Given that yesterday was Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, it’s probably a good time to talk about anti-Semitism, and its new masquerade- Anti-Zionism. (You do realize that Anti-Semitism is the oldest anti-otherism among our civilizations.) Especially, since the murder by the American terrorist in Poway has faded from memory somewhat.
Too many folks claim that their remarks are simply “legitimate criticism of Israel”. Let’s make something perfectly clear- it is absolutely proper to criticize things that Israel does, especially when the Prime Minister of Israel has the same regard for moral clarity, criminal behavior, and rhetoric as the President of the United States manifests.
But, there is a vast difference between decrying the 11,500 (I may be slightly out of date, since I wrote this a while ago) lies that TheDonald has spewn since his inauguration as President and hatred of the United States. Just like there is a vast difference between decrying Netanyahu and hatred of Israel- and the Jewish people. Which is why the NY Times was nailed for it’s printing of a cartoon depicting a blind Donald Trump being led every which way by a Netanyahu dog caricature. (Perhaps the NY Times would like to explain what that cartoon never ran with Putin as the dog???? Since it’s clear that depiction would be far more ‘on the money’, given the Mueller report and TheDonald’s sycophantic relations with Putin. Oh, of course. Because Putin is not Jewish.)
And, while the Times tried to claim that cartoon was a poor depiction, it has made zero comments on its almost simultaneous publication that Jesus was “most likely a Palestinian man with dark skin”. Since the land was populated back then by Jews, with a few Romans thrown in. (You do know that the Islamic religion was yet to be formed some 700 years in the future and there would be no ‘Palestinians’ for almost 2 millennia.)
Anti-Semitism has deep roots. The WrongWing (and Christian) version began at least 1500 years ago in Europe. LeftWing anti-Semitism began with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. And, Islamic anti-Semitism pretty much ranked as a basic tenet since its founding.
To equate Israel with apartheid is truly interesting. After all, Arab citizens of Israel have had the right to vote since the founding of the state in 1948- and the first Knesset (Israeli Parliament) had Arab members. Just like in South Africa- NOT!
Even the terrorist who murdered a 60-year-old woman, took off the fingers of the rabbi, and injured two other folks in Poway tried to justify his actions using a make-believe event. The ‘avenging’ of the death of Simon of Trent. (This is a fab le about a 2-year-old Christian boy, whose dead body was found near a Jewish home in Trent, leading to countless Jews being killed or arrested for “using his blood” to make matza. Interestingly, Jews are forbidden to eat or drink blood- it’s why all meat is soaked and salted for long durations- to ensure that no blood from the animal is found in the meat- the process of kashering meat.)
It’s time to stop this hatred of the other. Whether that hatred is of the Jew, the Moslem, the Brown, the Black, or the Rohingya.
No. It’s way past time.
Your last paragraph says it all, I couldn’t agree with you more. But will it ever happen? There is so much hatred in the world and I just don’t see it getting better in my lifetime. Sad, very sad.
It is up to us to call out those instances, Martha. We can start with TheDonald, we can start with our Congressfolks, we can start with our state representatives. It will put other people on notice- and begin the attentuation of these vitriolic anti-otherism screeds.
I second you in this statement – strongly – say NO to Anti-Otherism….
Now, if we could get the rest of the human race to join in our crusade, Vidya…
Great post and I couldn’t agree more. Racism needs to STOP.
Thanks for adding your voice, Marcia!
You bet it is past time!! The hatred of anyone and any tribe or race, or color , etc. starts in the heart. A newborn is free of prejudices, they are learned behavior, and when the president of this find land can’t be a moral compass then it is time to have another revolution.
It’s the old adage, Douglas… “You have to be carefully taught”. Too many are still teaching their young to hate the other. Starting with the US President.
I completely agree that it is time for us all to stop hating each other. And anti-semitism is definitely unacceptable. But from what I have learned about the earliest depictions of Jesus, I believe he had dark skin, too. I would say he seemed dark enough to look the way Africans do today.
Most of the population of Israel back in the 3000s (the time of Jesus) had darker skin, but there were no “Palestinians” and no one of the Islamic faith back then.