I was forwarded one of those email messages. Something Mark Twain wrote about Jewish people saying why we're really not all that bad.
I just don't understand why Jewish people feel the need to justify their existence through the words or sentiments of non-Jewish people. So what that Mark Twain thought we were ok? In fact I find it kind of wierd that he felt the need to justify in glowing terms our (over-)visibility in the world. I don't need him or any other person to justify my existence or the existence and "contribution" of my ancestors...
and I don't understand why any other Jewish person feels like they need external justification either.