(Jewish Group) Jews and Americans as Supervillains

[Behind the Aegis]

(THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP! RESPECT!!)

Graffito like the one appearing one morning just across the street from the apartment in a left-leaning so-called alternative neighborhood in Leipzig, “Fick Israel—Fick die U.S.A” is certainly no surprise for those who consider themselves part of the left. Anti-Zionism has been an endemic marker for the global left since 1967 as has its ideological companion, anti-Americanism. Both sentiments have become core characteristics of what it means to be left in liberal advanced capitalist democracies.

Unlike other prejudices, anti-Americanism and anti-Zionism are considered not only acceptable but in fact de rigueur for large parts of the global left because both denounce the rich and mighty, with Israel represented as the main satellite of U.S. imperialism. Both of these beliefs are positioned as speaking truth to power. In her important book Das unsichtbare Vorurteil (The Invisible Prejudice) which deals with anti-Semitism among the U.S. left after Sept. 11, Sina Arnold demonstrates that this is not just a narrative popular in Europe but also widespread among American progressives—which is not surprising since the latter almost by definition are highly critical of U.S. foreign policy.

Lest there be any misunderstandings: Being anti-Trump is not being anti-American! When we use the term anti-Americanism we mean an all-encompassing resentment not a mere opposition to a specific administration or policy. Opposing Trump’s very being, resisting his policies every step of the way is not anti-American. Indeed, it often in fact is based on the same American values that anti-Americanism denounces: plurality, minority rights, and public liberty.

Opposing American policies does not constitute anti-Americanism. Disliking what America does is not anti-American. But having an all-encompassing antipathy for what America is, does in fact represent anti-Americanism.

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This is a very long article, but well worth the read. It was hard to pick really good parts out, so I just stuck to the first 4 paragraphs "rule". Some interesting theories to be sure.

[tonyt53]

1. In the trump world surrounded by evangelicals, Catholics are just a notch above Jews.

I grew up a Southern Baptist, and I heard the talk in the early 60's when JFK was prez and I still hear it today. But it still pares to their feelings about Jews.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. That is true, somewhat (I think Catholics are few notches above, but still not too high).

I had never really heard of anti-Catholic prejudice, other than in history books, until I moved to Oklahoma! It was the first time I actually heard the term "papist" used. I have heard it many times since, as well as "idolaters". Anti-Semitism is much more common here than anti-Catholic sentiment, neither compares to the anti-Muslim rhetoric one can hear in a stroll through Wal-Mart. Still, anti-Semitism festers here and throughout the US, actually the world, just bubbling under the surface, erupting on occasion, sometimes as virulently anti-Semitic, but most of the time as "let's not discuss it" or "there are other issues to discuss" types of anti-Semitic rhetoric.