he other day a neighbor came by. He was troubled, he said, by the outbreak of anti-Semitism around the world. "I thought it pretty much ended after World War II. I guess I was being naive."Posted on 04/17/2002 3:40:09 PM PDT by mrustow
Anti-Semitism Lives
In a State of Denial
he other day a neighbor came by. He was troubled, he said, by the outbreak of anti-Semitism around the world. "I thought it pretty much ended after World War II. I guess I was being naive."
My neighbor is a good man, a sincere man, and I recognized his kind words as an invitation for me to talk about my own encounters with Jew-haters.
But I couldn't. The truth is, I'm 54 years old, I've been a Jew all my life and I have never met an anti-Semite.
On the contrary. My experience is that the world is full of non-anti-Semites.
For example: A lot of German politicians are very upset by the Israeli-Palestinian war. Fair enough. Norbert Bluem, the former labor minister of Germany, has even accused Israel of waging "a war of extermination."
Germany has a small Jewish community (most German Jews killed themselves during World War II), but that didn't stop the Jews there from launching vicious charges of anti-Semitism against various German statesmen like Free Democratic Party leader Guido Westerwelle.
"This is an outrage," Westerwelle replied. "One must be allowed to criticize Israel's military policy without being pushed into an anti-Semitic corner."
Westerwelle is right. These days, in Europe, the slightest criticism of Israel or Jews gets blown up into a charge of anti-Semitism.
For example: Last week, in Kiev, a mob of Ukrainians chanting "Beat the kikes!" chased two Jews into a synagogue, tossing one of them through a plate-glass window. As usual, the Jews portrayed themselves as victims. Ukrainian police put that slander to rest by declaring that the incident "had nothing to do" with anti-Semitism.
Or take the case of Tom Paulin, an Oxford professor and frequent contributor to the BBC. His only crime was telling an Egyptian newsweekly that American Jews in Israel "should be shot dead. I think they are Nazis and racists. I feel nothing but hatred for them."
Paulin was immediately attacked for this observation. Fortunately, he was able to clear his reputation by declaring himself "a life-long opponent of anti-Semitism."
Former French Prime Minister Michael Rocard has "fought anti-Semitism" since he was "very young." That's what he told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in an open letter. He brought this up after asking rhetorically in the letter if Israel is planning to kill "half a million" Palestinians.
Rocard then warned that Israel's war on terrorism would lead to what he evidently considers a justified "torrent of worldwide anti-Israeli-ism."
This, presumably, is much different from a torrent of worldwide anti-Semitism.
There are non-anti-Semites on this side of the Atlantic, too. Minister Louis Farrakhan is one. Just this week, Farrakhan declared that he has nothing against Jews. "What I'm 'anti' is the type of control that some interests of that community exercise over our community."
Farrakhan, Paulin and Rocard may not like every single Jew or support every last Israeli policy. Neither do Pat Buchanan, Edward Said, David Duke, Ramsey Clark, Gore Vidal, John Trafficant and the Saudi royal family, but does that make them anti-Semites? On the contrary, these men have taken the extraordinary step of publicly declaring that they don't hate Jews.
That's why I told my neighbor to relax. If people like these aren't anti-Semites, there's really no such thing anymore.
E-mail: zchafets@aol.com
Original Publication Date: 4/17/02
How true! Just like anyone who disagrees with a black or an asian or an hispanic MUST be a racist.
That sounds like one of Lew Rockwell's favorite essays, but the one I'm thinking of, was I believe written by a Jew. It basically went that, being accused of anti-Semitism proves you aren't an anti-Semite. I know that I'm making it sound pathetic, but it really was. Lew publishes a mixed bag of stuff, and some of the worst, is the anti-Semitic stuff that is near and dear to his heart.
you have to keep telling people you're not an anti-semite.
Same old identity politics schtick Jesse Jackson uses. Have everyone groveling at your feet denying they are racists and stuffing your pockets with money. Holocaustists and the Race Baiter crowd are selling indulgences.
I would also note that if you were not so blinded by anti-Semetism...
It must be reflexive to the Jesse Jackson types. "Don't waste your time thinking, just be the first to label those with whom you disagree a bigot, racist, anti-Semite or homophobe and you are the winner!"
Those who cast labels do it for a reason. They are appealing to others on the basest of instincts. Toss out the label and watch the unfairly accused deal with it in the long term.
It takes only a few second to a few hours to slander someone unfairly, in a manner that is impossible to disprove. And those who use this tactic are themselves guilty of something akin to anti-Semitism.
We could all use more of that.
Whether or not you're religious, you ought to support the Jew because most are good guys. Israel is Westernized and democratic, vs the terrorists (aka Muslims, Palestinians, etc). Jews are heavily represented in the higher levels of American society, but I view that as a virtue, not a vice. It demonstrates how tolerant Americans are. If you're against the Jews, or against Israel in the current situation, you're wrong, and severely so.....
So do I. And many Jews.
But I also have a problem with those who choose to focus on the shortcomings of Jews disproportially to those of others who may or may not comprise an easily-identified group.
When we find ourselves doing that, we need to ask ourselves if we are being objective.
Nobody brushes off crimes. Conflict is normal. Humans have been at each other throats since we crawled out of where ever we crawled out of. We form groups to better get each other. That is natural. Prosecute crimes, not thoughts. Too many individuals who are simply unlikable use their group to hide behind when others treat them badly. Surely you see it with some blacks who blame everything on racism. Sadly, some Jews do the same. Must be a horrible way to live.
Clinton and the current mideast problems are the reason Jews recently have been the center of attention and criticized for engaging in identity politics. Nothing else.
And?
Well, that is one of my main beefs with the Bush administration. I find myself constantly wondering why he can't see the double standard he is applying to Israel vs the Palestinians. Bush and Powell hardly ever made comments regarding the murdering bombers before Israel reacted. Then when Israel reacted they'd make a muted off hand condemnation on the way to a strident condemnation of Israel. This really stuck in my craw!
Then I had to hold my tongue when Laden was labeled a terrorist, something the Arafat still hasn't been called. I'm at a total loss on this one!
Bush's double standard regarding the war on terrorism, Israel vs the US, has completely undone my respect for him on this issue.
you have to keep telling people you are not using Jesse Jackson's tactics.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.