How to Be Anti-Semitic and Get Away With It

[Mosby]

Out of 8 billion people on the planet, there are only 16 million Jews—but far, far more anti-Semites. I sometimes joke that if I had fewer scruples, I wouldn’t report on anti-Jewish prejudice; I’d contract myself out to the more numerous and better-resourced bigots, and help them get away with it. Because in more than a decade covering anti-Semitism, I have become a reluctant expert in all the ways that anti-Jewish activists obfuscate their hate.

People must learn to recognize and reject these tactics, because too many communities have developed ways to excuse or otherwise ignore anti-Semitism. Today, such prejudice is growing in high and low places because powerful people around the world are running the same playbook to launder their hate into the public sphere.

Here’s how they do it:

1. They become too big to fail.

(Elon Musk)

2. They don’t say the quiet part out loud.

(Tucker, Erdogan)

3. They replace Jew with Zionist

(Ali Khamenei)

4. They say they were just “supporting Palestine.

Earlier this month, the actor Susan Sarandon was dropped by her talent agency. It was a mostly symbolic gesture, because the celebrated performer continues to get work and others will be happy to represent her. But almost immediately, viral posts on social media viewed more than 50 million times claimed that she had been punished for her pro-Palestinian advocacy. This popular narrative had only one small flaw: It was false.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/12/anti-semitism-israel-gaza-celebrity-statements/676232/

[LexVegas]

1. On point. nt

[claudette]

2. And yet

Last edited Tue Dec 5, 2023, 06:35 PM - Edit history (1)

There IS antisemitism in this world, of course. And it’s wrong. But that does not alter the fact that there is a growing concern because too many innocent Palestinians are dying and being driven from their homes. Saying that does NOT equal antisemitism.

[EllieBC]

3. There may be?

Honestly, Claudette. Why do you seem to think there isn’t?

[claudette]

6. I also said

Of course. I’ve seen it in the past in my work place. I’m saying it does exist. And so does compassion for the innocents in Gaza. Because People express Compassion for suffering of some people doesn’t mean they are. anti semitic.

[sheshe2]

44. "of course"

Adding "of course" doesn't change the fact that you said that there may be antisemitism in the world. By saying "may be" which means "could be" or "might be", you are basically saying antisemitism in the world is only a possibility and not a fact.

Separated, “may” is a modal verb and “be” is a main or auxiliary verb.

When these word are separated, “may be” acts a verb phrase that means “could be” or “might be.”

Separated, the verb “may” expresses possibility where the verb “be” express a state of being.

https://thewritepractice.com/may-be/#:~:text=May%20and%20Be%20Are%20Both%20Verbs&text=Separated%2C%20%E2%80%9Cmay%E2%80%9D%20is%20a,express%20a%20state%20of%20being.

Words matter.

[claudette]

52. Oh, wow

You missed the next sentence - obviously...

I also said
"Of course. I’ve seen it in the past in my work place. I’m saying it does exist"

bye

[sheshe2]

54. This is your post, the one I responded to.

claudette (2,648 posts)
2. And yet
Reply to Mosby (Original post)
Tue Dec 5, 2023, 02:26 PM
There may be antisemitism in this world, of course. And it’s wrong. But that does not alter the fact that there is a growing concern because too many innocent Palestinians are dying and being driven from their homes. Saying that does NOT equal antisemitism.

I don't see any mention of your work place and what you have seen or heard.

[TeamProg]

70. Please note: There may BE illiteracy in the world BUT not everyone IS

ILLITERATE!

See how that works?

[yardwork]

4. There MAY be antisemitism in the world but you're not sure?

[TeamProg]

69. There may BE illiteracy in the world BUT NOT everyone IS

ILLITERATE!

See how that works?

[yardwork]

73. DUers will usually give posters the benefit of the doubt

When a DU poster has made dozens of posts - and then self-deleted dozens of posts - stating a particular point of view, ambiguous posts are going to be interpreted based on the weight of evidence from their previous posts.

See how that works?

[TeamProg]

75. That has nothing to do with grammar and literacy.

That’s how staying on subject works.

