Anti-Semitism On The Rise, State Dept. Warns

[Behind the Aegis]

Anti-Semitism can be found in nearly every corner of the globe, according to the 13th annual State Department Report on International Religious Freedom released on Tuesday, and it is on the rise.

"Trends include increases in the traditional anti-Semitic actions and accusations that have plagued the world for millennia--including desecration of cemeteries, graffiti, and blood libel accusations--as well as Holocaust denial, revisionism, and glorification," it found. Some is part of the campaign to delegitimize and demonize Israel.

The State Department is required to report regularly to Congress by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998; this edition covers the last half of 2010.

If found "spikes in anti-Semitic expressions" in private as well as official media, notably including cartoons, in several countries, including Poland, Spain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

In Saudi Arabia, where "The public practice of any religion other than Islam is prohibited" it reported "school textbooks continue to contain offensive statements about Jews and Christians." And it's not just inside the kingdom but also in schools it supports abroad:

more...

[RussBLib]

1. Shouldn't that read: "Anti-Jewish?"

Semites are many peoples: Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, Jordanians, many Iraqis....

So many people use "anti-semite" when they really mean "anti-Jewish."

[cali]

2. no, anti-semitic or anti-semite is the correct term.

yes, a lot of people who aren't Jews are semites, but the term anti-semitic was coined to reflect antipathy toward Jews. Really, it's that simple.

[saras]

3. Yes, but his point is that it was COINED as mislead ing language, and is STILL misleading language

It's perfectly possible to support Semitic peoples worldwide, be indifferent about the Jewish religion, and hate the current government of Israel with a white-hot passion...

...and NOT be anti-semitic. And it's NOT the exclusive responsibility of such people to free the entire world of anti-Jewish sentiment.

If someone has defined the word "anti-semitic" otherwise, they're full of shit, and probably willfully so.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. It is a sign of ignorance and dis-ingeniousness to define it as something else.

Your non-sequiter is simply just a logical misfire. Anti-semitism means "anti-Jewish," it has nothing to do with one's feelings toward Israel, unless those feelings are BASED UPON anti-Semitism, which is about Jews, not Israel. The people who are "full of shit, and probably willfully so" are the ones who keep pretending it means something it doesn't, and to what end?

[cali]

7. sorry, that's nonsense. It wasn't coined to mislead, and anyway the

English language is FILLED with contradictory and confusing terms.

The word anti-semitic universally means anti-jewish. Every dictionary defines it thus. Do words change meaning over time? Sure and maybe (though it's doubtful) this term will change as well. In the meantime,virtually every historian, every journalist, every sociologist- not to mention most plain old people- use the word as it was coined. that's just language and it's just how language works. Don't like it? Tough shit, honey.

[King_David]

9. YAWN nt

[LeftishBrit]

14. It was in fact coined by 19th century Europaean antisemites...

to imply dislike of Jews as an ethnicity as well as a religion. 'Anti-Jewish' people might be religious bigots who would nevertheless accept Jews who convert and assimilate. Antisemites are bigoted not only against those who follow Judaism as a religion, but against all of Jewish ancestry.


'And it's NOT the exclusive responsibility of such people to free the entire world of anti-Jewish sentiment'

I simply don't see your point. Who said it was anyone's *exclusive* responsibility?

[burning rain]

5. Meaning is determined by coinage and usage, despite etymology.

The term "anti-Semitic" was coined to mean "anti-Jewish" and it's overwhelmingly used to mean that to this day, not "anti-Syrian" or "anti-Jordanian," just as "anti-American" means "anti-U.S." and not "anti-Panamanian" or "anti-Uruguayan."

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Best response ever! I will be stealing it.

Can you imagine the outrage if I started referring to DU'ers (or really anyone for that matter) as pedophiles because "they love their children (or children in general)? Then, turn around and babble, "but...but..but..."pedophile" literally means "child lover.""

[cali]

8. that is an excellent and cogent response.

[SnakeEyes]

10. Interesting that this comes up right before the UN vote.

[Behind the Aegis]

11. Not really given the reports have emerged at similar times throughtout 13 years.

[Scottybeamer70]

12. Exactly when did the world start

revolving around Israel?

[Behind the Aegis]

13. When did anyone say it did?

Oh that's right...NO ONE, except your sad, pathetic strawman.

[LeftishBrit]

15. Never. And there was antisemitism long before the state of Israel was established.

The only thing that revolves around Israel is your post, which has very little to do with the topic of the thread.

[AverageJoe90]

16. Sadly, I'm not surprised. n/t