Fun and fair enough. The lesson behind the lesson is that the meaning of anti-semite (anti-Jewish felling or action of some sort) is always being defined by SOMEONE to suit a political purpose. That SOMEONE is not the totality of the Jews of the world. It is whoever has (already) the political power to make their definition stick.
The nasty idea that speech and political actions objecting to violations of international law by Israel constitutes hatred of Jews (“anti-semitism”) is flat out wrong since so many Jews do it. But those are not the Jews who have their hand on the definitional microphone.
Yonah Fredman
May 22, 2013 3:17 pm
Effective and misleading. Cartoons are like that. (It is well known who created the term anti semitism and to what purpose. Etymology has a meaning which would include the motivation of the creator of the term. Such a motivation is not all encompassing in its dominion, but it is relevant. But cartoons exist for and through brevity and simplicity. They do not attempt to be complete.)
The throwaway line about Mel Gibson: is that supposed to be thought provoking?
SimoHurtta
May 23, 2013 3:36 pm
Tel Aviv Univeristy’s Kantor Center’s anti-semitism database, which is used in those is rather “astonishing” widely published and commented studies which claim antisemitism is increasing, is mildly said “extraordinary”. For example the search with keyword FINLAND produces 107 hits. Many of those hits have nothing to do with anti-semitism, Jews or Israel, more with anti-islamic events telling how the members of our populist party (Perussuomalaiset) have been forced to explain their claims in front of courts. These “news” are filed under the category racism, legal proceedings. Why collect these?
In the category “Anti-Semitism”,”violent incidents” and “attacks” are for example
* Nazi Salute in Front of the Jewish Community Center [article]. Filmed by the security camera, nobody else on the scene. Happened in the night or late evening.
* somebody had called a Finnish Jewish MP with the name “Jew”, nothing else happened
* people of Middle Eastern origin had verbal conflicts with Israelis in Helsinki saying “I hate Israel, Jews”, nothing else happened
* an unknown person peed on the fence of the Jewish community in Helsinki. When he was approached by the security staff he could not give any logical explanation to his act. During the conversation with one of the security staff he made some remarks in Arabic.
* unknown person passed by the Jewish Community in the Finnish capital Helsinki, repeatedly shouting “Sieg Heil” and “Traitors”. Nothing else happened.
ETC.
Violent incidents? Attacks??? Seriously. Compare to that what happens in Israel and occupied areas. For example to videos of the Jerusalem Day. Tel Aviv University should collect a database of racist (by Jews) attacks in Israel and occupied areas. If they would use same criteria they use in collecting European anti-semitism, both local Jews and Arabs would laugh their heads off.
Collecting these anti-semitism incidents of minor verbal conflicts, name calling by drunken etc are a sign of a severe neurotic anxiety disorder or an organized propaganda making effort. If the database would consist only real serious events it would be a relative “thin folder”.
Super! Thanks, Katie.
Mmmm, yes, we should compare the old and new definition of “anti-semitism.” How about this: On the New Anti-Semitism: http://baltimorechronicle.com/2007/020207LERNER.shtml
Fun and fair enough. The lesson behind the lesson is that the meaning of anti-semite (anti-Jewish felling or action of some sort) is always being defined by SOMEONE to suit a political purpose. That SOMEONE is not the totality of the Jews of the world. It is whoever has (already) the political power to make their definition stick.
The nasty idea that speech and political actions objecting to violations of international law by Israel constitutes hatred of Jews (“anti-semitism”) is flat out wrong since so many Jews do it. But those are not the Jews who have their hand on the definitional microphone.
Effective and misleading. Cartoons are like that. (It is well known who created the term anti semitism and to what purpose. Etymology has a meaning which would include the motivation of the creator of the term. Such a motivation is not all encompassing in its dominion, but it is relevant. But cartoons exist for and through brevity and simplicity. They do not attempt to be complete.)
The throwaway line about Mel Gibson: is that supposed to be thought provoking?
Tel Aviv Univeristy’s Kantor Center’s anti-semitism database, which is used in those is rather “astonishing” widely published and commented studies which claim antisemitism is increasing, is mildly said “extraordinary”. For example the search with keyword FINLAND produces 107 hits. Many of those hits have nothing to do with anti-semitism, Jews or Israel, more with anti-islamic events telling how the members of our populist party (Perussuomalaiset) have been forced to explain their claims in front of courts. These “news” are filed under the category racism, legal proceedings. Why collect these?
In the category “Anti-Semitism”,”violent incidents” and “attacks” are for example
* Nazi Salute in Front of the Jewish Community Center [article]. Filmed by the security camera, nobody else on the scene. Happened in the night or late evening.
* somebody had called a Finnish Jewish MP with the name “Jew”, nothing else happened
* people of Middle Eastern origin had verbal conflicts with Israelis in Helsinki saying “I hate Israel, Jews”, nothing else happened
* an unknown person peed on the fence of the Jewish community in Helsinki. When he was approached by the security staff he could not give any logical explanation to his act. During the conversation with one of the security staff he made some remarks in Arabic.
* unknown person passed by the Jewish Community in the Finnish capital Helsinki, repeatedly shouting “Sieg Heil” and “Traitors”. Nothing else happened.
ETC.
Violent incidents? Attacks??? Seriously. Compare to that what happens in Israel and occupied areas. For example to videos of the Jerusalem Day. Tel Aviv University should collect a database of racist (by Jews) attacks in Israel and occupied areas. If they would use same criteria they use in collecting European anti-semitism, both local Jews and Arabs would laugh their heads off.
Collecting these anti-semitism incidents of minor verbal conflicts, name calling by drunken etc are a sign of a severe neurotic anxiety disorder or an organized propaganda making effort. If the database would consist only real serious events it would be a relative “thin folder”.