11 June 2009

Match Up

News quiz: who said what?
A) “the Jewish vote, the A-I-P-A-C vote, that’s controlling him"

B) "Obama was created by Jews. Obama does what Jew owners tell him to do."
Yes, context is everything. A, Reverend Jeremiah Wright claimed initially that "them Jews" prevent communication with Obama, and then tried to walk that back by claiming he meant that Obama, being a politician, needs to cater to the Jewish vote. B, James von Brunn claims that Jews control the USA's money and media, hence Jews own Obama.

Would Wright endorse the murder of Jews? Of course not. But, in reality, we're still talking about the same thing, aren't we? There's but a degree of difference. Both seem to operate from the same, troubling mindset: Obama must do whatever "them Jews" bid him to do. But why are we still confronting this tired, ancient canard about Jewish cabals and Jewish control?

Let me recommend an article from a few months back. Frank Furedi's piece at spiked online, "What's Behind 21st Century Anti-Semitism," discusses the sudden rise, or at least the sudden vocality, of anti-Semitism--on the right and on the left. It's worth a read as it lays out a controversial discussion in a reasoned manner. Another recommendation: Philip J. Spencer's response to Furedi, "The Left Must Stand Up to Anti-Semitism."

By the way, apparently nobody has told the anti-Semites that they can relax. The Elders of Zion have decided to retire.

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