Dear President Napolitano and the University of California Board of Regents,
We are 521 University of California alumni who are deeply concerned about the safety of Jewish students at our alma mater.
We heartily commend the UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara student senates for responding to the alarming escalation of anti-Semitic activity on UC campuses by unanimously passing resolutions which condemn anti-Semitism and resolve that their respective student senates will adopt the U.S. Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism for identifying anti-Semitic activity.
We also applaud you for your own statement condemning anti-Semitism. Taking a public stand is a very important first step. However, it is critical that you do more to ensure the safety of Jewish students at the UC.
We join the coalition of 23 organizations that have recently written to you, urging you to take the following steps in order to adequately address the rising tide of anti-Jewish bigotry at the UC :
- Formally adopt the U.S. Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism in order to identify all forms of anti-Semitic expression on UC campuses.
- Charge UC chancellors with training campus administrators and staff involved in discrimination prevention, student affairs and equity, diversity and inclusion, to identify anti-Semitic behavior, and direct them to develop clear protocols for addressing campus anti-Semitism with the same promptness and vigor as they do other forms of racial, ethnic and gender bigotry and discrimination.
- Charge UC chancellors with developing initiatives for educating the campus community about anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish discrimination.
No student should feel harassed, intimidated, threatened or marginalized. We implore you to better protect Jewish students at the UC.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Aaron Savar, UC Berkeley
Abe Carnow, UCLA
Afsaneh Mobasser, UCLA
Afshin Gabayan, UCLA
Alan Edelstein, UC Berkeley, UC Davis
Alan Harver, UC San Diego
Alan Kostinsky, UC Berkeley
Alane Schloss Shechter, UCLA
Albert Lapides, UC Berkeley
Alex Keyfes, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz
Alexandra Skierso, UCLA
Ali Strocker, UCLA
Aliza Robin, UCLA
Allan Fensten, UCLA
Allan Kandel , UCLA
Allison Moran Gingold, UCLA
Alvaro Gancman, UCLA
Amanda Eisner, UC Santa Barbara
Amir Agay, UCLA
Amy Capurro, UC Davis
Amy Lester Jones, UC San Diego
Amy Saft Ciocan, UCLA
Andrew Katz, UC Berkeley, UCLA
Anita Cotton, UC Berkeley
Ann M. Zeller, UCLA
Anna Paikow, UCLA
Anthony Brill, UCLA
Ariel Szmuilowicz, UC Irvine
Arlee S. Maier, UC Berkeley
Arnold Anisgarten, UCLA
Arnold Zeiderman, UC Berkeley
Audrey Israel, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco
Audrey Pretsky Adler, UCLA
Avi Herbstman, UC Santa Cruz
Azy Susman, UCLA
Barbara Halpern, UC Santa Barbara
Barbara Simon, UC San Diego
Barbarba Gelb, UCLA
Bee Epstein-Shepherd, UC Berkeley
Ben Adler, UCLA
Ben Harris, UCLA
Bernard Fligelman, UCLA
Bernard H. Goldner, UCLA
