ON THE MAINSTREAMING OF ANTISEMITISM

What Mayor Mamdani said a few weeks ago regarding AIPAC is classic antisemitism. Whatever one thinks of AIPAC (I’ve not been a fan and have argued with them), it’s been a prominent Jewish organization.

When Mamdani singles out such an organization on a repeated basis, calling them “monsters”&focuses on “dark money,” he’s using 2 common slurs against Jews. Jews have heard these vile slurs for centuries, way way before AIPAC.

Jews have for centuries been called monsters, reptiles, rats, vermin, and spiders. This is classic dehumanizing language that led to pogroms, antisemitic riots, and the shoah, with millions murdered and lives destroyed–and not only Jews. Ever since the Middle Ages, others have described Jews as money-grubbing monsters working in the shadows to ruin the lives of non-Jews. Most know about the stories of Jewish bankers, the Rothschilds, and now George Soros (used by the right actually). This is the language reminiscent of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion that popularized and mainstreamed antisemitism in the early 20th century.

If Mamdani were to talk about other political&ethnic PACs or groups rather than singling out a Jewish group, it would make it more difficult to say this, but that’s not what he chose to do. This is bigoted rhetoric, no question.

Many seem happy to tell Jews they’re not antisemitic. I’m used to the far right telling ppl they’re not bigoted about this or that group. But now it’s the left doing it to Jews.

It’s usually understandable when people use the wrong words and make mistakes. Then it’s time for apologies and forgiveness. That’s not what’s happening here, however. This language is used repeatedly by politicians and candidates in spite of how often Jews have told them it’s antisemitic.

And here’s the thing. When the vast majority of a group tells ppl something is bigoted, &the response is total denial, that’s called gaslighting.

Jews have always historically been the canary in the coal mine. When Jews are singled out for hate, other minorities&women are sure to soon follow. Even many White Christians will have to face the music at some point. Globally this kind of process has often started with Jews, but never ever ends with them. People might not know it and might think that they’re safe, but they’re not. The dark maws of bigotry will come for them soon enough.

Scapegoating Jews–a 2,000 year-old tradition–is an indicator that society is fragmenting&falling apart. So many decide to blame all their problems on Jews. This has happened in countries on a regular basis for two millennia–Europe, the Middle East, North Africa.

Scapegoating Jews seems an easy solution, but it leads to authoritarianism&societal decline&economic costs. Societies that do this only damage themselves, but the bigotry is so powerful that it overwhelms reason&common sense&moral values. Sadly most have not learned the lessons of history. Let’s hope that they don’t have to learn it once again.