Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 05:36 AM Jun 2015

Dog Whistles- an Anti-Semitism Primer (a timely repost)

Last edited Thu Jun 11, 2015, 07:15 AM - Edit history (1)

Dog Whistles- an Anti-Semitism Primer (a timely repost)

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

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Dog Whistles- an Anti-Semitism Primer (a timely repost) (Original Post) beam me up scottie Jun 2015 OP
KnR #5 SusanCalvin Jun 2015 #1
You're welcome. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #2
And from another thread: Betty Karlson Jun 2015 #3
Yes, if he's a secular Jew he's godless. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #4
the dreyfus affair is the most infamous example of the ugly canard of the "disloyal Jew" cali Jun 2015 #5
Thanks, cali. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #7
Versions of the last two are used here on a regular basis. 7962 Jun 2015 #6
It's sickening to see it here. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #8
refusing to admit it exists after the history has been explained is a form of antisemitism cali Jun 2015 #12
I agree. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #14
"Chrisplaining"? KamaAina Jun 2015 #22
k&r LeftishBrit Jun 2015 #9
Thank you for this leftynyc Jun 2015 #10
That display is what made me post an op about this tactic. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #13
kr Solly Mack Jun 2015 #11
We see the last three at DU all too often. Codeine Jun 2015 #15
Yeah, when it comes to raising the bar we're pathetic. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #16
Thanks for the post K&R Mbrow Jun 2015 #17
Is this going to get locked? beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #18
K & R Dont call me Shirley Jun 2015 #19
More people need to read this! Behind the Aegis Jun 2015 #20
Apparently it's okay to question his loyalty to his country because he's Jewish. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #21

beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)
2. You're welcome.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:11 AM
Jun 2015

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)
3. And from another thread:
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:23 AM
Jun 2015

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)
4. Yes, if he's a secular Jew he's godless.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:27 AM
Jun 2015

And if not he's a Zionist with dual citizenship.

Pick your meme, there's plenty to choose from.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
5. the dreyfus affair is the most infamous example of the ugly canard of the "disloyal Jew"
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:30 AM
Jun 2015

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)
7. Thanks, cali.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:34 AM
Jun 2015

The author also cited it in the article:

Another famous case of accusation of disloyalty is the Dreyfus Affair (also a source for one of my cartoons- it took hours to draw so I'm going to post it here, relevant or not. It was part of a "Cheney through history" series):

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)
6. Versions of the last two are used here on a regular basis.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:32 AM
Jun 2015

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.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
12. refusing to admit it exists after the history has been explained is a form of antisemitism
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:43 AM
Jun 2015

And explaining that it really isn't antisemitic is the equivalent of "whitesplaining".

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
10. Thank you for this
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:38 AM
Jun 2015

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)
13. That display is what made me post an op about this tactic.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:43 AM
Jun 2015

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.


 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
15. We see the last three at DU all too often.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 06:49 AM
Jun 2015

I suppose we should congratulate ourselves for not engaging in the first.

beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)
16. Yeah, when it comes to raising the bar we're pathetic.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 07:00 AM
Jun 2015

I can't even see daylight between it and the floor.

Behind the Aegis

(54,830 posts)
20. More people need to read this!
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 12:33 PM
Jun 2015

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)
21. Apparently it's okay to question his loyalty to his country because he's Jewish.
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 03:52 PM
Jun 2015

Quite a few of those innocent "What's the big deal?" questions quickly turned into something much more obvious.

And ugly.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Dog Whistles- an Anti-Sem...