A thread about why antisemitism is justified, accepted or just 'not a big deal' to many of those who claim to be anti-racists or to fight for equality: I have been an active member of my local Jewish community since my late teens working to fight hate/antisemitism. /1
I also do a lot of work with government professionally & have met many high-profile politicians from the right to the left, often specifically to discuss Jewish community issues such as antisemitism.
When I attend these meetings I bring with me statistics about hate-crimes. /2
When I attend these meetings I bring with me statistics about hate-crimes. /2
According to the statistics, Jews in the US and Canada are the number one victims of hate crimes in the country despite being a small percent of the population, making their per capita victim rate extraordinarily high.
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You may be shocked to learn that Jews are the most targeted group & wonder: Why don't I hear more about this? Well I put that question to one left-wing politician (whose name I will not mention because we spoke in confidence) who told me exactly why the left isn't so bothered. /6
He told me straight up that politicians don't bother with antisemitism for the following reasons:
- Jews are white (we're not)
- Jews speak English
- Jews are rich and successful
- Jews have orgs to speak out
- There isn't much antisemitism
- Most a/s is just about Israel
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- Jews are white (we're not)
- Jews speak English
- Jews are rich and successful
- Jews have orgs to speak out
- There isn't much antisemitism
- Most a/s is just about Israel
/7
Translated, he told me the following: This isn't about racism/discrimination, this is about power. Your group has power and therefore does not need the power of the state to help you. You've suffered historical injustices but those are made up for now and you are at the top. /8
At the time this was pretty jarring to me. My parents came from Israel, did not speak English when they arrived, were poor and did not have any connection to any official Jewish org that 'spoke for them'. But upon reflection I appreciate his candor more than he knows. /9
He gave me an insight into the mind of many of those on the progressive left that I would not otherwise have, and he did so because I came to speak with him and have a conversation where we could learn from each other, and I specifically took Israel off the table. /10
The left's focus on power, power relations and monolithic groups is a problem for most people because that is not often the lens they use to view the world and why they aren't 'speaking the same language' as those on the right. /11
This is because much of the advocate left views things through the lens of conflict theories (Marxism, Feminism etc.) which draw attention to power differentials, such as class/race conflict on a macro level -- large scale. This is another critical piece because /12
If you're looking at power on a societal level focusing on groups that 'have power' such as Jews, Whites, CIS gendered people etc. then small instances of racism/discrimination are unimportant in the grand scheme. It's like throwing a pebble at Godzilla, so what? /13
As such instances of antisemitism are often ignored or downplayed because the perception is that Jews as a group have power and therefore it is not as important to focus on individual Jews who may be victims compared to entire groups who have little to none. /14
It also plays into classical antisemitic tropes about Jewish power or conspiracies of scheming Jews controlling the world & keeping groups down. This type of antisemitism has had to real life consequences from discrimination or violence up to and including attempted genocide./15
This view also ignores the individual and creates perceptions based either on stereotypes or beliefs that are skewed by a few individuals which may be extraordinarily famous, wealthy or have power, and who may not even use that power/wealth for the benefit of 'their group.' /16
The downplaying of antisemitism should be concerning to all because it reveals an ebbing away of the rule of law and of societal norms which temper bad behavior. If someone can vilify or attack Jews (like Louis Farrakhan has been for years) without any repercussions /17
It normalizes hate of the other and will eventually lead to serious consequences for society at large if left unchecked as frustrations and anger between the 'groups' gives way to violence. /18
It has often been said that Jews are the canary in the coal mine. Perhaps that is true. This is why we cannot ignore, accept or even justify antisemitism if we claim to oppose racism and discrimination because the alternatives never end up well for the world.
End. /19
End. /19
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