Reply #22: actually, you make an excellent point.

[Shaktimaan]

During these discussions I think it is important to remember what it is that defines anti-semitism. We have all heard people defend obviously anti-semitic statements with the foil "But I don't hate Jews." And in many cases it is very true. Hating Jews is not a pre-requisite for anti-semitism. Helen Thomas made some remarks that clearly range into anti-semitic rhetoric, both of the classic "Elders of Zion" type as well as the modern kind that cloaks itself in "anti-zionism."

Does this mean she hates Jews?

I think the question misses the point. Maybe she does, maybe not. Who cares, really? More importantly she ascribes to a series of beliefs that are intrinsic to the long, complex tradition of fostering discrimination against Jews. You don't have to actively hate Jews to take part in this process and we should be conscious of not over-simplifying the motive behind her statements, lest we caricature her into a moustache-twirling villain. She is not that, and her statements should be taken all the more seriously because of it.

The real danger is not that Jew-haters exist or that they are out there spreading propaganda. It is that normal, liberal-identifying people can and are being swayed by anti-semitic rhetoric and that THEY are out there spreading propaganda. Propaganda that they reject as even being anti-semitic because they believe it, and they certainly don't hate Jews. The tragedy is that you don't need to actually hate someone to participate in discrimination against them... So long as it is couched in a way that makes it agreeable to you.