[yardwork]

76. This has nothing to do with grammar and literacy.

The meaning of the post is ambiguous. It can be interpreted two different ways. So readers will draw conclusions based on the poster's prior posting history.

[TeamProg]

77. The literate did not find the post ambiguous.

Better?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

74. We heard you the first time

But if you want to keep bumping the thread, by all means...

[Hellbound Hellhound]

5. Someone should tell Hamas to stop throwing their children in front of Israeli bullets.

There's no one to blame but Hamas and their terrorist-loving supporters and that is, as some say, PELLUCIDLY clear.

[TeamProg]

21. "There's no one to blame but Hamas" Exactly, so why kill so many civilians? Perhaps using a scalpel rather than

a butcher's knife?

"throwing their children in front of Israeli bullets" that is an absurd, cartoonish statement.

[Hellbound Hellhound]

59. Kind of tough to avoid collateral damage when the enemy is using their citizens as walls.

But I guess since Mrs. Ham-Ass and Lil' Hamass One Through Twelve are standing in front of Daddy, we should just let him kill, rape, maim, mutilate and murder his way all the way through Israel. After all, they're only Jews, right? They're not even human.

Fuck Hamas and their murderous, genocidal Nazi enablers. Kill them all.

[GuppyGal]

65. That is exactly what they do to their children as well as brainwash and indoctrinate. WTF

[Sky Jewels]

47. So why didn't Netanyahu do anything when he knew about Hamas' plans?

Why did Netanyahu prop up Hamas for years?

Seems like he allowed his "own" children to be sacrificed in order to get his war and decimate Gaza and many thousands of innocents.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/

[PatrickforB]

53. Beg to differ. Someone should also tell the Likud party and Netanyahu that their systematic

economic oppression of Palestinians over the past 20 years or so has created conditions that cause terrorist acts such as what we saw Oct 7.

It is an utter tragedy that so many innocent Jewish people, as well as so many innocent Palestinians have died.

Everybody's got an agenda and it doesn't help everyday Israelis or everyday Palestinians.

1. The MIC rakes in mega-bucks every time something like this happens, and since by legal doctrine publicly traded companies doing business in the USA hold shareholder profits as more important than workers, consumers, the environment and human life itself, it is in the best interests of shareholders in these arms manufacturing companies to promote conditions that give rise to violent acts because that increases demand, which increases profits.

2. Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, as well as China and Russia, have an interest in creating the maximum chaos in the western liberal democracies for various reasons from religious zealotry to the desire to resurrect old empires.

3. Netanyahu and his Likud party, like our Magats, are introducing fascism to fool their respective masses into thinking they will get what they want without actually giving it to them. That is the best definition of fascism I've ever seen, by the way. I'm thinking but cannot prove that Netanyahu is trying to pursue the war of attrition until he achieves a sort of 'Israel against the world' bunker mentality in hope he will be able to dodge the increasing number of charges against him, as well as the potential gross incompetence arising from the legitimate question of whether he and his cronies knew about this attack beforehand, or perhaps how much they knew. Because there have been reports that suggest criminal negligence. A bunch of Israelis and Palestinians are trying to work together for peace, and many want to oust Bibi from power and put in a sane government.

In the meantime, civilians are hurt, rendered jobless, are killed and maimed, children die and hate is ratcheted up to a fever pitch. Look at my signature line - the main question to always ask is cui bono. I mean, look at Kissinger. He was supposedly a great statesman who engaged in 'shuttle diplomacy,' and 'realpolitik' on behalf of Nixon and Ford. Some called him great, but if you are Cambodian, Vietnamese or virtually anyone else in the world, he was a devil and war criminal.

So, I'd say the only thing that is pellucidly clear here is that children, old people and other noncombatants on both sides are dying in senseless tit for tat violence. Wars of attrition are among the most terrible atrocities our species can commit against our fellows, and that is what the Netanyahu government is presently waging in spite of increasing protests from the rest of the world.

[LexVegas]

8. "There may be antisemitism in this world" nt

[Sympthsical]

10. The poster thinks protesting a Jewish deli was fine

So . . .

