. . . at work, in the copy room. Most of you know I teach math at a high school. Which means there are lots of other types of teachers in the school. Like History and Government teachers. And they like to keep their students informed of current events, especially if it touches on something they have taught, are teaching, or will teach. Occasionally, they leave articles they have copied for their students behind in the copy room, either by accident or on purpose because they think others will be interested.
Here’s the one I found today: EU urged to fight anti-Semitism
So, here’s my thought . . .
The Jewish community is completely up in arms about the waves of Anti-Semitism sweeping through Europe. The Arab miniorites were singled out several times in the article.
So – here’s my thought for the day.
What about the anti – wait, there’s not even a word for it, that I am aware of. Anti-Arab sentiments, I suppose, then. What about that? Since 9/11, it has been spreading like a plague. I can understand people are frightened, but there is no reason to blame an entire population for the actions of the fundamentalists. Yet, it is happening. And the very fact that no one seems to really be talking about it scares me. I really do not want *any*one persecuted like the Jewish people were during World War II. Yet, as loud as the Jewish communities are about the waves of Anti-Semitism – and don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there should be Anti-Semitism – what about the waves of the other? The Anti-Arab sentiments, for a lack of an actual word. What about the Arabs who were just living their life when all this happened and are now looked at as criminals – when they aren’t? Where’s the conference on that?
Am I misinformed? Are these things being dealt with? Am I ignorant of things going on?
I truly hope so. Because it’s an issue. And I am hoping it’s not an issue we’ll look back on and go – “Oh, damn. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen – again.” When, in fact, we could have taken a nod from the Holocaust and made sure it didn’t happen again – to a different group of people.
Go on – give me your thoughts. Flame me up. Go on. I can take it. Ask Luka.
People need someone to blame for their troubles…especially Americans. Look at the trend: First the Native Americans were blamed for hogging all the land (they were rounded up and put on reservations), then the Africans were imported so that they could be accused of theft and rape (they were beaten, imprisoned, and spat on), next came the Mexicans to “steal our jobs” and “destroy the economy” (so we deport them and shoot people trying to cross the border)…now that all of that has gotten old, it’s time for the bigots of America to unite against a new race. One that every other race can feel comfortable hating!!! So that’s why the Arabs, Persians, and other middle eastern races are the new enemy of the media. See? It’s simple!!!
Yep. What he said.
….and don’t forget how we all hated the Japanese, ALL japanese, during and after WW2 because they bombed Pearl Harbor.
Actually, I think that what you consider to be “anti-Arab”, most people consider to be anti-people who hate us.
A good example was recently posted to Little Green Footballs.
Here’s the link.
Another example is at Cox and Forkum.
In the devout Muslim mind, the separation is between Muslim and infidel. If you are not with them, you are against them.
We, at least, still have alliances with France and Germany.