Quote:
Originally Posted by james t kirk
However, Palestinians, Jordanians, Syrians, and a host of others are also "Semites"
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I know this already. I specify between the word
Semite and
antisemitism.
Quote:
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In the west, the term has been incorrectly assigned to Jews only.
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It originated as term to describe the hostility against the Semitic races, usually in favour of the Aryan races, but due to circumstances leading up to the rise and fall of Nazi Germany, it came to be known as something you do against Jews specifically. (The Jews have had a long history of being singled out across cultures, but this came to its apex during WWII. If you haven't, you should read some of the assumptive portrayals of Jews found in the works of Chaucer that today would be considered offensive.)
The distinct use of
anitsemitic is not so much a result based in an error of ethnic identification or etymology as it is a result based on a widespread failure of humanity.
This is why Ann Coulter can say hateful things about Palestinians, Joranians, and Syrians, etc., and not be considered antisemitic. Much of what she writes and says that people take issue with falls under the purview of Islamophobia.