timschochet
Footballguy
Since there seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about this, I think it deserves its own discussion. The following is strictly my opinion, but it is largely based on the writings of a lot of experts I have read on this subject:
Anti-Semitism from the Left
The most prominent anti-Semite from the Left in this country is Louis Farrakhan. If you are a liberal or leftist politician who has accepted Farrakhan in any way (shaken his hand, posed for a picture with him, or with any prominent known member of the Nation of Islam during Farrakhan’s time as leader) you are not engaging in anti-Semitism but you are at least tolerating it in your midst, and this unfortunately has included in the past many Democratic Party leaders, including Barack Obama.
There is also, in some cases, anti-Semitism among some on the left who have been critics of Israel. Many critics of Israel, including some anti-Zionists, are not anti-Semitic, but some are. You can tell by the sort of language they use and by the arguments they make. If they claim that American support of Israel is the result of our government being heavily influenced by a few powerful donors, bankers, owners of the media, etc., they are engaging in anti-semitism.
Anti-Semitism from the Right
The most prominent anti-Semite from the Right in this country used to be Pat Buchanan, now it is probably David Duke. Actually there is no single right wing anti-Semite with the prominence of a Louis Farrakhan, but that being said, currently Jew hatred among the Right is much larger than it is among the left, because it is a significant element of the alt-right and white nationalist movements, which have achieved a certain amount of legitimacy with the emergence of of Donald Trump’s presidency.
I do not believe that Donald Trump is an anti-Semite, nor is Steve Bannon IMO (though he’s been accused of it) nor is Stephen Miller (Miller is Jewish). But they, along with several conservative talk show hosts and other figures, are guilty of allowing anti-Semitic tropes into the mainstream, primarily two of them:
The first trope is the use of the word “globalism” as a description of something evil or sinister. It’s not anti-Semitic to be a nationalist, nor is it anti-Semitic to be opposed to globalism. But when you blame globalism on bankers or Wall Street working behind the scenes, who just happen to mostly have Jewish names, you are engaging in anti-Semitism.
The second trope involves specifically George Soros, who has come to take the place of the Rothschilds among anti-Semites as the Jew who is secretly or openly financing America’s destruction. It is not anti-Semitic to oppose Soros’ liberal activities. But it is decidedly anti-Semitic to give him the kind of weight in Democratic affairs he is currently being constantly accused of, including false accusations like his funding of Kavanaugh protestors or his funding of the migrant caravan (President Trump among many others have made both of these false accusations.) When Soros is used as a behind the scenes scapegoat for everything that conservatives don’t like, that is classic anti-semitism.
Feel free to agree or disagree.
Anti-Semitism from the Left
The most prominent anti-Semite from the Left in this country is Louis Farrakhan. If you are a liberal or leftist politician who has accepted Farrakhan in any way (shaken his hand, posed for a picture with him, or with any prominent known member of the Nation of Islam during Farrakhan’s time as leader) you are not engaging in anti-Semitism but you are at least tolerating it in your midst, and this unfortunately has included in the past many Democratic Party leaders, including Barack Obama.
There is also, in some cases, anti-Semitism among some on the left who have been critics of Israel. Many critics of Israel, including some anti-Zionists, are not anti-Semitic, but some are. You can tell by the sort of language they use and by the arguments they make. If they claim that American support of Israel is the result of our government being heavily influenced by a few powerful donors, bankers, owners of the media, etc., they are engaging in anti-semitism.
Anti-Semitism from the Right
The most prominent anti-Semite from the Right in this country used to be Pat Buchanan, now it is probably David Duke. Actually there is no single right wing anti-Semite with the prominence of a Louis Farrakhan, but that being said, currently Jew hatred among the Right is much larger than it is among the left, because it is a significant element of the alt-right and white nationalist movements, which have achieved a certain amount of legitimacy with the emergence of of Donald Trump’s presidency.
I do not believe that Donald Trump is an anti-Semite, nor is Steve Bannon IMO (though he’s been accused of it) nor is Stephen Miller (Miller is Jewish). But they, along with several conservative talk show hosts and other figures, are guilty of allowing anti-Semitic tropes into the mainstream, primarily two of them:
The first trope is the use of the word “globalism” as a description of something evil or sinister. It’s not anti-Semitic to be a nationalist, nor is it anti-Semitic to be opposed to globalism. But when you blame globalism on bankers or Wall Street working behind the scenes, who just happen to mostly have Jewish names, you are engaging in anti-Semitism.
The second trope involves specifically George Soros, who has come to take the place of the Rothschilds among anti-Semites as the Jew who is secretly or openly financing America’s destruction. It is not anti-Semitic to oppose Soros’ liberal activities. But it is decidedly anti-Semitic to give him the kind of weight in Democratic affairs he is currently being constantly accused of, including false accusations like his funding of Kavanaugh protestors or his funding of the migrant caravan (President Trump among many others have made both of these false accusations.) When Soros is used as a behind the scenes scapegoat for everything that conservatives don’t like, that is classic anti-semitism.
Feel free to agree or disagree.
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