Americans Show Heightened Concern About Antisemitism
Americans Show Heightened Concern About Antisemitism
Sharply more Americans than 20 years ago say antisemitism is a very serious problem, as Jewish Americans' reports of poor treatment exceed those of other faith groups.
You're viewing a single thread.
Nearly half of Americans now rate it “very serious,”
Americans are significantly less likely to view prejudice against Muslim people as a very serious problem (33%) than to say prejudice against Jewish people is.
Half of Democrats, compared with 18% of Republicans, say anti-Muslim prejudice is a very serious problem in the U.S., as do 30% of independents.I'm a raised-catholic-agnostic democrat of mixed European heritage residing in an American east coast city. I barely have an opinion about Jewish people (see below). I have many Jewish friends which means nothing outside of a few weeks in December. I have never in my 45+ years witnessed anti-semitism. What I have observed in the past year is a strong opposition to the Israeli government and its support by the United States (finally). After 9/11, the anti-Muslim sentiment in this country was so immense that you could taste it in the air. Not to argue this is inaccurate but I just don't feel that I live in the same reality as what's being reported here.
The thing I've always considered odd about the Jewish population is the strong connection to a place and people and time whom most have never engaged with. It is what it is and I accept it but it's unfamiliar to me. And it has absolutely no impact on my perception or opinion of any Jewish persons.
The tribalism and skewed perspectives we're all capable of needs to be tempered.
Hi, I'm a 47-year-old Jew. I've witnessed quite a bit of antisemitism. A lot of it directed at me. I'd rather not bring up the memories to give you examples, but you probably wouldn't believe me if I did anyway, so I won't.
I appreciate you letting me know and I'm sorry you live with this. I genuinely do not understand it.
It sounds like you live in a fairly liberal area, then, so it makes sense you wouldn't have personally witnessed much hate against Jewish people. But if you look back in your local news archives, I'm sure you'll find instances of things like swastikas painted on temples.
I grew up in a liberal college town. A guy firebombed the temple when I was a kid.
Bigotry is everywhere. Against pretty much anyone people can punch down on. Too many sick fucks out there who love to punch down.
When I was in high school, I sat down at the lunch table with entirely new people. We get to taking and learning about one another. Topic turns to religion. I'm Jewish. I say as such.
One of the girls looks at me, thoughtfully.
"You don't have horns like they said you would"
I'm baffled. I'm almost 14 and had only read about people thinking jews had horns in like, old storybooks.
The test of the lunch table fucking goes off on her.
She's still thinking. "Guess they lied about jews drinking babies blood then?"
I'm stunned. Blood libel? In 2001??????
She was a good kid though. Realized it was lies and changed her world view right then. But still. It's just. Still happening? It sucks.
Ah, high school bigotry.
I knew a kid in high school who came up to me almost every single day and told me with a big smile that I was going to hell because my people killed Jesus.
Then one day, he came up to me and looked a little sad and said, "we got a new pastor at my church. He says Jews are the chosen people and you're going to heaven."
I didn't think it was worth ever telling him I didn't believe either place existed.
And while we're on school, my daughter's right wing fuck of a sixth grade teacher just started to my daughter about Jews and Judaism unprompted one day. My daughter is half-Jewish, doesn't ever talk about it, and she's an atheist. She was really confused how she knew. I know exactly how she "knew." She took one look at me, saw the nose and the hair, and made a lucky assumption. I might as well have come in with a yarmulke and prayer shawl.
And although I cannot prove it, I suspect that's why she started getting singled out for little things here and there that other kids weren't singled out on at all. I had definitely been in that position with my own teachers, so maybe I was being too sensitive on that part, but it felt like it.
I don't look very Jewish, or so the girl at the table said, so guess I'm lucky there?
Later on (years later) had a fundamentalist Christian at work tell me it was good I'm Jewish because we need to go to Israel to finish the book. (This was awhile ago and exact wording didn't stick as I was busy working)
She didn't like it when I said I'm never moving there. Guess it fucks with gods plans if my stupid ass stays in America my entire life.
Maybe They should have planned around that lmao