• If the present rise in antisemitism is rooted in Israeli governmental policy, then before there was an Israeli government, by that logic there should be no cause for antisemitism.

    I don’t think the premise you opened with there holds water.

    Historically it’s not unusual for there to be rises in something everpresent, that are triggered by events.

      •  livus   ( @livus@kbin.social ) 
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        @philo I don’t think I did. You’re conflating the existance of antisemitism with the rise (increase) in antisemitism.

        What is “it” in this sentence: the existence or the rise:

        blaming Israel for it now

        I don’t think there’s anything in @andrewrgross’s post to suggest they think that antisemitism is a modern phenomenon created by Israel. That would be a very peculiar position.

        • One last try before I write you off. Antisemitism exists regardless of the existence of Israel. there have been many rises in antisemitism throughout history ALL BEFORE 1947 so Israel’s governmental policy can’t be blamed. They all had differing causes though. If the cause can be random, how can you blame a government when it is obvious the cause is something much deeper.

          •  livus   ( @livus@kbin.social ) 
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            • There’s a lake in my town which exists (antisemitism).

            • The reason it exists is it is fed by a stream (deep-rooted cultural antisemitist sentiment as a cultural practice that uses desire to scapegoat, etc).

            • However, events such as storms, droughts, human water use (crusades, nazism, nakba) have caused this lake to rise higher or lower over the years.

            To acknowledge that events contribute to the rise or the fall of the water level is not the same as claiming that the events are the cause of it existing per se.

              • The reason it exists is it is fed by a stream (deep-rooted cultural antisemitist sentiment as a cultural practice that uses desire to scapegoat, etc).

                Wait, what part of this seems flippant? That seems to me like a succinct and accurate characterization of the enduring presence of antisemitism since antiquity. I don’t see anything dismissive about this.

                • Von den Juden und ihren Lügen {On The Jews And Their Lies) is a little 65K word book that will show you how trite that statement is. BTW, if you didn’t know. that little tome was written by the father of the protestant reformation Martin Luther and it was used as a major means of justification for the holocaust. So cultural, no, that doesn’t cut it. Nice try though but it falls way short of the mark.

                  • Can you just summarize?

                    If you think someone is making light of a serious situation and you want people to know that, I think you should say it in words. Speaking for myself, I’m not making light of anything, and that characterization seemed respectful. I’m not sure what part you read as glib or jokey, and your response when asked to clarify seems needlessly cryptic.

          • You are being ridiculous and I have a hard time believing that you are making this argument earnestly.

            Your argument: there were sometimes fires before there was home electricity, therefore how can we blame electricity for causing fires?