Rising anti-Semitism: ‘The Pianist’ actress considers leaving UK

[Bonobo]

12. I really don't blame them though.

I grew up on Long Island in a predominately Italian Catholic neighborhood.

All through the 70's, we were the victims of anti-semitism. Our hedges would be burned on Halloween, an older brother would be beaten up by someone screaming "you killed Christ", another brother would be unable to date, we would not be allowed in the country club because it wasn't for "us".

And for myself, I could expect a penny to be thrown at me almost every day (even from friends!) or be called "bagel boy" or "bagel nose" or have a swastika drawn on a locker or on a book, or have a "jew joke" made ("How do you drive a Jew crazy?", etc.) It was so prevalent, I didn't even think it was odd. Christmas was the worst. Everything was Christmas and Jesus and everyone knew I was Jewish so I always could expect it to be highlighted even more than. Every year our synagogue could expect a swastika painted on it, etc.

But... when I tell these stories, I am sure some either don't believe it or think it is all different now. I doubt that it is just as I doubt that America is no longer racist.