[sarisataka]

12. TBF they also said

Most, if not all, American Jews support Israel so all of them are legitimate targets. Not just delis.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

28. And that Jews need to read the New Testament and learn its lessons nt

[sarisataka]

32. I missed that one

I cannot understandsome people's thought process

[question everything]

37. This is the "problem" of Israel: It doe not turn the other chick

[AZSkiffyGeek]

38. Bingo!

[yardwork]

79. Was that one of the self-deleted posts?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

83. I don't think so, but it was a while ago

Like around 10/8 or so.

[Maru Kitteh]

86. Same-ish time they cried the media was "making Hamas look bad "

Because raping women to death and putting babies in ovens is a media/pr issue apparently.

[claudette]

13. Yes

And there are most people who are NOT antisemitic What is wrong with saying that? What did you read into my comment that was wrong?

[Goddessartist]

61. They just like

to follow you around and pick on you. Don't give them air.

[Cha]

15. NO "maybe" about it. There IS "Anti-Semitism " IN THIS WORLD. PERIOD.

[ms liberty]

18. She didn't say "maybe" she said "may be"

Maybe = perhaps
May be = is
To use it in a sentence:

"there may be racism in this world, but not everyone in the world is a racist."

[Tomconroy]

20. 'May be' does not mean 'is'. It means 'maybe'.

[TeamProg]

23. Read it again. In context. You will see that you are wrong. nt

[CincyDem]

26. Since we're moving in grammar as a defense, try this on.

A conjunction is a way of connecting two thoughts in the same sentence. The most common are AND and BUT. The former is typically used to connect ideas the author believes are of equivalent truth and value in their arguemrnt. The latter is typically used to connect two ideas and use the second to “rebut”, or prove false, the opening statement.

It’s subtle, not unlike the difference between maybe and may be.

Many think using “but” instead of “and” means the same thing and they’d be wrong.

Another way of thinking about this is from the linguistic vs grammar pov. Many, and possibly most, linguists argue that using but as a conjunctive has become the socially acceptable way of negating and/or discounting everything in the previous concept.

To exemplify:

There may be racism in the world but not everyone is a racist.

Vs.

There may be racists in the world and not everyone is a racist.

One says both are true and the other makes the argument that not everyone is a racist (true) therefore that there is racism in the world is not true.

Try it on for a while and then read posts…notice how easy it is for so many to use “but” when referring to the 10/7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas as they move into valid concerns about what’s happening in Gaza.

How hard is it to say what happened on 10/7 to innocent women children and disabled is terrible AND what’s happening in Gaza to women children and disabled is terrible? And yet, it’s rare to see acknowledgement of 10/7 without a but.

Note:thus the origin of the proverbial “but sandwich”. (You’re a valuable employee but I can’t give you a raise….feel valuable?).

Subtle. Yeah. And once you start hearing things this way, but vs and becomes a key tool in understanding the message beneath the words because we humans are shocking loath to say what we really mean.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

27. Perhaps English isn't their first language, da?

[CincyDem]

29. Da. And I suspect it is. Consistently well spoken on a variety of topics.

Being monolingual, I won’t throw stones at anyone who’s bi(+)linual. Hardest thing in the world from my perspective.

And if not, think of it as a little English 400 level comment only because we were parsing may be vs maybe as a point of rationalizing another post. lol.

Think of as helping someone not get confused by the sentence “They’re over there with their friends”. lol. English ain’t easy a lot of times.

[JoseBalow]

49. In Spanish

Pero = But
Perro = Dog

[The Magistrate]

34. May Is Always Conditional

You may not do this does not mean you cannot do it. And 'cannot' has no different meaning from 'can not'.

If one means to say there is some thing, but not everyone is that, you say that: There is Anti-Semitism in the world, but not every one is an Anti-Semite.

Saying 'there may be Anti-Semitism in this world' says just that: it admits the possibility of Anti-Semitism in the world, but leaves some question open as to whether there actually is any such a thing or not. 'Maybe' conveys no different meaning than 'may be', any more than 'cannot' differs from 'can not'.

