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Roots of Anti-Semitism Misunderstood

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  • Roots of Anti-Semitism Misunderstood

    Roots of Anti-Semitism Misunderstood
    by: Adam Sabet

    New University, (UC Irvine) CA
    May 24 2004

    Throughout the history of Western journalism - as with most other
    journalism - there has been a substantial outpour of falsified
    information, none more consistent than the misuse of the term
    "anti-Semitism." Since the rise and fall of the Third Reich, people of
    Jewish descent (and later Israelis) have used the term to exclusively
    depict people who look down upon the Jewish peoples and would rather
    have them exterminated.

    Had any of the numerous journalists or Israelis who have used this term
    paused to study the meaning of "Semitism," they would be surprised
    to learn that a Semite is a member of a group of Semitic-speaking
    people of the near-East and Northern Africa. Jewish people are but
    one of many of the Semitic peoples, including the Arabs, Arameans
    (lingual ancestors of Arabs and Armenian), Babylonians, Carthaginians
    (biological ancestors of present-day Moroccans and Algerians),
    Ethiopians, Hebrews and Phoenicians (present-day Lebanese). As such,
    there are only four remaining Semitic subgroups: Hebrew/Jewish, Arab,
    Ethiopian and Armenian. Through this purely lingual definition -
    the only one that is academically legitimate - Arabs cannot be labeled
    as anti-Semitic. Thus, for any Westerner (or Israeli for that matter)
    to refer to Yasser Arafat or any other Arab leader as an anti-Semite is
    by definition impossible and an improper use of the English language,
    lest that Arab seeks self-destruction as well.

    In terms of ethno-racial labeling, a Semite would be defined by a
    person's geo-biological heritage--they must be able to trace their
    lineage to the Middle East. Using such a definition, a Jewish convert
    of European descent could not accurately be identified as Semitic.
    Also, Israelis with fair skin, blue eyes and blond hair cannot be
    accurately viewed as more Semitic than their olive-skinned, brown-eyed
    counterparts (regardless of religious following). Such a claim would
    be similar to a seemingly white person claiming to be black based on
    perpetual indoctrination of such a belief or some ancient hereditary
    claim.

    For too long has this term been improperly used and perhaps ingeniously
    so. Though this may seem a moot point, the exclusive use of the term
    Semite to refer to those of Jewish descent or Israeli nationality
    does have great philological value. By claiming Jews or Israelis to
    be the remaining Semites of the world evokes greater sympathy from
    an otherwise indifferent ear.

    Thus this error in definition has allowed the media to portray
    anti-Semitism to be on the rise in Europe, invoking the memories of
    the fascist days of the World War era. The so-called "anti-Semitic"
    sentiment of the European nations is thus labeled by their condemnation
    of Israeli incursions, and the rise of such sentiments among their
    publics in light of the Palestinian (another Semitic people) plight and
    perpetual state of vulnerability. During the World War era, however,
    true anti-Semitism was on the rise as Europeans commonly upheld the
    belief that Semites (along with all other minorities) were inferior
    to those of self-proclaimed "pure Aryan" descent.

    Had the commonly used definition of Semitism been accurate, then
    countless Western journalists and Israelis would still be using the
    term out of context in regards to public European admonition of Israel
    and any Arab leaders, including Yasser Arafat. Though some Arabs may
    wish to see the absolute removal of Israel from once-Palestinian lands,
    most accept Israel's right to exist and have not hatred for all Jews,
    but rather for the occupying and brutally oppressive nature of Israel
    towards Palestinians. Anti-Israeli sentiment, in this regard, is often
    haphazardly confused with anti-Semitism. However, just as during the
    Cold War the United States was anti-communist and not anti-Slavic,
    most Arabs who have been wrongfully accused of anti-Semitism are in
    reality merely anti-Israeli; that is, their enemy is the country's
    policies and not its people nor followers of the Jewish faith.

    The difference between hatred for all Jews and a hatred of Israel
    must be clarified as the lack of differentiating the two results in
    demonizing those who are against Israel as being no better than Hitler.

    As with all long-hidden truths, this one must be revealed somewhere.
    For too long have the other Semitic peoples sat idly while they were
    slowly being excluded from their ethno-lingual heritage. I find such
    an exclusion not only ignorant, but insulting as well; as a modern
    Egyptian-American, to deny my Semitic roots is worse than denying my
    Pharaonic ones, as I am culturally entrenched in Semitism and not
    the ways of the ancients. For all the Armenian, Arab and Ethiopian
    readers out there: Whenever you hear the misuse of the term that is
    used to define your peoples, please correct the speaker.

    Adam Sabet is a third-year political science major.
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