Somebody Please Define "Anti-Semite"
posted August 15, 2008 - 1:15amToday, in the comments section of an article, I was inaccurately labeled an "anti-Semite" without qualification and without a defining of the word. By my definition--someone who hates persons of Jewish or Arab ancestry--I am anything but an anti-Semite. I have been raised having many Jewish friends, my best friend throughout high school was Jewish, and I have tremendous love and respect for the Jewish culture, history, and their strength in the face of adversity. Similarly, I have a deep appreciation for Arabs and Muslims and feel that they have been unfairly demonized in the Western media by those who seek to subjugate them.
Okay, so having qualified my personal beliefs to counter the erroneous and I daresay libelous label, I now come to my question. What exactly constitutes an anti-Semite in terms of a more broadly accepted definition? Is it just hatred of someone of Jewish or Arabic ancestry? Is it someone who has a disagreement with such a person? Is it criticism of Israel? Is it all three or none of them? I find myself scratching my head over it because the person who hurled the epithet claims to be for free speech and against political correctness, then he calls me this.
Well, I did a little research and found a little insight into the actual epithet. I leave it up to you to read this article and make up your own mind about it.
There Are Much Larger Threats: Criticism of Israel is not Anti-Semitism By MICHAEL NEUMANN
Jewish and non-Jewish commentators alike have deplored a recent upsurge in anti-Semitism. In Europe, journalist Andrew Sullivan says, "Not since the 1930s has such blithe hatred of Jews gained this much respectability in world opinion."
Yet, Jews like myself and the Israeli journalist Ran HaCohen feel quite differently. He writes in Antiwar.com: "It is high time to say it out loud: In the entire course of Jewish history, since the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC, there has never been an era blessed with less anti-Semitism than ours. There has never been a better time for Jews to live in than our own."
Why would a Jew say such a thing? What is anti-Semitism, and how much of a danger is it in the world today?
If both sides agree on anything, it's that the definition of "anti-Semitism" has been manipulated for political ends. Leftists accuse ardent Zionists of inflating the definition to include--and discredit--critics of Israel. Zionists accuse the left of deflating the definition to apologize for covert prejudice against Jews.
It's a sterile dispute. Even in this age of intellectual property, no one owns the word. But the definitional sparring does have its missteps and dangers.
A Google search to try to find the definition, which is usually pretty straightforward and reliable, turns up many things, but no really clear definition.
This can only mean that I was unfairly called an anti-Semite for having the audacity to call attention to the Israeli connection to the situation in Georgia, including the fact that Israel has invested over US $1 Billion dollars in that country. Most ironically, I cited Haaretz, an Israeli news service, and y-post, another Israeli internet news service, in bringing this information to light.
I am not worried about being called what I am not because I've faced far worse in my 40 years on this planet. What does concern me is that our country has devolved to the point where speaking the truth about something--regardless of how flattering or unflattering--is answered with racial epithets and blatant disregard for the principles of free speech.
This is the article in question that served as the basis for my being labeled. Decide for yourself:
Republican Russophobes in Denial Over Georgia
I will probably get a PSA for this article, but it is worth it to get the information out there. If it becomes a problem for Xomba, Nick and Jeremy, please feel free to remove the article.

Comments
@Imorovan: Anti-Semitic or Pro- ... coulditbe, oh, coulditbe ...
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Maybe Anti-Semite Means Something Different to Those Who ...
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So, telling the truth is anti-Semitic?
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No, Shirley...I don't
Who is Publius?
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Wikipedia as a source, surely you jest
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You should put this in the
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What is Rational Liberty?
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Don't worry too much. Being
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