TO A COUNTY PAPER IN IDAHO . . .
Dear Editor:
More than about a people, or any race of people, this letter is about an intentionally-created and long-standing narrative, one called “antisemitism,” heard and known the world over. And I invite all reasoned readers to consider this:
Why antisemitism only, and exactly who are these perpetual, “professional” complainers? Why don’t other ethnicities complain like this? Isn’t it rather strange, when you really think about it? I mean, why don’t Frenchmen complain about anti-/Frenchism, the Italians about anti-Italianism, or those down under about anti-Australianism, and on and on around the planet? How about anti-Catholicism, Buddhism, Methodism, or Mormonry?
Can we name any other nationality, race, religion, or group that pushes such a narrative? If not, then why does only the group called “Jews” characteristically do that? If you say it’s due to their long history of persecution, I’d want to question that, as well. Put cynically, I might ask them: Just why is it you forever insist that the world is out to get you?
And I’d also ask of you, the reader: Where were you when you first learned about – – and told you must instinctively condemn – – antisemitism? Was it in school? University? At church? In reading books or newspapers? At the movies, or while sitting in front of the TV? Isn’t it time we all dare to ask why this persistent and ubiquitous, global obsession?
(Seems we could even call it a fetish, in one sense of that term.)
So, to whom, and to where it applies, I’d ask of anyone at all: If it’s actually and historically true that “nobody likes you,” might there possibly be a reason or two?
Again, maybe it’s time that boldly-daring questions like these be placed in order!
Carol J. Asher