(Jewish Group) If you cant see antisemitism, its time to open your eyes
(THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP! RESPECT!!)
Some forms of antisemitism are self-evident in their manifestation: neo-Nazis wielding swastikas, denial of the Holocaust, vile sentiments known as the blood libel, which suggest that Jews harvest the blood of Christians with which to celebrate religious festivals year on year. Most of us would recognise these as bigoted and hateful, an attack on a community that has for centuries experienced prejudice across the world.
In the days that have followed Jeremy Corbyns offensive Facebook post coming to public attention, there has been outrage from what appear to be two distinct camps. Some Labour members are deeply troubled by the situation, while others argue ignorantly that the Labour leader has done nothing wrong.
What has become obvious in the past few days, however, is that many simply do not understand the content of this mural and why it is so deeply offensive this is a more subtle antisemitic sentiment, which takes contextualising to understand.
Considering the Jewish community makes up just 0.5% of the UKs population, and that for many of us the closest we will have to an education in the history of discrimination faced by Jewish people amounts to a few months of GCSE history and Inglourious Basterds, its possible a simple explanation could rectify the confusion once and for all.
First, make sure to actually look at the mural. Dont take a fleeting glance as you prepare to tweet your outrage, but pause for a moment and take it all in. Sitting around a table is a group of rotund men: one has a full beard, and is counting money. That, in and of itself, is an antisemitic symbol.
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