On the Other Hand...

The title of the blog comes from the musical "Fiddler on the Roof." The words are said by Tevye, when he is "soul searching." The movie was excellent. It was released in 1971, and is based on Tevye and his Daughters (or Tevye the Milkman) and Other Tales by Sholem Aleichem. Here is a synopsis of the movie:

Tevye, a milkman, has five daughters. He follows traditions especially when it comes to marriages. According to the traditions, a matchmaker (Yente) must find a groom for his daughters. His first daughter loves a poor tailor, and seeks for her father’s permission to marry the tailor. Tevye agrees as he gives more importance to his daughter’s happiness than the tradition. The second daughter loves a poor scholar. However, she does not ask for her father’s permission, but simply tells him that she will marry him. Tevye again approves thinking about his daughter’s happiness. The third daughter falls in love with a young Russian and Orthodox Christian man and runs away to marry him. Tevye is Jewish, and the Russians are forcing the Jews to leave their towns. Tevye refuses to accept his third daughter’s marriage. However, in the end, as he is leaving the town, he finally bends to his daughter’s happiness and accepts the relationship. The movie reminded me of Indian traditions regarding arrange marriage. I loved the song, “If I were a rich man…”

If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.