Bernard Recht UC Berkeley
Betsy Rosenthal, UCLA
Betzalel N. Eichenbaum, UCLA
Beverly J. Haas, UCLA
Bob Prichard, UC Berkeley
Bonnie Elbaz-Dekel, UCLA
Brannon Glushakow, UCLA
Brian H. Wieder, UCLA
Bruce Eric Sherman , UCLA
Cambria Cohen Gordon, UCLA
Cantor Daniel Eli Friedman, UCLA
Carol Cohen, UCLA
Carol Kurz, UCLA
Carole Shnier, UCLA
Charlene Hartman, UCLA
Charlene Vener, UCLA
Charles L. Geshekter, UCLA
Charles Rosin, UC Berkeley
Chava Bieber, UCLA
Cheryl Herbstman, UC Irvine
Chloe Richdin, UCLA
Claude Ciocan, UCLA
Colby Davidson, UCLA
Craig Preston, UCLA
Dalia Hayon, UCLA
Dan Fuller, UC Santa Barbara
Dan Genud, UCLA
Dan Laks, UC Berkeley
Dan Shalom, UCLA
Dana Edelstein, UC Berkeley, UC Davis
Sanford N. Diller, UC Berkeley
Daniel A. Kaplan, UC Irvine, Hastings College of Law
Daniel Levinson, UC Irvine
Danit Ariel, UC Berkeley, UC Davis
Daryl Temkin, UCLA
David Boren, UC Berkeley
David De Castro, UCLA
David Dichner, UCLA
David E. Dann , UCLA
David Ehrenberg, UCLA
David Fischel, UCLA
David Gaertner, UC Berkeley
David Gitter, UCLA
David Halahmy, UCLA
David Howell, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis
David Jacobson, UCLA
David J. Taft, UCLA
David L. Moring, UC Riverside
David Lalezari, UC Irvine
David Neal Miller, UC Santa Cruz
David Polak, UCLA
David Resnick, UCLA
David Rosenheimer, UC Santa Barbara
David Savar, UCLA
David Shpak, UC Davis
David Siegel UC Berkeley
David Zalk, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara
David Ziskrout, UCLA
Debbie Schulner, UCLA
Debbie Winokur, UCLA
Debora Dennison Schulman, UCLA
Deborah M. Feiler, UC Berkeley
Deborah P. Oles, UCLA
Deborah Pouratian Heald, UCLA
Debra Glazer, UC Irvine
Debra Gornon, UC Berkeley
Debra Mendelson, UC Berkeley
Dick Hartman, UCLA
Dina Levy, UCLA
Dmitri Gelfand, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine
Don Neumark, UCLA
Donald P. Allen, UC Berkeley
Donald Sacks, UCLA
Donald C. Lipkis, UCLA
Doreen De Leon, UCLA
Doug Kruschke, UCLA
E. Brown, UCLA
Ed Canas, UCLA
Ealon Joelson, UC Berkeley
Earl Goldberg, UCLA
Earl Lewis Goldberg, UCLA
Eddie Blau, UCLA
Edward B. Rockower, UCLA
Edward Mizrahi, UCLA
Edwin Shapiro, UC Berkeley
Eileen Anisgarten Brown JD, UCLA
Eileen Schiff Wingard, UCLA
Elaine Goodfriend, UC Berkeley
Elaine Hearst Albert, UCLA
Elaine Isaacson, UC Berkeley
Elan Freedberg, UC Berkeley
Eli Avtzon, UCLA
Elina Veytsman, UCLA
Eliott Goretsky, UC Irvine
Elizabeth Alkaly, UCLA
Elizbeth Beattie, UC Berkeley
Elizabeth Belser, UC Santa Cruz
Ellen Fox, UC Riverside
Ellice Papp, UC Berkeley
Emanuel Gottlieb, UCLA
Emily Resnick, UCLA
Eric Goldberg, UCLA
Eric K. Biren, UC Berkeley
Eric Sirkin, UC Berkeley
Eric Strauss, UC Berkeley
Ernest S. Fried, UC Berkeley
Esther Kandel, UCLA
Esther Moscona, UC San Diego
Esther Varda Beck, UCLA
Etan Lorant, UCLA
Faith Schames, UCLA
Fariba Fischel Ghodsian, UCLA
Felisa Bluwal Pivko , UCLA
Francoise Farron, UC Berkeley
Frank Ariel, UCLA
Frank Ponde, UCLA
Fred R. Hecht, UCLA
Frieda Rapoport Caplan, UCLA
Gabriella Dakteris, UC Berkeley
Gadi Maier, UC Berkeley
Gail Bernstein, UCLA
