bobad:

Your link to the above document defining anti-semitism is a new one for me. I believe you quoted from it in the 'Anti-Semitism' thread of a couple months back. But I don't recall a link to the document itself. Looks like a good study item for me.

For me there is a difference between "Jew-hater" and "Anti-semite". "Jew-hater" is emotional and in your face. "Anti-semite" can be theoretical. It can be a tasteless joke.

I go back to when I was a student moving into a hispanic dorm. One of my new friends told me how if someone made a comment he didn't like about chicanos he checked to see if that person was smiling or not (neither of us were aware of the almost identical observation in The Virginian: "When you call me that, smile!"

"Anti-semite" can be genteel, suitable to a gentleman's club, spoken of with an aperitif in hand.

"Jew-hater" is street.

I think "Jew-baiter" is more appropriate to some of the folks in these threads. It's a technique to get your goat. The same folks are going not-so-subtly anti-Catholic on Joe for the same reason. In the meantime they beat their breasts about being called on their own proclivities. They can't help themselves. The source of their arguments are tired ideologies. And, in the case of this thread, finding relevance by piggy-backing onto AN EIGHTY YEAR OLD cause.


What is that old English expression that is getting bruited about nowadays? "Keep calm and carry on!"