Read on Twitter
So, I'm currently enrolled in (and have begun) a Holocaust history course taught by Professor Havi Dreifuss, head of the Center for Research on the Holocaust in Poland at Yad Vashem.
We're learning about the historical origins of antisemitism, and about how common it was for Pagans of the early second century to view Jews as strange and evil Others.
Tacitus had this to say about the Jewish people:
"Among themselves they are inflexibly honest and ever ready to show compassion, though they regard the rest of mankind with all the hatred of enemies.
They sit apart at meals, they sleep apart." ( http://archive.fo/OadRu#selection-9.53599-9.54921)
"Among themselves they are inflexibly honest and ever ready to show compassion, though they regard the rest of mankind with all the hatred of enemies.
They sit apart at meals, they sleep apart." ( http://archive.fo/OadRu#selection-9.53599-9.54921)
Professor Dreifuss tells us, the antisemitic figure of 'The Jew' came to serve as an explanation for revolutions, wars, and other calamities, such as financial crises. 'The Jew' could be held responsible for events no one would take responsibility for. Any of this sound familar?
I made a little thread cataloguing these instances of contemporaneous scapegoating of Jews, here.
A leading culprit of mainstream antisemitism today is Glenn Beck. (Thread below.) https://twitter.com/ifthedevilisix/status/1164966648094384128?s=20
A leading culprit of mainstream antisemitism today is Glenn Beck. (Thread below.) https://twitter.com/ifthedevilisix/status/1164966648094384128?s=20
Listen to Mr. Beck's words here. The dogwhistles are impossible to miss.
"The question is: Do we have a shadow government? And if we do, who are those intelligent minority that is guiding us through? And where are they guiding us to?"
This is classic, old school antisemitism.
"The question is: Do we have a shadow government? And if we do, who are those intelligent minority that is guiding us through? And where are they guiding us to?"
This is classic, old school antisemitism.
Antisemitism is an ancient hatred over 2,000 years old.
First, the Jews were ostracized by the Pagans as cultural outsiders, then by the Christians, as religious outsiders, thenâafter The Enlightenment + secularizationâthey became ostracized on the basis of "scientific racism."
First, the Jews were ostracized by the Pagans as cultural outsiders, then by the Christians, as religious outsiders, thenâafter The Enlightenment + secularizationâthey became ostracized on the basis of "scientific racism."
Professor Scott Ury: "Starting at the end of the 19th c, we see across the European continent, from Paris, to Berlin, to Warsaw, to St. Petersburg, the wider general collapse of the liberal democratic dream of Jews entering European society as equal participants & full citizens."
In Paris in 1894, we see The Dreyfuss Affair.
In Vienna in 1895 and 1897, we see Karl Lueger elected to the head of the city.
In Warsaw, we see the national democratic movement led by Roman Dmowski in 1906 and 1912.
Ury: "Time and time again, we see mass politics, or modern politics, across the European continent embrace, propagate, and manipulate anti-Jewish prejudices and attitudes, and turn into antisemitic movements."
So, what was new, if anything, about Nazi antisemitism in particular?
Professor Saul Friedlander gives us some useful language in his scholarship of the history of Nazi Germany. He introduces us to the term "Redemptive Antisemitism," to describe the Nazi ideology.
Professor Saul Friedlander gives us some useful language in his scholarship of the history of Nazi Germany. He introduces us to the term "Redemptive Antisemitism," to describe the Nazi ideology.
"Redemptive antisemitism" (Friedlander) portrays the Jews as a fundamental threat to the world. In this conception, the Jews, by their mere existence, are a destructive element which poisons humanity and is a hazard to the existence of the natural, "racial," order.
Iâm going to post all of my class notes from this weekâs lessons on my blog at the end of the week. Follow along if youâre interested. http://Foetoprinces.com
Nothing is posted here yet, but Iâll be updating the site by Friday. Will have some essays up there soon too, hopefully.
Professor Dina Porat explains: Antisemitic stereotypes, emerging from economic + religious conflict, led to a notion that the Jews, dispersed among the nation, must have some goal, something in common leading them, and this is hurting the Christian body, and the Christian mind.