Gail Budin Rubin, UC Berkeley
Gal Sitty, UCLA
Gary Aminoff, UCLA
Gary Bachrach, UC Berkeley, UCLA
Gary Frank, UC Berkeley, UCLA
Gary Klehr, UC Berkeley
Gary M. Epstein, UC Riverside
Gary Pearl, UCLA
Gary Shapiro, UCLA
Georgiana Flaherty, UC Berkeley
Gerald B. Leib, UC Berkeley
Gideon Rappaport, UC Santa Cruz
Gina Rosenfield, UC Davis
Grant Edelstone, UC Berkeley
Gregg M.Lane,UC Berkeley
Gregory Halprin, UCLA
Guy Husavy, UCLA
Hadar Zenah, UCLA
Hanni Mittelmann, UCLA
Harvey Katz, UC Berkeley
Haya Handel, UCLA
Heather Green, UC Riverside
Heather Hoppus, UC Irvine
Heather Howell, UC Davis
Hedy Woolf, UCLA
Helena Z. Katz , UCLA
Henry Fenton, UCLA
Hillary Bibicoff, UCLA
Holly Baral, UC Santa Cruz
Hope Anisgarten, UCLA
Howard Eisenberg, UC Berkeley
Howard Goodman, UCLA
Rabbi Howard Laibson, UC Santa Cruz
Howard Lesner, UCLA
Howard Meyers, UCLA
Howard R. Weisenfeld, UCLA
Ira Benjamin Katz, UCLA
Iris Maybloom, UCLA
Isabella Romalatti, UCLA
Israel G. Burstain, UCLA
Israel Harkham, UC San Diego
Ivan Ahmady, UC Irvine
Ivo Gerscovich, UC Santa Barbara
Ivy Greene, UCLA
J. Barry Gurdin, UCLA
Jack Bruker, UCLA
Jack Kessler, UC Berkeley
Jacob Goldberg, UC Berkeley
Jacqueline Rafii, UCLA
Jacques Adlere, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara
Jake Steinberg, UCLA
Jamie Cooperstein, UCLA
Jane C. Jordan, UC Berkeley
Jane Rubin, UC Berkeley
Janet Widerspan, UC Berkeley
Jason Cirlin, UCLA
Jay Abouaf, UC Santa Cruz
Jay Saadian, UCLA
Jay Walker, UCLA
Jeff Wieder, UCLA, UC San Diego
Jeffrey A. Carmel, UC Berkeley, UCLA
Jeffrey Barke, UC Irvine
Jeffrey D. Shapiro, UC San Diego
Jeffrey Kandel, UCLA
Jeffrey Lance, UCLA
Jeffrey Eyelkreif, UCLA
Jenna Passer Schule, UC Davis
Jennifer Dekel, UCLA
Jerome Marks, UCLA, UC Berkeley
Jerry Greenberg, UCLA
Jerry Schneider, UC Berkeley
Jessica Teisch, UC Berkeley
Joan Jurancich, UC Davis
Joan Sopher, UC Berkeley
Joanne Serin, UCLA
Joannie Burstein, UCLA
Jocelyn Robinson, UC Santa Cruz
Jodi (Alcalay) Frankenbach, UCLA
Jody Fox, UCLA
Joe Anderson, UC Santa Barbara
Johanna Wilder, UC Santa Cruz
John Stone, UC Santa Barbara
John Poris, UC Santa Barbara
John Segall, UC Berkeley
Jon Wilson, UC Berkeley
Jonathan Aron, UCLA
Jonathan Herskowitz, UCLA
Jonathan Lehrer-Graiwer, UCLA
Jonathan Lifton, UC Berkeley
Jonathan Meltzer, UC Berkeley
Jonathan Nassi, UCLA
Jonathan Schreiber, UCLA
Jonathon Krasny, UCLA
Jordan Warburg, UC Santa Barbara
Jordana King, UC Berkeley
Joseph Leibowitz, UC Berkeley
Joshua Cloner
Joshua Guss, UC Santa Barbara
Joyce Beattie, UC Santa Cruz
Joyce Ellenberg, UC Berkeley
Judie Wachs Friedman, UCLA
Judith S. Sher, UC LA
Judith Sher, UCLA
Judith Weiner, UCLA
Julia Raysh, UCLA
June Brott, UC San Francisco
Justin Sadie, UCLA
Karen Herskovic, UC Davis
Karen Kronick, UC Berkeley
Karen R. Platow Juergens, UCLA
Karol Delmar, UC Santa Cruz
Kayvan Gabbay, UCLA
Keith Abouaf, UC San Diego
Kelly, UC Irvine
Kelly Littleton, UCLA
Kenneth Fields , UCLA
Kenny Bendik, UCLA
Kevin Chroman, UC Berkeley
Kipp Cohen, UCLA
Kristin (Anderson) Rose, UC Davis
L.Katz, UCLA
Lanren Pearl, UCLA
Larik Malish, UC San Diego