The use of one or the other is a question of style, or of pretension. Personally, I doubt the poster intended to suggest there is no Anti-Semitism, but merely engaged in an attempt to sound both judicial and precise, and so sound above the fray, a neutral party committed to neither side. It's harder than it looks.


"Comedy is best left to professionals"

[CincyDem]

43. I think you're right and it's a good point.

And I agree the poster did not mean to imply or state there is no anti-semitism. The point I was making is that the argument forwarded is “that’s not important” in this conversation.

So…is it a wonder that Jews around the world are feeling abandoned by former allies over the 10/7 attacked because so few can speak support without a side of but sandwich.

[question everything]

41. The "but" was the most infuriating word when reacting to how women were sadistically attacked

Many feminists, starting with Angela Davis acknowledging the attacks and then added the “but” colonialism, oppression and more

[TeamProg]

68. There may BE illiteracy in the world BUT not everyone IS

ILLITERATE!

See how that works?

[Mossfern]

39. "May be?"

Honestly.
Again, you're equating antisemitism with the war between Hamas and Israel.
That's the same kind of thinking that drove the "protesters" to bully Goldie in Pennsylvania.

Here's a surprising tidbit of information for you - not all antisemites are pro Palestinian.

[krawhitham]

7. So if you are Anti-Genocide you are also Anti-Semitic?

[NCIndie]

9. Was that even vaguely implied?

[Voltaire2]

11. Repeatedly, but not in the op.

Observations that the siege of Gaza is genocidal are frequently met with assertions that using the word 'genocide' is antisemitic. And no, I will not provide links.

[NCIndie]

14. Your post suggests that the OP was indicating that genocide equals antisemitism.

Last edited Tue Dec 5, 2023, 04:49 PM - Edit history (1)

The level of hysteria and hyperbole on this subject is currently off the meter. I don't see much point in adding to the bonfire.

[claudette]

16. What I think happens

Some people wrongly equate compassion for the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza as support for Hamas It isn’t.

[NCIndie]

22. +1

[AZSkiffyGeek]

25. No...

Some people see defending people harassing Jews and picketing restaurants in America as antisemitic.

[claudette]

33. What does that have to do

with what I said? I was talking about anyone who expresses compassion for the innocent Palestinians who are suffering in Gaza. What does a restaurant have to do with that?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

35. Who said annyone expressing compassion for Gazans is antisemitic?

Or did you mean they may be antisemitic?

[Celerity]

17. no it does not, as the reply literally starts out with a title of :

Repeatedly, but not in the op.

the rest of the reply:

Observations that the siege of Gaza is genocidal are frequently met with assertions that using the word 'genocide' is antisemitic. And no, I will not provide links.

is true as well

[AZSkiffyGeek]

24. So if your reply has nothing to do with the OP, why respond here

I'm sure there are plenty of other posts where you can whine about antisemites being accused of being antisemitic, since you acknowledge the OP doesn't do that.

[madaboutharry]

30. Schooling Jews by non-Jews on what is and what is not antisemitism

is a cottage industry.

These same people would not tell a Black person what is and what is not racism, they would not tell a LGBTQ+ person what is and what is not homophobia, only Jews are scolded about when they are permitted to identify bigotry. And the lecture usually involves a straw man argument that isn’t relevant to the discussion.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

31. Would that be "Gentile-splaining"?

[Voltaire2]

56. Assuming who is or is not Jewish is interesting.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

58. Non-Jews are kind of by definition not Jewish

[Voltaire2]

60. And you can discern that based on posts?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

62. I don't see what that has to do with anything

Perhaps you can explain where you saw me say that I can spot non-Jews by their posts. I can see when posters have notorious historical antisemites for their screennames, however, but they may just appreciate their philosophical writings and not know about the other odious beliefs, but I don't have access to see whether they are Jewish or not.

[Avalon Sparks]

66. You definitely implied it

Eom

[AZSkiffyGeek]

67. At what point did I imply it?

I said that non-Jews telling Jews what was anti-Semitism was Gentile-splaining. At no point did I say, or even imply, I could tell who was a non-Jew. But thanks for making your only contribution to the conversation an attack on me.