Quick break from the rest of the thread to talk about contemporary antisemitism...
In 2002, a Jewish American journalist named Daniel Pearl went to Pakistan to investigate links b/w Al-Qaeda and "The Shoe Bomber," Richard Reid. He was kidnapped and beheaded by his captors.
In 2002, a Jewish American journalist named Daniel Pearl went to Pakistan to investigate links b/w Al-Qaeda and "The Shoe Bomber," Richard Reid. He was kidnapped and beheaded by his captors.
In 2010, journalist Christopher Hitchens was invited by the Pearl family to give an address in honor of their son, & to discuss antisemitism more broadly.
Here's some of what Hitchens had to say, on the question of whether antisemitism should ever be considered flattering (1/2)
Here's some of what Hitchens had to say, on the question of whether antisemitism should ever be considered flattering (1/2)
Christopher Hitchens - At Daniel Pearl memorial address (2/2)
Here, Hitchens discusses the memoir of journalist Jacobo Timerman, a Soviet-born Argentine journalist who was held captive by Argentinian fascists in 1977.
I find Mr. Hitchens's commentary here brilliant.
Here, Hitchens discusses the memoir of journalist Jacobo Timerman, a Soviet-born Argentine journalist who was held captive by Argentinian fascists in 1977.
I find Mr. Hitchens's commentary here brilliant.
Here is the full lecture, for reference:
Some information I learned from the lecture:
- The term "intellectual" was coinedâby the extreme far-right Action Française, by the Catholic Church, and by the bigots of the French Armyâas a term of contempt to describe the pro-Dreyfusard faction of the late 19th century.
- The term "intellectual" was coinedâby the extreme far-right Action Française, by the Catholic Church, and by the bigots of the French Armyâas a term of contempt to describe the pro-Dreyfusard faction of the late 19th century.
Hitchens: "'Intellectual' meant someone who is fundamentally unsound, who had no proper 'blood & soil' connection w/ the organic society of Franceâwho had no loyalties except to the mind, and to inquiryâwho was a doubter."
Hitchens: "I hope that word 'intellectual' never loses its association with those wonderful things; and, to that extent, it's a product of the struggle against anti-Semitism, which is very much a projection of precisely that conservative pathology."
Hitchens: "It was C. Maurras, the founder of Action FrancaiseâT.S. Eliot's favorite philosopher + politicianâwho, when he was finally jailed after the war, for collaboration w/ the Nazis, as he was leaving the dock was heard to say: 'C'est la revanche de Dreyfus!' He was right."
Anyway, back to class..
Update: I woke up very hungover this morning, so Iâm not posting my class notes until tomorrow.
Ok, posting my class notes for the first week today. Link will be up soon.
For clarity's sake: The Daniel Pearl address posted above was *not* assigned as part of the course I'm taking. I just thought it was a great lecture, and wanted to share some notes related to the subject of contemporary antisemitism.
First draft of my class notes from day 1! :) https://foetoprinces.com/2020/04/04/the-holocaust-an-introduction-i-nazi-germany-ideology-the-jews-and-the-world/
Highlights:
- Antisemitism in the Pagan World
- Antisemitism in the Middle Ages
- Religious Facets of Antisemitism
- Economic Facets of Antisemitism
- Modern Antisemitism and Race Science https://foetoprinces.com/2020/04/04/the-holocaust-an-introduction-i-nazi-germany-ideology-the-jews-and-the-world/
- Antisemitism in the Pagan World
- Antisemitism in the Middle Ages
- Religious Facets of Antisemitism
- Economic Facets of Antisemitism
- Modern Antisemitism and Race Science https://foetoprinces.com/2020/04/04/the-holocaust-an-introduction-i-nazi-germany-ideology-the-jews-and-the-world/
Will revise / update notes as the course progresses.
News item related to #antisemitism: Hereâs the new Deputy Labour Leader, Angela Rayner.... https://antisemitism.uk/politics/labour/angela-rayner/?fbclid=IwAR2LAEMp-BiELtagnBjb50auDgkoXJHykaqGB6ZSK1ELZgkY1fUin9to40w