Larry Bamberger, UCLA
Laura H Segall, UC Santa Cruz
Laura Nathan, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara
Laura Record, UCLA
Lauran Engel, UCLA
Lauren Helfand, UC Santa Cruz
Laurie Boxer, UCLA
Lawrence Fried, UC Berkeley
Lawrence J Polon, UC Berkeley
Lawrence M. Grossman, UCLA
Leah Markus, UC Berkeley, UCLA
Lenore E. Cohen, UCLA
Leonard J. Roth, UCLA
Leonard Jacobson, UC Berkeley
Leora Udkoff, UCLA
Leslie Goldfarb, UCLA
Leslie Weinstein, UC Berkeley
Lillian Lieber, UCLA
Lillian Sack Lieber, UCLA
Linda (Agay) Calhoun, UCLA
Linda Chap, UCLA
Linda Silverstein, UCLA
Linda Tochterman, UC Berkeley, UC Davis
Linda Weiner, UCLA
Lindsay Sirkin, UCLA
Lirit King, UC Santa Barbara
Lisa Agay, UCLA
Lisa Sherman, UCLA
Liz Milan, UCLA
Loren Kaiser, UC Santa Barbara
Loren Witkin, UCLA
Lori Asher Meyers, UC Berkeley
Lori Edelstone, UC Berkeley
Lucille Benveniste Veron, UCLA
Lynda Shapiro, UCLA
Marat Galperin, UCLA
Marc Cohen, UCLA
Marc Gipsman, UCLA, UC San Diego
Marc L. Andres, UCLA
Marcia Trost Rozelle, UCLA
Marcie Joy Meier, UCLA
Marisa Belinfante, UCLA
Mark Davidson, UCLA
Mark Farber, UCLA
Mark Feldman, UCLA
Mark Herskoyitz, UCLA
Mark J. Pearl, UCLA
Mark Langberg, UCLA
Mark Levy, UC Berkeley
Mark Milstein, UCLA
Mark Mobilne, UC San Diego
Mark Wolf, UC Berkeley
Marla Wilson, UCLA
Marlene Tabak Maier, UC Berkeley
Marnin Weinreb, UCLA
Marsha Zicherman Epstein, UCLA
Martin E. Grant, UCLA
Martin S. Orgel, UCLA
Marv Ellenberg, UC Berkeley
Marvin Klein, UC Irvine
Maureen Ellenberg, UC Berkeley
Maureen Roszler , UCLA
Max Grossman, UC Berkeley
Maytal Abishoor, UCLA
Mea Fred Lane, UC Berkeley
Melissa Lorin, UC Santa Barbara
Michael A. Waterman, Esq, UCLA
Michael Dab, UC Berkeley, UCLA
Michael Davood, UCLA
Michael Hahn, UC Berkeley
Michael Katzeff, UCLA
Michael Lubin, UC San Diego
Michael O. Rosenheimer, UC Berkeley
Michelle Mayer, UC Irvine
Michelle Witkin, UCLA
Mike Fitzsimons, UCLA
Mike Rogson, UC Berkeley
Mina Rush
Mindla Millett, UCLA
Mindy Serin, UCLA
Mitchell Keiter, UCLA
ML Heller, UC Irvine
Monica Artavia Blut, UCLA
Monica Mizrachi, UC San Diego
Mor Weizman, UC Santa Barbara
Morris A. Budak, UCLA
Morris Richman, UC Berkeley
Moshe Abramovici, UCLA
Murray Haberman, UC Davis
Rabbi Nathanie l Ezray, UCLA
Nancy (Alpert) Francis, UCLA
Nancy Josephs Edelman, UCLA
Nancy Kornfield, UC Berkeley
Nancy R. Goodman Wiener, UC Berkeley
Nancy Singer, UC Berkeley
Naomi Pollack, UC Santa Cruz
Nathan Palanker, UC Berkeley
Naya Lekht, UCLA
Nazila Day-Zadeh, UCLA
Neal Jacobi, UC San Francisco
Nelson R Rosal, UCLA
Nicole Lance, UCLA
Niloofar Ghodsian, UCLA
Niloofar Shephard, UCLA
Nira Weiss, UCLA
Noah Berkowitz, UC Berkeley
Norman S. Namerow, UCLA
Pamela C Amundson, UC San Diego
Pamela Golchet, UCLA
Patricia Eliahu, UC Santa Cruz
Patricia Golde, UC Berkeley
Patricia Huizar, UCLA
Paula Gray, UCLA
Paula Leibowitz Shuman, UCLA
Paulina Wasco (Paulina Cisneros), UC San Diego
Pauline Regev, UCLA
Peter Schindler, UC Santa Barbara
Phil Liff-Greiff, UCLA
Philip C. Greenwald, UCLA
Phyllis Bloom, UC Berkeley
Phyllis Herskovitz, UCLA
