to camp. The most I did was horsebackriding day camp, which was more like an extended horseback riding lesson than camp. So I was either lucky or unlucky, depending. I think if my parents ever sent me to camp I would've died of loneliness though, so I am glad. Since I grew up in the woods adn farms, I guess my parents figured I'd find enough to do in the summer. And we sure did: running among the cow pies to tease the bull and swimming in the brook were two top activities.<BR/><BR/>quick now: post the letters!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-78808975351305918162007-04-02T15:51:00.000-05:002007-04-02T15:51:00.000-05:00Brian - there's all different ways to screw up kid...Brian - there's all different ways to screw up kids. This is just one of many - In hindsight, I'm actually thankful for the experience because it helped me in as many ways as it hurt. I think I can almost say that about any experience - Life is a lesson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-75550429781320778602007-04-02T14:48:00.000-05:002007-04-02T14:48:00.000-05:00Dennis,This is a heavy meal my friend. If I may be...Dennis,<BR/><BR/>This is a heavy meal my friend. If I may be so bold, I thank God that my parents refused to push religion on their children. Or camp. What a nightmare.<BR/><BR/>This post gives me cold shivers. Makes you understand how easy it is to sway children's minds, not to mention souls.<BR/><BR/>Glad you are in a better place right now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-54943036625897525332007-04-02T13:31:00.000-05:002007-04-02T13:31:00.000-05:00Hi D - Mmm...looking forward to reading more.Take ...Hi D - Mmm...looking forward to reading more.<BR/><BR/>Take Care<BR/>KaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-36467520997069059592007-04-02T13:25:00.000-05:002007-04-02T13:25:00.000-05:00Robin - Yup - I think my parents meant well, but t...Robin - Yup - I think my parents meant well, but they were so naive. Especially in matters of faith and spirituality. That camp sure screwed me up, I can say that much! I actually thought I wanted to be a Rabbi for a little while. Can you imagine? Me? I've since totally abandoned that faith. I love what I have now so much more. Thanks for reading!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3148147478967571331.post-64390276183137658062007-04-02T12:55:00.000-05:002007-04-02T12:55:00.000-05:00Very interesting, Dennis. Look forward to reading ...Very interesting, Dennis. Look forward to reading more. Religious zealots forcing their views on tender, open minds <I>is</I> cultish activity, if you ask me, no matter what religion (my experience just happened to be Protestant.) I like #4, though, all that praying...God, oh, oh God! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com