[Voltaire2]

71. lol

[Lonestarblue]

19. Many people define antisemitism as any criticism of Israelis or their actions.

Britannica defines antisemitism as follows: “Anti-Semitism is hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious or racial group.”

I have seen no comments here showing discrimination or hostility toward Israelis because of their religion or their race. Indeed, a lot of us here seem to be non-religious and don’t really care what religion anyone else follows, and I number myself among them. I see the pro-Palestine protests and protests against the killing of innocents in Gaza and the West Bank as protests against a corrupt leader, his right-wing cabinet, and an army that is using the most destructive bombs possible to kill civilians along with Hamas fighters. That is not antisemitism. The protests have little to do with religion and a lot to do with government actions.

[claudette]

36. Well said

I have close members in my family who are Jewish - whom I love with all my heart. There is NO way I would ever say or do anything to hurt or insult them. Caring about the unnecessary death of innocents - ANYWHERE - is NOT anti-semitism.

[Duppers]

40. Exactly

[LexVegas]

42. Non-Jews don't get to tell Jews what antisemitism is. I don't give a shit if you have Jewish friends or family. nt

[madaboutharry]

45. So much whining that any criticism of Israel is antisemitism.

Watch an Israeli newscast and you hear plenty of criticism. Spend an hour in a cafe with Israelis sharing, usually loudly, their opinions of the government and I suppose that would mean you’re surrounded by antisemites.

I’m sick of this gaslighting bullshit. I don’t need to be instructed on the definition of antisemitism. Just like pornography, I know it when I see it.

[LexVegas]

46. I hear that same shit from people trying to justify racism all the time. nt

[CincyDem]

50. But...but...but...some of my best friends are black.

[Sky Jewels]

51. And no one gets to tell people who are critical of Israel's government and policies that they are anti-Semitic

unless they know the person has also slurred the Jewish people. Being critical of Netanyahu/IDF genocide in Gaza is not the same as throwing hate towards Jews, and using that word as a preemptive gag to stop people from saying anything negative about Israel's policies will not work.

[malaise]

57. THIS n/t

[Chakaconcarne]

63. Yes, please say it louder cuz not everyone can hear it.

[yardwork]

72. "Unless the person has also slurred the Jewish people..." Exactly.

And when I point out antisemitism it's because I see a slur toward Jewish people.

For example, forming a mob of 4,000 people screaming at a Jewish deli owner in Philadelphia with a megaphone, accusing him of genocide. That's an example of a slur against Jewish people,

Vandalizing the portion of the NY Public Library that just happens to be where a Jewish man's name is engraved, with paint to look like blood, that's an example of "slurring Jewish people."

Cancelling menorah lightings because somebody somewhere might equate celebrating a Jewish holiday with support for Israel. That's an example of slurring Jewish people.

[Sky Jewels]

81. Yes. That is indeed anti-Semitism and should be called out LOUDLY!

We need to be able to be clear about it, because when criticism of Israel gets lumped in with true anti-Semitism, it harms the effort to combat hate against the Jewish people.

[yardwork]

85. Agreed.

[Sky Jewels]

48. Antisemitism should not be conflated with sympathy for Palestine AND

criticism of Israel/Netanyahu/IDF should not be conflated with antisemitism. They are not the same things.

[Mosby]

55. Odd variation of #3

Link to tweet

WTH?

Apparently he has taken the position of ultra orthodox jews in his district that are anti-zionist due to weird interpretations of halacha.

[LeftInTX]

64. Congress members shouldn't post memes. Massie is a Rand Paul Libertarian from KY

Doubt he's aligning with ultra-orthodox.

https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie

[yardwork]

78. The responses to Schumer's post are utter swill and prove Schumer's point.

The raw hatred toward Jewish people in that thread is horrifying.

[LeftInTX]

84. Yeah...

[sarisataka]

80. The easiest way to "get away with it"

Is simply be antisemitic.

People will be lining up to support you.

[Kennah]

82. New Shonda Rhimes series