Pollin Farzin, UCLA
Rachel Modena Barasch, UC Davis
Rachel Sperling, UC San Diego
Rachel Wallace, UC Santa Cruz
Rachel Zubaty, UC Santa Barbara
Rachele C. Raanan, UCLA
Raina Sinoty, UC Santa Barbara
Raizel Roszler Michelow, UCLA
Ralph Resnick, UCLA
Ram Alkalay
Ram Kosha Dillz
Randy Wolman, UCLA
Raphael Avraham, UC Davis
Raul Mirande, UC San Francisco
Rebecca Carpey, UCLA
Reinaldo D’Amico, UCLA
Renee Gingold, UCLA
Richard B. Weisberg, UC Irvine
Richard Bergman, UCLA
Richard Laurence, UCLA
Richard Leivenberg, UC Berkeley
Richard Morhaine, UCLA
Richard S.A. Siegel, UCLA
Rita Lewcowicz, UCLA
Robert Cohen, UCLA
Robert Greenwald, UC Davis
Robert K. Steinberg, UCLA
Robert Kleinman, UCLA
Robert L.Aronoff, UCLA
Robin Kopit, UC Santa Cruz
Rochelle Needle, UCLA
Roman Kleynberg, UCLA
Ronald Dresher, UCLA
Ronald Kaldro, UC Berkeley
Roy Shacter, UC Berkeley
Russell Berman, UC Berkeley
Ruth Horwitz, UC Santa Cruz
Sam Goldstein, UC Merced
Sam Lerner, UCLA
Sam Louke, UC Santa Barbara
Samuel B Liron, UC Berkeley
Sandy Hollander, UCLA
Sara Rigler, UCLA
Sarah Bloch, UCLA
Scott Falcone, UC Berkeley
Scott Silverman, UC Riverside
Scott Taryle, UC Davis, UC San Diego
Sean Nasseri, UCLA
Sean Saly, UC San Diego
Seth Dosick, UCLA
Seth Goldman, UCLA
Shai Abishoor, UCLA
Shalom Eliahu, UC Berkeley
Sharon Mayer, UCLA
Sharon Raber Davidson, UCLA
Sharon Rappaport, UC Santa Cruz
Sharona Yamini, UCLA
Shaul Nassi, UCLA
Shaun Berger, UC San Diego
Sheila Keiter, UCLA
Sheila Sperber, UCLA
Shelah Lehrer-Graiwer, UCLA
Shellie (Rose) Halprin, UCLA
Shelly Saltiel, UC San Diego
Shelton Ehrlich, UC Berkeley
Sheri Singer, UCLA
Sherry Heller Goldwasser, UC Berkeley
Shimon Weiss, UCLA
Shirley(Kashani)Agam, UCLA
Shivah Moreh, UCLA
Shlomo Elspas, UCLA
Siavash Kahen, UCLA
Sohail Manesh, UC San Francisco
Sol Zira, UCLA
Stanley Kandel, UCLA
Stanley R. Farkas, UC Riverside
Stefanie Maier, UC Santa Barbara
Stephanie D. Friedman, UC Berkeley
Stephen Gingold, UCLA
Stephen Seiff, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Francisco
Stuart Bernstein, UC Berkeley
Stuart London, UC Davis
Stuart O. Schweitzer, UCLA
Susan Wilson, UC Berkeley
Susan B. Dab, UCLA, UC San Francisco
Susan Fingerett Chait, UCLA
Susan H Somerville, UC Berkeley
Susan Kove Duck, UCLA
Susan Sue, UCLA
Suzanna Eibuszyc, UCLA
Svetlana Teplitsky, UC Berkeley
Sylvia Lezk, UC San Francisco
Sylvia Siegel, UC Berkeley
Taaly (nee Barak) Silberstein , UCLA
Ted M Kahn, UC Berkeley
Theodore A. Goldberg, UCLA
Uri Aviram, UC Berkeley
Uri Eliahu, UC Berkeley
Victor Mellon, UCLA
Vladimir Sidorovsky, UC Santa Cruz
Walter Henri Gotlieb, UCLA
Warren Lent, UCLA
Wendi Bahrynian, UCLA
Wendy Avraham, UC San Francisco
Wendy Dreskin, UC Berkeley
William Dreskin, UC Berkeley
William Frank, UC Berkeley
William L. Schwartz, UC Berkeley
William M. Egerman, UCLA
Yigal Sadgat, UCLA
Z. Bronson, UCLA
Zena Blecker Charlebois, UCLA
Zivit Weinstein, UCLA
Gee, I didn’t know that the Jews were the only group that can be classified as Semitic. I guess Arabs aren’t real? Curtailing free speech is always fun; you are truly my greatest ally.
