#antisemitism is bad?

[batwynn]

I’ve gotten a few insistent anons lately demanding I state my thoughts and opinions on the current and past history of Palestine on this blog. (You can tell they don’t follow my more personal side blog, I guess.) On the one hand, I do understand people wanting to know that someone they follow has similar opinions on severely important things like this. But on the other hand, most of the asks have that certain… tone that gives me the feeling that they are more interested in ‘catching’ me in something, than any actual concern over my politics or the actual people involved. They’re worded in a way that is very immature—in a way that leaves very little room for anything other than the exact statements parroted back to them that they expect. Which I can’t do. One, because I can’t read their minds to say exactly what they want me to say. Two, because I’m an entire person with a whole life that they know nothing about—something that comes with all the flaws of being a human person with my own history and education based on where I lived and who I knew. And three, because I don’t want to parrot someone else’s words to appease a random person I don’t know. And the thing is, I’ve had this conversation already with nearly everyone in my life. I’ve gone over it at least a dozen times with friends and family from all walks of life. Some conversations were harder than others. All of them were hard. Partially because what is happening is hard to talk about, and partially because I don’t really know what to say. What do I say that changes anything? What do I say that isn’t speaking over someone who is directly affected? What do I say that won’t be misinterpreted by someone willingly misinterpreting/looking for a fight? What can I say that doesn’t hurt anyone at all? Because someone out there will always be hurt, no matter how carefully I try to word things. And I have tried. I’ve written this post 80+ times for months now. I’ve read other’s words and found parts that spoke to me and for me very well, but then have that certain edge that goes into the harm territory. Some lean into Zionism, some lean into antisemitism. Some are just outright racist, some are full on fascist. And that’s really the entirety of it. I just don’t want people to be hurt anymore. So to answer your questions, anon:

I don’t know what the right thing to say is and no matter how careful I am, it will never be correct enough for you. I am angry and horrified at the harm that has been done over many years to the Palestinian people. None of my words can really summarize that history, or what is happening to them right now. Every single day I learn something new, and every single day it is someone doing irreparable harm to innocent people. I am disgusted by the never ending terrorism and harm done by people who think that killing innocents is a worthy way to get them what they want. And that goes for anyone who does this, including but not limited to the Hamas, the Israeli army, or my very own colonizing country. I am alarmed at how black and white people are treating this, and how no consideration is allowed for those who fall between the cracks or who dont follow their strict narrative. That people forget that Jewish Palestinian people exist when they go on their rants, or what people from every ‘side’ or corner of the world can want the end of the harm. That people have hatred for Jewish and Muslim people with no regards to who they actually are and what they believe. That there are so many who support Palestinian freedom, and then parrot outright fascist talking points. That many come to support their Jewish friends, but then say that Palestinian children deserve to die because _____. So, no. There is nothing I can say that really matters. Because no matter what I say someone out there will twist my words, or misunderstand, or tell me that I’m supporting something I don’t support. Because no matter what I say, I just can’t write the right words on fucking Tumblr to stop the harm from being done.

[kosherkept]

antisemitism has been a warning sign for impending fascism for centuries. jews know this.

so when jews beg gentiles, "please help us, antisemites are assaulting and killing and raping us, they're destroying our temples and are committing crimes against us at rates we haven't seen in years," gentiles say, "no, i won't listen or help you. that isn't happening, you're lying to be a victim, if there is any crime or antisemitism you're exaggerating, and you would deserve it anyway, actually i think you'd deserve worse."

so then jews say, "well, you don't have to care about it for our sake, because soon it will become more than jew-hatred and it'll impact you too, so you should at least care about that," and gentiles say, "i don't believe you, not everything is about you, antisemitism isn't real and anyway you'd deserve it if it was."

and then fascism looms, and the threat grows larger and more obvious as time goes on, and gentiles have the audacity to say, "why aren't jews talking about this? why don't they care? why didn't they warn us?"

and then they tell each other, "jews are as quiet as usual about this because they orchestrated it all. jews are the ones behind this fascist threat," and you'll never believe what happens next

[magnetothemagnificent]

Why when talking about these kids' memory the only and solely remarkable thing yall can even find about their existences to mention is that they consumed western cop and military propaganda? Can yall only view compassion for human beings through the lenses of the imperial cartoons they liked?

You guys aren't beating the fandomite allegations

You are a miserable human being and I hope you chew on glass

[rotzaprachim]

i don’t think Jews should have to extend grace to people who engage in Holocaust denial. I don’t think people should engage in Holocaust denial no matter their politics. I think Jews have a right to be angry and cut off contact with those who do engage in Holocaust denial, no matter their politics. I’m so fucking angry we’re at this line I’m the goddamn sand and antisemitism is this rampant

[ertik-einstein]

arab and muslim states weren't good to jews, christian states weren't good to jews, so called "un-religious" states weren't good to jews, NO ONE WAS GOOD TO JEWS!!!!!!!

