Subject:
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Anti-Semitism and Anti-Americanism
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Thu, 25 Oct 2001 19:22:30 GMT
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Viewed:
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168 times
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I just came across this article, and thought that it would make good debate
fodder. (It's sure to raise some hackles from some quarters.) It is by Bernard
Wasserstein, Professor of History at the University of Glasgow, and President of
the Jewish Historical Society of England. Quoted from the Chronicle of Higher
Education, 9.28.01:
"A century ago, anti-Semitism was called 'the socialism of fools.' Now
something similar threatens to become rampant: anti-Americanism.
Psychologically, it fulfills some of the same functions as anti-Semitism.
It gives vent to a hatred of the successful, and is fueled by envy and
frustration. It attributes responsibility for all the ills of the world to one
primary source. It ascribes to a supposed ruling clique of the despised group
an ambition to control and exploit humanity. This new conspiracy theory has
been embraced by large sections of the thinking classes in many countries. Like
historical anti-Semitism, it transcends ideological boundaries and brings
together economic, social, religious, and national animosities in a murderous
brew.
Americans are advised by many abroad (and by some at home): 'Ask yourselves
why you are so hated.' It might be worth remembering that similar questions
were put to Jews in the 1930s. And to recall that, as Victor Klemperer recorded
in his diaries of the war years in Dresden, some Jews internalized the worldview
of their enemies and persuaded themselves that such violent hatred must, indeed,
have had a rational source in their own behavior.
The parallel between anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism is more than just
an analogy. The two paranoias are linked, and the nodal point of connection is
the American-Israeli alliance. To some, the Israeli/Jewish hand is detected
behind, controlling, the American leviathan. Perry Anderson (a British
historican teaching at the University of California at Los Angeles), for
example, writes in the latest New Left Review: "Entrenched in business,
government and the media, American Zionism has since the sixties acquired a firm
grip on the levers of public opinion and official policy towards Israel.' The
recent UN conference in Durban, South Africa, showed the degree to which anti-
Americanism and anti-Semitism seem to have combined in a symbiotic relationship.
As an ideology, anti-Semitism dehumanized its object and so helped prepare
the way for mass murder. So, too, with the new anti-Americanism.
But the answer to irrationalism is not more unreason. I detect strong
support here in Europe for firm action--including, if necessary, the use of
force--to capture those responsible for terrorist acts and to forestall further
attacks. But the United States must not strike out like a blinded giant. It
must not sacrifice its own civil liberties. Above all, it must not repeat the
mistake of internalizing the discourse and values of unreason by ascribing a
ratonal basis to this new socialism of fools."
Just some grist for the mill.
james
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Anti-Semitism and Anti-Americanism
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| I'm sure that Wasserstein is aware that some of the "hatred" may well be entirely rational - does anyone seriously deny that? I know that for some time (prior to the events of Sept 11) Bush Jr almost appeared to be nurturing Amera-scepticism (...) (23 years ago, 26-Oct-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Anti-Semitism and Anti-Americanism
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| This article certainly has some reason on its side, yet I can't help but suspect its goal is to preserve US support for Zionism. We in Germany are pretty well aware of the fact that it is almost impossible to reason against the "less wise" portions (...) (23 years ago, 26-Oct-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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