Anti-Semitism is defined as hostility or prejudice against Jews. It’s the same reason why being Egyptian (or an Afrikaner, for that matter) doesn’t make you “African-American”. Whenever a discussion of anti-Semitism comes up, it’s always easy to spot the anti-Semites because they are the ones that try to dodge the whole issue by turning to semantics.
“it’s always easy to spot the anti-Semites because they are the ones that try to dodge the whole issue by turning to semantics.”
I think it’s important to define terms so people don’t end up speaking at crossroads. Arabs are as Semitic as much as Jews.
Semantics.
Webster’s dictionary defines Antisemitism as hatred of Jews.
While I was in the dictionary, I looked up the word, “schmuck”.
They provided a link: https://disqus.com/by/tylenoljones/
Nice adhomiem there friend.
Both Jews and Arabs are semites. To deny this would be to deny both groups their humanity.
If you don’t like the definition of a word, take it up with Webster’s Dictionary. Don’t waste our time with it.
That doesn’t change the fact that both Arabs and Jews are Semites.
Nor does it change a million other meaningless and unimportant facts.
But hey, but don’t let that get in your way. You just go right ahead debating the meaning of words with Webster’s dictionary. Don’t let all the ill-concealed laughter and eye-rolling stop you.
Be proud of your contribution. You’re a semantic chicken bone, firmly lodged in the throat of intelligent discussion.
“Nor does it change a million other meaningless and unimportant facts.”
On the contrary, ascribing antisemitism as a phenomenon unique to the Jews marginalizes racism and oppression committed against Arabs who belong in the same cultural, linguistic and genetic groupings as the Jews.
” You’re a semantic chicken bone, excruciatingly lodged in the throat of intelligent discourse.”
A semantic chicken bone who’s trying to cleave fact from fiction, I think.
“… ascribing antisemitism as a phenomenon unique to the
Jews marginalizes racism and oppression committed against Arabs who
belong in the same cultural, linguistic and genetic groupings as the
Jews.”
Really?
This is the point you’re trying to make? The dictionary definition of antisemitism marginalizes Arabs because Arabs are Semites, too?
There are about 370 million Arabs compared to 12 million Jews on earth… and you’re worried that Arabs will be marginalized?
Really?
After this, what do you say we discuss the decreasing amount of salt water in the Pacific Ocean? I’m sure that’s another big concern of yours!
“This is the point you’re trying to make? There are about 370 million Arabs compared to 12 million Jews on earth… and you’re worried that Arabs will feel marginalized?”
Yes, I do.
“After this, what do you say we discuss whether or not there’s enough salt water in the Pacific Ocean? I’m sure that’s another big concern of yours!”
Which is why I’ve taken the initiative of dumping table salt into the Pacific Ocean to tackle the desalination of the world’s largest body of water.
Well, it certainly sounds like you’re doing important work. You certainly have your priorities straight.
And using your same logic, if Betty White ever finds herself in a boxing match with Mike Tyson, I’ll be sure to tell to go easy on him.
Just out of curiosity – assuming you are taking this position as a liberal – shouldn’t you be more concerned about the small 12 million Jewish minority (about 3%), instead of the overwhelming 370 million Arab majority (about 97%)?
And please, don’t suggest that the Arabs are oppressed. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, etc., these are very wealthy kingdoms with plenty of money and power. They fund organizations like Hamas that are dedicated to destroying Israel and Jews.
