Modern anti-Semitism

Jews are often accused of being over sensitive to their own plight and insensitive to the suffering of others. This rhetoric follows a standardized formula and typically involves criticism of Jews for persistently referencing the Holocaust, asserting millennia of persecution or simply over glorifying insignificant acts of vandalism as anti-Semitism. Some cynics even contend that Jews deliberately play the anti-Semitism card to avoid legitimate criticism of Israel. Seems plausible? Perhaps. But how grounded are these accusations?

Firstly, the nature of modern European anti-Semitism provided the framework for the annihilation of more than half of the continent's Jewish population. While contemporary Germans may find it inconvenient to exist within the shadow of their nation's past, the horrors of the Holocaust are engrained within the psyches of many survivors. Moreover, the sheer magnitude of the genocide motivates contemporary Jews to assert their rights. The complaint of persistent Jewish referencing of the Holocaust is about as valid as insisting that African Americans cease dwelling on the injustices of slavery.

The charge of a Jewish persecution mentality is absolutely absurd. While millennia of persecution are undeniable, Jews have always been excellent enablers. As per Mark Twain's analysis, " Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvellous fight in the world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him." An obsession with always playing the victim necessarily precludes this level of achievement.

The final accusation against the Jews as intentionally subverting anti-Semitic sentiment to achieve political objectives is the most heinous. There seems to be a conspiracy, probably attributable to the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, that Jews frequently assemble and discuss plans for global domination. Despite the obvious logistical flaws and the lack of Jewish consensus on what global domination would actually entail, Jewish history unequivocally proves that Jews have very limited influence over their neighbours’ actions. Sadly, this perverse logic runs deeply through the Western pulse. I draw the reader's attention to an article fragment from the Jpost that describes the efforts of the American Jewish community to publicise the silent Dafur genocide:
The fact that the aggressors in Darfur are Arab Muslims - though it should be said that the victims are also mostly Muslim - and are supported by a regime in Khartoum that is backed by the Arab League has made some people question the true motives of some of the Jewish organizations involved in the rally.
The journalist observes that African American and Arab organisations have been dissuaded from endorsing the March of Solidarity because of suspect Jewish political motivations. In this instance, contemporary anti-Semites would prefer an entire race of ethnic Muslim Sudanese to be slaughtered than to accept the possibility that Jews are genuinely sensitive to genocide. Naturally, had the Jews remained silent on this issue then they would have undoubtedly been condemned for inaction.

When you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t, it costs nothing to be righteous.