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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDog Whistles- an Anti-Semitism Primer (a timely repost)
Last edited Thu Jun 11, 2015, 07:15 AM - Edit history (1)
There are really four classic anti-Semitic themes that have been for centuries to justify mass murder, mass expulsion, or both. They are that Jews have control the world's media, that Jews have an international conspiracy to control the world's money, that Jews join national governments and undermine them from within for their own purposes, and the "blood libel," a claim that Jews use the blood of Gentiles, usually children, to bake their Passover matzoh. Below I will try to define each of them, discuss their history, and explain why they remain important to this very day.
BLOOD LIBEL
Let me start with the last, the "blood libel." There are a couple of different forms of the blood libel. One is that Jews drink Christian or Muslim blood outright, and the other is that Jews use Christian or Muslim blood in matzoh. This is a slander with a long and inglorious history. The first iteration was the the story of William of Norwich, recorded in the Peterborough Chronicle. This story from 1144 alleged that a boy, William of Norwich, was kidnapped by Jews, tied to a cross, stabbed in the head to stimulate Jesus' crown of thorns, and killed. His blood was drunk and used in matzoh. This story was a rumor and the Jews were vindicated by five different Popes, but the legend lived on. But it was more than a legend. It was an excuse for slaughter and mayhem.
...
Jewish Disloyalty
The most famous example of this theme is the German post-WWI theme of the "stab in the back."
The Stab in the Back myth claimed that the German Army was victorious along the battle lines, but suffered a "stab in the back" from disloyal Jews. I hope I need not go into any detail as to where this led.
At the same time Hitler was exercising his Final Solution, Jews were being sent to Siberia by the Soviets. Jewish disloyalty has been a common theme throughout Russian history, and led to the pogroms of the late 19th century.
...
Jewish Bankers
This one flows from history, and can be seen throughout history. The "Jewish money-lender" is the central figure in The Merchant of Venice, and actually has some historic validity. You see, usury was considered unChristian (remember Jesus and the money-lenders) and was therefore illegal for Christians. That put people trying to pay for wars or put in new crops (which would not generate cash until the harvest was in) in a difficult position, as nobody was willing to lend money without interest. From this came a fairly common theme- Kings and nobles borrowed money from Jews, paid the interest as long as they thought they needed access to more money, then took all the Jews' property, prosecuted them for usery, or expelled them from the country. Another variation was simply declaring the Jews themselves property of the State.
...
Jew control the media
This one seems to come directly from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It was enhanced and reprinted by Ford in "The International Jew." Father Charles Coughlin used his enormous radio following to perpetrate these lies.
Claims that Jews run the media are common today. That alone might be a generalization based upon ownership and participation at a rate higher than the percentage of Jewish population. But "Jews control the media" is only the first half of the claim. The other half is "... and they use that control for their own evil ends."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/01/01/678869/-Dog-Whistles-an-Anti-Semitism-Primer-a-timely-repost
eta: relevant to current discussion of the Diane Rehm NPR interview with Bernie Sanders: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bernie-sanders-diane-rehm-israel
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Thanks for this.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)It's possible that some of the people who are casually dismissing Diane Rehm's question statement about Bernie's citizenship don't know any better.
Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)we could add: liberals Jews are really godless.
(So many "christians" claim all Jews are godless, but the "moderate" version of that lible is the slander about liberal Jews.)
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)And if not he's a Zionist with dual citizenship.
Pick your meme, there's plenty to choose from.
cali
(114,904 posts)It should put to rest the repugnant denial that what Rehm did is antisemitic. It won't.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_affair
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)The author also cited it in the article:
Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer. He was accused of being a German spy and was railroaded all the way to Devil's Island. The entire case was not about anti-Semitism, but the hue and cry from the right-wing press MADE it a case about Dreyfus' Jewishness.
7962
(11,841 posts)Never could understand it. Or the never ending blaming of Jews for nearly everything even today by many everywhere. While I have yet to see a Jewish mob or group beheading anyone, attacking businesses in other countries, insisting on their laws being followed in other countries, threatening to take over the world, etc etc.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)And still so many refuse to admit it exits.
cali
(114,904 posts)And explaining that it really isn't antisemitic is the equivalent of "whitesplaining".
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I hope this information will help combat the ignorance and denial.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)LeftishBrit
(41,302 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)but right here on DU I'm seeing a downplaying of that disgusting display yesterday. That same "list" has shown up here on DU (in fairness, one got hidden by a jury 4-3). I just got called combative because her motivation doesn't matter to me at all. That's she even on the radio is disgusting enough and if she was a right wingers, plenty of people here would be calling for her firing because apparently anti-semitism on the left is not enough of a problem to concern them.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)At best her claim that Bernie had dual citizenship was stupid and reckless, at worst it was a deliberate use of an anti-semitic dog whistle.
I saw your posts in those other threads, well done.
Solly Mack
(92,501 posts)Codeine
(25,586 posts)I suppose we should congratulate ourselves for not engaging in the first.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I can't even see daylight between it and the floor.
Mbrow
(1,090 posts)unfortunately I got there to late yesterday, it had already been locked...
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Maybe I should have added why it was relevant re: Bernie Sanders.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Behind the Aegis
(54,830 posts)Seems a few don't understand the malevolence of the accusation made against Sanders. Of course, the "Jews control the media" is a biggie too! That might be why someone has even insinuated the Rehm incident was actually a "false flag" by Sanders or his team.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Quite a few of those innocent "What's the big deal?" questions quickly turned into something much more obvious.
And ugly.