Post by michaelw on Dec 27, 2017 7:03:13 GMT -5
I dunno if I'd say one particular form of racism is more toxic than any other; all forms of racism are toxic and irrational for the same reason, IMO.
That said, anti-semitism might be somewhat unique in being rooted in so many contradictions. The Jewish people have variously been charged with being too tribal, too cosmopolitan, too religious, too secular/atheist, too capitalist, too communist, etc. It makes one see how the specific stereotypes are just excuses to lay blame; they couldn't all possibly be rooted in any sort of reality.
As for your question:
How can we prevent the destructive and irrational hysteria of anti-semitism from taking hold, in the increasingly dangerous political times in which we live ?
Unfortunately, I think history has shown pretty clearly that this stuff never really goes away. But you might find this lecture to be of some interest:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7T0Zs4tkY
At the end (41:23) there's probably the most succinct (if a little vague) way of formulating the solution, IMO.
That said, anti-semitism might be somewhat unique in being rooted in so many contradictions. The Jewish people have variously been charged with being too tribal, too cosmopolitan, too religious, too secular/atheist, too capitalist, too communist, etc. It makes one see how the specific stereotypes are just excuses to lay blame; they couldn't all possibly be rooted in any sort of reality.
As for your question:
How can we prevent the destructive and irrational hysteria of anti-semitism from taking hold, in the increasingly dangerous political times in which we live ?
Unfortunately, I think history has shown pretty clearly that this stuff never really goes away. But you might find this lecture to be of some interest:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7T0Zs4tkY
At the end (41:23) there's probably the most succinct (if a little vague) way of formulating the solution, IMO.
