Anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. hit 9-year high

[Behind the Aegis]

"WASHINGTON - Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States hit a nine-year high last year, at 1,821, according to a report published Monday by the Anti-Defamation League."

(The good news!!!)
"However, a different ADL survey also released Monday found a slight decline in the percentage of Americans who hold anti-Semitic views."

--snip--
"Last year's rise in anti-Semitism was due mainly to a surge in incidents of harassment, from 929 in 2003 to 1,177 in 2004. Such incidents - mainly anti-Jewish catcalls or letters - are perpetrated primarily by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, and the increase reflects the resurgence in the power and popularity of these groups last year."

--snip--
"The poll also found that one-third of Americans think U.S. Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the U.S., 30 percent believe that the Jews killed Jesus, and 15 percent think Jews have too much power in America."

The real number that went down was people who hold "clearly anti-Semitic views." I wonder what the other categories and percentages were?

from: Anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. hit 9-year high

[LSdemocrat]

1. I wonder at what level other racial/ethnic stereotypes would poll at

I probably wouldn't want to know the results.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Current stats

I can't find anything reliable for 2004. However, according to the FBI stats, racial incidents are by far the highest, with African-Americans being the targets. Distantly following ethnic bias is religious discrimination, with Jews being at the top of the list.

[TwentyFive]

2. Probably has to do with the lousy economy

Most of these white neo-nazi types come from lower middle class families....the kind that listen to Rush Limbaugh and vote republican. These sickos think they'd be driving around in new SUV...if only it wasn't for some imagined minority who beat them out of a cush job someplace.

Meanwhile their pal Bush cuts education funding & lets his Wall St buddies export jobs....but of course, that never gets said on right wing radio or their local church.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. The economy doesn't help, that is for sure

I am sure there are multiple factors, economics being one. However, i think economics plays a bigger role in racially-motivated attacks, more so than religious ones. I feel attacks on religion are more deeply rooted in long-held prejudices.

[Clark2008]

5. Are they including Arabs in this?

You know, since they are also Semitic.

This is a word that gets tossed around a bit too much by our stupid media. Semites are the people of Shem, the son of Noah, which doesn't just include Jews, but Arabs, Assyrians, Hebrews and others in that region, as well.

It's not that I'm doubting this study, it's just that I hate the improper use of words.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Not to my knowledge

There is a separate count for acts against Muslims. As for the term "anti-Semitic," it is generally used only for Jews. While Arabs may be of Semitic descent, the accepted definition of the word "anti-Semitic" is "relating to or characterized by anti-Semitism; hating Jews." WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University

Also, there is a difference between Arabs and Muslims. I find that those two words are often interchanged too easily. If this study includes discrimination against Arabs, then it would fall under the stats for nationality or ethnicity.

[Violet_Crumble]

7. It's not improper...

Semitic doesn't describe a group of people, but a group of languages, of which Arabic and Hebrew were two. That's the proper use of the term semitic...

When it comes to the term anti-Semitic it was coined originally by a Jew hater in the 19(?)th century to give the irrational hatred of Jews a more scientific and supposedly acceptable name. Personally I think the terms Jew hater or Arab hater do just as well...

Violet...

[Clark2008]

10. It would be more to the point. n/t

[11cents]

8. No. The word "antisemitic" was coined in the 19th century

... by a German racist with the specific meaning of hatred of Jews. Words mean what they mean via their usage, not via some ex post facto literal analysis of their morphemes. Do you really think there *needs* to be word that means "hatred of all peoples who speak Semitic languages or whose ancestors spoke Semitic languages?" Do you think that phenomenon actually exists?

And, um - Jews and "Hebrews" are the same thing. Except to "Christian Identity" types, who claim that Jews are special demonic creatures of Turkic origin who have no connection to the Biblical "Hebrews. But, you know, they're antisemites. They hate Jews.

[11cents]

9. Whoops

violet_crumble slipped in with some of the same info.

[Clark2008]

11. Hebrews are always Jews, but not all Jews are Hebrews.

I was just giving a detailed list.

BTW, you have a nice choice in presidential candidate. ;)

[11cents]

12. A Clarkie here since the first Draft Clark meetup!

But your "detailed list" still doesn't make sense. "Hebrews" is simply the term used in English translations of the Bible for the tribe at the center of what Christians call the Old Testament. Genetic analysis has shown that Jewish populations around the world share a common descent, and I'm betting it's from "Hebrews" and not from Aztecs. (Intermarriage with non-Jews was generally rare until recent times.) If you're averring to a theory that Ashkenazi Jews aren't "Hebrews" but represent a separate population, please be warned that this is an idea promulgated by neo-Nazis and members of "Christian Identity" for the reasons given above -- they want to distinguish modern Jews (evil) from Biblical "Hebrews" (good -- since they're in the Bible, after all).

[fujiyama]

13. A lot of very ignorant

stupid people out there.

And when the economy goes to hell, this kind of ugliness has a tendancy to show itself more (even in progressive places like here on DU).

What's interesting is that as anti Jewish hate crimes have increased, anti Arab feelings have likely increased as well. Ignorant racist ass holes are ignorant racist ass holes. There's not much else to be said, except that this administration and media have helped create a culture of paranoia and fear of anyone that isn't white. If they're anything else they're doing one of the following things: They're stealing your job, they're controlling your government, or they're simply trying to kill you (or your savior).

[Behind the Aegis]

14. You are SO right!!!

I always wondered why people blame other people for the economy instead of those who deserve the blame, the government!

I also would guess that anti-Muslim and anti-Arab attacks have risen in this country. It was amazing the frenzy of hate that took place after 9-11!!! Here, in Oklahoma, we had several members of Native American nations told to "back to {your} country!" :eyes: The idiots couldn't tell the difference between Arabs and Native Americans!