If you’re guided by liberal principles – like supporting minorities and underdogs – in this case, exactly how did you come to the conclusion that you should worry about the overwhelming majority instead of the small minority?
My view on what is “antisemitism” exists independent of any kind of political slant; violence perpetrated against a Semite on the basis of that person’s Semitic background whether he is a Jew or Muslim or Christian – is antisemitism.
Well, let’s just be clear on this: You’re view absolutely has a political slant. Its biased and hypocritical.
Webster’s dictionary (which is considered the authority for defining words in the English language) defines the following:
Semite: A member of any of the peoples who speak or spoke a Semitic language, including in particular the Jews and Arabs.
Antisemite: Hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.
In order for you to hold your view, you have have to redefine the accepted definition of “antisemitism”. Now you may not like that definition. You may want to change that definition – but the reality is undeniable – Webster’s Dictionary defines Antisemitism as hostility towards Jews. To go to this extreme, you have to be more than a little biased.
And here’s where the hypocrisy comes in: You wrote, “…antisemitism as a phenomenon unique to the Jews marginalizes racism and
oppression committed against Arabs who belong in the same cultural,
linguistic and genetic groupings as the Jews.”
Why just”Arabs”? And why bring up “culture” and “genetics”?
The original meaning of “Semitic” referred to people who speak (or once spoke) some form of the Semitic language. The defining factor is language, not cultural, religion or genetic. So according to you, “Semitic” should also include many other ethnic groups in and around Southern Asia, like Akkadians,
Assyrians, Arameans and Phoenicians and more – extending way beyond just Arabs
and Jews.
And yet you chose to only focus on Arabs? You aren’t you concerned about marginalizing Akkadians,
Assyrians, Arameans and Phoenicians and others?
Why not? Because you know that over time, the term “Semitic” narrowed and focused on Arabs and Jews – and you’re obviously perfectly fine with this more narrowed definition. You aren’t concerned that any other groups might feel marginalized, or that the term took on implications of culture and genetics.
But when it comes to the term, “antisemitism”, you have a problem with a more narrowed and focused definition. For some reason, in your view, when it comes to a term focused on just Jews, the same rules that once narrowed the definition of “Semites” to only Arabs and Jews – rules you obviously accepted because you focused on only Arabs and Jews – those rules simply don’t apply anymore. And Webster’s dictionary also doesn’t apply. Now – all of a sudden – you’re concerned about who might be marginalized by a more narrowed definition.
On top of that, as I mentioned above, Jews are the significant minority. If you truly wanted to avoid a “political slant”, you’d take that into consideration. The ratio of Arabs to Jews is greater than 30 to 1, respectively. By attempting to delegitimize an established and well-recognized term defining the bigotry of a particular minority, you do damage to that minority. And to claim you are taking this view – that you’re willing to damage the significant minority – so the significant majority won’t feel “marginalized” is more than a little ridiculous.
If that isn’t “political slant”, I don’t know what is.
“Gee, I didn’t know that the Jews were the only group that can be classified as Semitic. I guess Arabs aren’t real? Curtailing free speech is always fun; you are truly my greatest ally.”
Thank you for denying a term which has taken on its own meaning over decades of usage, to score a cheap technical point on its roots being illegitimate. You’re really great.
“to score a cheap technical point on its roots being illegitimate. ”
Where did I make this claim?
What they really want to do is to impose a gag order against speech criticizing Israel’s apartheid and colonialism in the West Bank. Nice. And why is it that students of color aren’t afforded the same amount of attention despite the fact that we also deal with bigotry and discrimination. Are we not special or something? These people want the UC system to spend thousands, or perhaps, millions of dollars focusing on anti-Semitism (criticism of Israel), while non of it is used to address the concerns of students of color across the UC system.
When students of color are discriminated against people are fired or expelled regardless of “free speech” concerns and whether it occurs on campus or is even directed at a particular student or students of color as was recently demonstrated at the University of Oklahoma. Just a few days ago the Daily Bruin published an article about a manhunt initiated to track down a student suspected of writing a racist message on a UCLA campus wall implying that if the student was caught the University would seek to have him arrested and criminally prosecuted. To utter a racist word or even to be accused of having a racist thought towards people of color is academic and career suicide on most college campuses these days including every UC. The same is not true of anti-Semitism.
