Chomsky's Tenuous Grasp on Reality
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update Examples? Shit like this anti-Semitic hatred isn't anti-Zionist in any respect and, yes, it is more common these days.
This is really all you need to know about his credibility.
His casual dismissal that "in the West [anti-Semitism] scarcely exists now" and his failure to address the Arab World's anti-Semitism — even as he changes the subject to the Middle East — are shining examples of his favorite techniques: reinterpreting some facts to suit his positions and ignoring others that undercut them entirely.
(via Kashei)
The whole issue of Anti-Semitism has been muddled by efforts to classify any opposition to Zionism as Anti-Semitism. It's hard for me to believe many claims that Anti-Semitism is on the rise, because they involve a redefinition -- expanding definitions is a great way to claim anything is on the rise. Hating Jews and hating Israel are two different things. Hating Americans and hating America are two different things. Many people make these distinctions, and well they should.
You aren't going to change the fact that most Arabs hate Israel, because there's so many reasons for them to feel that way. It's not just an issue of perception or propaganda -- Arabs cannot help but sympathize with Palestinians, and Palestinians can't help but react to situation in which they exist. But Jews cut down the ability for progressive Arabs to distinguish between their feelings against Israel and their feelings toward Jews. It's intellectual bullying to play the race card everytime someone criticizes Israel, and yet that's what seems to drive most claims of increased Anti-Semitism. And we can't help but talk about Israel in this, because indisputably Israel is the source of Anti-Semitism among Arabs.
I guess the original question was whether Anti-Semitism is up in the US and Europe. Well... Anti-Zionism certainly is, but that's something else. Maybe it's up among Arabs, but there's been a lot of bigotry there on both sides for some time. And frankly, many (most?) Anti-Semitic Arabs aren't very integrated in the West, nor in a position to act much on their bigotry (outside of violence) -- I don't believe the individual's mere geography doesn't make that Western Anti-Semitism. But if it was up, I probably wouldn't notice it, so I can't really say. I might ask: have you encountered Anti-Semitism personally? Has it effected your life, where you go, what you do? Outside of terrorist incidents, do you know people who are effected by Anti-Semitism?
Posted by: Ian Bicking on December 10, 2003 9:54 PM | permalinkTo answer your latter question, but still respecting people's privacy, I have a friend who was asked by high school classmates if she had horns and a relative who was beaten up in college by bigots who told him "you killed Christ". They are both roughly my age (in their 20's), so this isn't ancient history. The former incident was in a large city and the latter was at a prominent university, so this cannot be dismissed as the backward views of uneducated rednecks.
Thankfully, I personally have been spared direct anti-Semitism beyond cruel words and harbored stereotypes. But, as a Jew, it's something that defines my identity in the same way that slavery, genocide or homophobia might factor into the minds of blacks, Native Americans or gays.
That said, I don't live in France and Germany. The Jews I know (or know of) who have done so in recent years lived felt quite intimidated, and I don't think it was entirely unfounded.
As far as your other points, I agree that anti-Zionism isn't *necessarily* anti-Semitism. However, I do feel that it serves as a convenient way for many Jew-haters to dress their bigotry in legitimate-appearing terms.
Also, I agree that the definition of "West" is elusive, when it comes to the issue of including unassimilated immigrant groups, such as much of the north African population in France.
And last, but not least, I wouldn't say Israel is *the* source of Arab anti-Semitism. I'd say it's *a* source. But that's a whole 'nother discussion.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg on December 10, 2003 10:46 PM | permalinkIan has covered my thoughts very well, so I'll touch something else.
"...so this cannot be dismissed as the backward views of uneducated rednecks."
That's some prejudice you are spouting there. How can you expect people to respect your background when you have *zero* respect for theirs?
Posted by: O'dell on December 11, 2003 12:10 AM | permalinkNo more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.