Out-sourcing the fear of anti-Semitism

[nancylebov]

I tend to spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about anti-Semitism. Cheery thoughts like that the Holocaust happened *after* the Germany became an unusually welcoming place for Jews. This must mean you can't trust anybody.

And I just ate up all those reviews about the potential evil effects of Mel Gibson's _The Passion_. It sure looks as though the people who said "It's just a movie" were right, and I feel as though I owe an apology to my non-Jewish neighbors, who actually *weren't* ready to start a pogrom.

There are good historical and current reasons for being twitchy about anti-Semitism, but on the other hand, I incline to depression, and I was taking it out of all proportion in a way that wasn't good for me.

I was considering doing something drastic like reading Constantine's Sword--a history of Catholic and Protestant European anti-semitism, and seeing if I could intersperse it with enough meditation to chill out.

Then it occurred to me that I don't need to keep track of anti-semitism myself. If it starts to get bad, there are plenty of people who will tell me.

Figuring that out worked. There was a radio story about increasing membership in neo-Nazi groups in eastern Europe--the more energetic people are leaving for better jobs in western Europe, including rather more women than men. Some of the people who are left are occupying themselves with resentment. And I didn't freak. Those neo-Nazis are on the other side of the world! They're the less competent people! I don't have to care! I do care about anyone who's stuck living with them, but there's no risk in it for me.

Comments

[kressel.livejournal.com]

BS"D

I tend to worry more about bin Laden than neo-Nazi groups, but the anti-Semitism is the same. As far as books on the subject, you might consider The Final Resolution. Sorry, but I don't remember the author.

[captain-button.livejournal.com]

Regarding books, Ken Hite recently talking about the recent death and legacy of Norman Cohn, who wrote about this sort of thing.

http://princeofcairo.livejournal.com/107559.html

michael vassar

[(Anonymous)]

That's Great!
I'm glad you have found a perspective that helps you to feel better.

Re: michael vassar

[captain-button.livejournal.com]

You don't make sense, but you do like pizza?

[avram]

Have you heard about Israel's current problem with neo-Nazis?

The best part is they're Russian, and claimed Jewish ancestry in order to qualify for immigration under the Law of Return.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I'd heard a less detailed version, probably from the BBC.

I note that the Haaretz article has a strong element of evaluating the actual danger as well as seeing that these anti-Semites are intolerable.

Some of the anti-Semites aren't exactly Russians--they're first-generation Israelis with Russian parents. There wasn't any discussion of whether they got their anti-Semitism directly from their parents or from other Russian-ancestry kids. I really don't see how changing immigration policy can completely deal with the problem.

My reaction is that this is really bad, and it's a problem. What I seem to have faded out is an automatic stomach-clenching response of "How bad is it going to get?"

[avram]

My reaction is more like Oh, this wondrous world that has Israel neo-Nazis in it!. (I just typoed "neon-Nazis". Now there's a mental image.)

It's about the same reaction I had when I heard about the Baptist terrorist group in India.

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

T'was Baptists blowing up Black churches in this country back when, too. Interesting.

I remember reading The Handmaid's Tale, and finding it perfectly logical that the fundamentalist regime never got a firm hold in the Deep South due to a coalition of Baptists and homosexuals.

Seems to me among baptists that there are two divisions - sincerely Christian churches of congregationlist polity, and scary-ass bible-thumpers who preach and live some frightening stuff. I wonder why such a divide among those sects. One sees that division also among Anabaptists - compare Mennonite and Hudderite for example.

Sorry for the quasi-random rambling and half-formed ideas. I'm a bit sleep deprived at the moment, and i think there's a larger connection to make of my ditherings. Cheers!