When Jews are discriminated against directly to their face on campus by persons holding official positions and using those positions to deny Jews educational opportunities that should be open to all students regardless of race or ethnicity, no one loses their position, gets expelled or suspended, or suffers consequences of any kind beyond there being a belated and vague “I’m somewhat disappointed about what occurred” letter from the dean directed at the campus community. So I really think it is laughable to suggest that Jewish students have it too good on UC campuses and that anti-Semetism isn’t a problem. For some reason they are the only minority ethnic group that it is politically correct to discriminate against these days.
Did’ya forget, we have a court system in California. Or are those discrimination charges so baseless that they don’t show up in court ?
So you are ok with discrimination and racism on UC campuses as long as they do not manifest themselves in ways that are criminally actionable? Or is it only when the victims are Jewish that there should be such a high bar to caring?
Let’s try again. Howling anti-semitism against anti-Israel protest doesn’t make the charge any less false and less laughable. For any real instances of antisemitism there are university, state and federal actions. The reason none of them are being invoked is because everyone knows how laughable these claims are. All to avoid any response to questions of Israeli apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
Says the Muslim fascist who cries “Islamophobia” whenever someone criticizes his terrorist friends like the ones who attacked the Charlie Hebdo. You Muslim fascists are the real apartheid supporters who defend ISIS and Boko Haram.
“What they really want to do is to impose a gag order against speech criticizing Israel’s apartheid and colonialism in the West Bank. Nice.”
Why is it that when Jews come up, people automatically criticize Israel? Do you not know how to differentiate? Why are you denying the suffering of Jewish students on your campus and others?
“And why is it that students of color aren’t afforded the same amount of attention despite the fact that we also deal with bigotry and discrimination.”
They should be. But it’s not a competition. You can’t deny Jewish discrimination because you want attention on you. All of the victims of discrimination must stand together, not try to compete for attention.
“Are we not special or something? These people want the UC system to spend thousands, or perhaps, millions of dollars focusing on anti-Semitism (criticism of Israel)”
When did criticism of Israel become anti-Semitism?
No one is saying that all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic. But certain kinds of criticism of Israel can certainly be anti-Semitic. When Israel is demonized, delegitimized, or subjected to an outrageous double standard, that’s often antisemitic. The moment anti-semities realized that attacking race and ethnicity was no longer socially acceptable, the moment they realized they could substitute the word “Zionist” for “Jew”, that’s when criticism of Israel became anti-Semitism.
You liberals are the apartheid supporters. You support ISIS and Boko Haram.
I assume you’re a Student-of-Color. Please forgive me if I’ve got that wrong.
But if you are a Student-of-Color, your comment is one of the stupidest, most uneducated comments I’ve ever read on this board.
On June 21, 1964, civil rights workers Michael Schwerner (Jewish Student), Andrew Goodman (Jewish Student), and James Chaney (Student of Color) disappeared in Mississippi. Later, all three were found murdered. This is the famous “Mississippi Burning” incident that captured the countries attention and helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
If there was one ethnic group that worked side-by-side with African American’s to help achieve the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it was the Jews. Stanley Levison (A Jew) was an adviser and speech writer for Martin Luther King Jr. Billie Holiday’s anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit”, recorded in 1937 was written Abel Meeropol (A Jew). Felix Frankfurter (A Jew) was a Supreme Court Justice who helped found the ACLU. Joel and Arthur Spingarn (Jews) were early leaders in the NAACP. To this day, some of the most prominent civil rights activists and attorneys for African American causes are Jews.
Jews are a natural and trusted ally for African Americans in their mutual fight against racist organizations like the KKK, and other White Supremacist groups.
You would think that the Jews have enough enemies. But if there is one thing that makes me absolutely nuts, it is seeing the antisemitic rantings of some foolish Student-of-Color – so ignorant of his own history, he doesn’t even know that – in the fight against racial discrimination – the Jews are on his side!
They want to impose speech codes ginned up by some AIPAC approved political hack in DC. Now ain’t them special.
Why don’t they face up to the reality of racism and apartheid in Israel, rather than pretend that the campus is filled with anti-semitism.
Muslims support racism and apartheid. They advocate killing over cartoons.
Please share with us your first hand knowledge of “racism and apartheid in Israel.” What specific incidents have manifested this? Please provide legitimate sources for your assertions.