Anti-Zionism Has Become a Modern Euphemism for Anti-Semitism
“we are beginning to see another slippery slope emerge”
As you observe people showing support for Hamas, remember what this is really all about.
From Jewish Journal:
Ending the Slippery Slope of “Antisemitism”
On college campuses and in corners of Capitol Hill, the barbaric acts of Hamas in Israel — murder, rape, torture and kidnapping — have wound up on a slippery slope of moral equivalency. The Hamas terrorists who planned and perpetrated these barbaric acts? Those blinded by the reality of these atrocities argue “let’s refer to them as ‘militants,’or even worse, ‘freedom fighters.’” Calling them “terrorists” would be impolite to their sensitivities.
But this warped perspective also has fueled the flames of the most original sin of all — antisemitism — which dates back to the early history of Jews, several thousand years ago. Unfortunately, within a matter of days since the heinous attacks, we are beginning to see another slippery slope emerge. On a recent “Face the Nation” interview with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), its moderator Margaret Brennan suggested that antisemitism is not focused exclusively on Jews. According to the CBS News transcript, in countering his claim that people from Gaza were antisemitic, Brennan pulled out the stock line that has been used before ad nauseum. “I’m sure you know all Arabs are Semites.” Alas, it seems that this tired trope is likely to be picked up again by others in media and elsewhere as they obscure moral clarity even further.
Antisemitism. The more political-sounding term, Anti-Zionism, has become a 21st century euphemism. But we must not blur what it has meant for many millennia — Jew hatred. And for sheer linguistic force, “antisemitism” also lacks the gut punch that is needed in our world of soundbites and social media.
My suggestion is that antisemitism now needs to be described in more direct terms. Let’s set aside the niceties and call it for what it is. Those who wish to continue as Hamas apologists should now have to confront that they are also supporting Jew hatred. They should always be forced to explain their questionable support for such an inhumane evil.
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Comments
It was a euphemism 30, even 40 years ago… when the risk of being tagged as an antisemite was socially objectionable. Now that all the masks are off, what’s the use of a euphemism? None, they just have a sunk cost in old stationery to amortize.
“Become”? More than 50 years ago, Martin Luther King said, “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You’re talking anti-Semitism.”