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Behind the Aegis

(53,823 posts)
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:13 AM Mar 2015

David Brooks Was Right: Anti-Semitism Is a Different Evil

THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!

David Brooks's New York Times column Tuesday on anti-Semitism took an interesting turn when he implied that of all the forms of prejudice, anti-Semitism is the most dangerous: "There are others [in America] who see anti-Semitism as another form of bigotry. But these are different evils. Most bigotry is an assertion of inferiority and speaks the language of oppression. Anti-Semitism is an assertion of impurity and speaks the language of extermination. Anti-Semitism’s logical endpoint is violence."

That part got a lot of pushback



--snip---

Specifically, the privilege framework—the now-default one used for addressing marginalization—fails to be of much use when challenging anti-Semitism. If anything, it can make matters worse. This is in part because anti-Semites have hijacked the framework: A glimpse at the #JewishPrivilege hashtag on Twitter reveals white supremacists embracing a warped version of privilege theory, according to which non-Jewish white people are systematically marginalized by Jews. Theirs is a form of bigotry that presents itself as an anti-oppression movement. Whereas other bigotries are, as Brooks aptly observes, an “assertion of inferiority,” anti-Semitism situates the bigot—the anti-Semite—as the one lower on the privilege hierarchy.

So on the one hand, anti-Semitism manifests itself as a belief that there’s such a thing as “Jewish privilege.” On the other, it’s all but impossible to address anti-Semitism because many American Jews are—according to contemporary definitions of the term—privileged, or at least not un-privileged. Does being Jewish increase one’s chances of being shot by the cops? Are there states where Jewish people can’t marry? American Jews may face discrimination—as actor Michael Douglas’s son evidently did—when vacationing in Europe, but citing such concerns risks classifying anti-Semitism as a first-world problem. Which is how anti-Semitism is often viewed in this country. As Brooks writes, “America’s problem is the number of people who can’t fathom what anti-Semitism is or who think Jews are being paranoid or excessively playing the victim.”

more...

[hr]

Yup!
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David Brooks Was Right: Anti-Semitism Is a Different Evil (Original Post) Behind the Aegis Mar 2015 OP
I've thought about this often ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #1
It was an interesting article for sure. Behind the Aegis Mar 2015 #2

ismnotwasm

(41,916 posts)
1. I've thought about this often
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 04:26 PM
Mar 2015

I think most bigotries have a near tangibility, or at least a strong sense to them, micro-aggressions notwithstanding, if people were able to, or inclined to be honest.

Anti-Semitism is so entrenched in so many cultures--which is a sad testament to how people apparently react to the long-term tenacity needed to survive incredible hardships--that it is not tangible, in the sense other biogtries are. Jewish history is rich in culture, tragic in loss and and hardship, so why is this not admired? It should be.
Rather than the repeated vile memes about money and religion and politics?

This is a puzzle, I like the article a lot, it puts into words what I cannot.

"Jewish privilege" is such a distorted lie, that it leaves me speechless.

Behind the Aegis

(53,823 posts)
2. It was an interesting article for sure.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 09:50 PM
Mar 2015

I haven't really seen anything like it outside of books I have read. Personally, it is likely one of the reasons why the left often does a shitty job protesting anti-Semitism, and even questions it. More than a few simply relegate it to "hurt feelings" and the Holocaust, and nothing in between. Like you, the "Jewish privilege" thing left me a little , but it may be a piece in the puzzle on how anti-Semitism is treated; then I saw the phrase "first world problem" and a light bulb went off, yup, that is how anti-Semitism is treated. Something to "tut-tut" and proclaim "we don't support that, but...". However, to actually be motivated to address it or even discuss it gets shuffled to the lowest point in discussion situations.

Using center/center-left discussion sites/newsgroups as a fishbowl, you can see some of the problems, and now, this article may have shed a light on why anti-Semitism and Jews are treated the way they are by some. Back in the days od DU2, to propose a group, you had to do certain things and post a thread in General Discussion and get ten members to support it. My proposal got so sidetracked and was so filled with innuendo, Skinner actually had to step into the thread! No other religious group who proposed a special group was treated that way. We still see Jewish senators and representatives being labeled "Name (R (D)-Israel)" ("Schumer is also a senator representing Israel &quot or accused of being "dual citizens more loyal to Israel". The last one was recently posted here with an entire list of every Jew in Congress and all were supposed "dual citizens" of Israel, though none of them are. The site was an anti-Semitic one and still others professed how "scared" they were a small minority held such power and were under the sway of another country. Posts about anti-Semitism are questioned, ignored, or "solved" by declaring Israel/Netanyahu the reason for anti-Semitism.Then there are the micro-aggressions...

I was at a site which was list of various micro-aggressions (MA) against all kinds of people, yet one of the first ones was from a black man complaining that a Jewish man dared to include himself in the group of the discriminated because his family were doctors and he had a good education. Trust me, money doesn't always protect one from bigotry and hate. I have seen a number of the MA all over the place. Said to me at some point in my life:

  • Funny, you don't look Jewish.
  • That was very generous of you (financially), I am actually really surprised. (implication: Jews are cheap)
  • When is Jew Christmas? (meaning Chanukkah)
  • Do you really have horns? (I was a teen when this happened the first time and had no idea why I was asked.)
  • I am surprised, you are a really good soccer player! (Jews are allegedly not good at nor interested in sports...Don't tell my dad or brothers!)
  • I was made to sit outside my 4th grade classroom during the Christmas party so I wouldn't be offended.


I could add more, but I think you (general) get the point. Then, I also see, "Oy Vey!" or comments about "bagels and schmear" in response to stupid remarks made by/or actions by Jews. Everything is a "Holocaust" but the actual Holocaust, which apparently we talk too much about and have cards we play. Actions by Jewish politicians or Israel are immediately met with accusations of pre-accusations of anti-Semitism. "I guess I'll be called an anti-Semite, but..." Everyone is the "new Jews" and the Jews are the "new Nazis." The use of anti-Semitic and/or Holocaust-denying authors/sites because they espouse the "correct" view on something (usually Israel but not always). But even those don't compare to some of the humdingers flung at us, then ignored or, worse, cheered as "truthtopower" such as, "Jews control Hollywood.", "Jews control Congress" (sometimes written as "Israeli controlled", which can get confusing, admittedly), "Jews (Rothchilds) control the banks", "Jews are another version of white supremacists" (usually in response to Zionism, and explains white true white supremacists have to set themselves apart with #JewishPrivilege), and the lest sadly goes on and on.

Anti-Semitism really is in another category, but remains a bigotry nonetheless, and isn't meant to be used as a "weapon in the Oppression Olympics." It probably is why so many non-Jews try to tell Jews what anti-Semitism is and isn't, and why we do or don't suffer from it. It is likely why it is mocked and downplayed, even to the point of trying to claim the word "anti-Semitism" means something other than bigotry against Jews (a popular meme) among certain groups). What most people actually know about anti-Semitism could fill a footnote, but I am rather cynical.
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