[hilacopter]

wild how literally any time we mention experiencing antisemitism that isn't blatantly right wing neo-nazi stuff leftists will immediately jump to "well is it actually antisemitism or is this a sneaky Bad Jew™ that's lying and defining what antisemitism is in a way that's inconvenient for me, a person with no internalised antisemitism whatsoever"

[notaplaceofhonour]

Hamas: [repeatedly violates terms of the ceasefire by withholding civilian hostages (which they shouldn’t even have & are required by international law to surrender unconditionally) & withholding the names of hostages to be released]

International Community: [crickets]

Hamas: [violates terms of the ceasefire by parading the hostages (also in breach of international law)]

International Community: [crickets]

Hamas: [violates terms of the ceasefire agreement with multiple terrorist attacks during the ceasefire]

International Community: [crickets]

Israel, who has no obligation to supply Gaza: “okay, if you aren’t going to abide by the terms of the ceasefire, then we’re not obligated to keep sending you supplies as part of the ceasefire agreement”

International Community: “ISRAEL IS INTENTIONALLY STARVING GAZA! IT’S GENOCIDE!”

Hamas: [keeps violating the ceasefire by withholding hostages]

Hamas: [keeps violating the ceasefire with terrorist attacks]

International Community: [crickets] [crickets] [crickets]

Israel: [resumes fighting]

International Community: “ISRAEL BROKE THE CEASEFIRE! IT’S MORE GENOCIDE!”

[mental-mona]

But please do tell me again how the BBC is unbiased...

[is-the-fire-real]

Non-Jews of Tumblr: Reminder that you need to check in on whether or not you still have Jewish friends

[edenfenixblogs]

If you’re not Jewish/Muslim/Israeli/Palestinian and you are talking publicly in any way about the i/p conflict you should probably do your research about dog whistles and take that info seriously. It shouldn’t be up to affected groups to educate you while actively being triggered and traumatized.

It’s not fun to constantly worry if your friends secretly hate you or if they are sliding into antisemitic spaces or are ok with genocide as long is against the right group of people.

You aren’t free of antisemitism or Islamophobia just because you don’t sit around thinking, “I hate Jews/Muslims/Arabs.” This shit is structural. I don’t care how many Jews or Muslims or Arabs you know. If you haven’t actively deconstructed your own bias against these groups, you’re probably still hateful whether you realize it or not.

[politicaljewishblog]

The antisemitic comment:

The video it was inspired by:

People hate Jewish customers because they request Judaica and Jewish holiday-related products be accurate?

Hm.

[gingerswagfreckles]

"Criticizing Israel isn't antisemitism" yeah but accusing Jews of making up hate crimes to derail the conversation around Gaza is. Claiming that the media is controlled by a secret group of all powerful Zionists is. Acting like the Holocaust is something Jews use to get out of trouble instead of an actual genocide that happened within living memory is. Telling us to go back to where we came from is.

"Criticizing Israel isn't antisemitism" yeah well a lot of you aren't being accused of antisemitism because you are criticizing Israel. You're being accused of antisemitism because you are being antisemitic and do nothing but evade and double down when it gets called out.

[lawbreaker13]

It’s actually insane how some of you justify your antisemitism. And yes, this time I’m specifically talking about being anti-Israel.

When Israel is attacked by Hamas, it’s their fault for retaliating. When is Israel is attacked by Iran, it’s ok because it’s retaliation. When Israel calls out the UN for being unhelpful, they’re getting what they deserve. When Israel asks the UN to step up, it’s a sad cry for help.

THEY CAN’T ATTACK, THEY CAN’T DEFEND, THEY CAN’T ASK FOR HELP, THEY CAN’T CONDEMN TERRORISTS, WHAT CAN THEY DO?? BE BLOWN TO BITS??? IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE WAITING FOR? WHAT MAKES ISRAEL SO SPECIAL??

It is no coincidence that Israel can’t do anything right and that it houses 7 million Jewish refugees. It’s the oldest excuse in the book. “It’s just the zionists!” Israeli children are children, too. They have no better of a concept of Zionism than you, and yours is scarce. Zionism IS LITERALLY ABOUT JEWS.

Just say you won’t be happy until half the world’s Jews are dead. It’s a lot better to be an antisemite when you’re comfortable with your identity.

[statisticalcats2]

I feel like a lot of people, even if they don't realize it, just truly do think that Jews are supposed to be a minority with little power wherever they are and it's bad and suspicious when they're not.

Criticize all the Muslim majority countries there that have it enshrined in law that the government needs to be majority Muslim and only Muslims can hold the highest positions and then maybe I'll trust you're sincere in your concerns about Israel "fixing the game to always keep Jews in power".

[taibhsearachd]

[hilacopter]

people who see celebrities displaying basic humanity and empathy towards israelis and leave comments like "this is heartbreaking" "i'm so disappointed in you" "i looked up to you" i despise you with my very being 🫶