Orthodoxy - I'll Take Mine Plain, Thank You

I am a member of a mislabeled group, the "Ultra-Orthodox". Chances are high we got this name, and why the name persists, because of derision or condescension. In truth, however, it should be labeled "Orthodox".

Another circle of Jews call themselves orthodox - these are your so-called "Modern Orthodox". It seems, however, that a better name for this "modern" element would be "Shaven Orthodox", for mostly this feature alone distinguishes them from the Ultra crowd.

Which brings me to my point. We ought simply to be called "Orthodox", without the Ultra prefix, because the only feature suggested by Ultra is already indicated by removal of the Modern prefix. There ought to be only two streams of Orthodox, the Modern variety and the Plain variety. So thank you very much for dropping and avoiding the Ultra adjective because it implies, quite inappropriately, that we are "too much" orthodox - which is laughable! That's like saying someone is "too-pregnant"!