Anti-Semitism in the UK?

[el Chi]

I saw this article: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1103/phillips_2003_11_10.php3
It's about how Michael Howard's rise to top of the Tories doesn't signify that Britain isn't an anti-semitic country. In fact, we are - according to this, it would seem - quite a Jew-hating Israel-loathing nation.

This was clearly because [Howard] was viewed as an unctuous, oily, slippery, devious, too-clever-by-half lawyer — all epithets associated in the public mind with Jews.

Not really. I mean he IS all of those traits, but that's not because he's Jewish.
Sorry, this article just really pissed me off. I think, for the most part we are not an anti-Jewish country and for this acidic journalist to brand us as such is offensive.
In fact, in the article she directly quotes Howard as saying:

"Being Jewish is no bar to playing a very important part in public life in this country."

Then she goes on to say:

True, but at a price. A Jewish politician who is determined to become Prime Minister would be brave indeed if he put his head above this particular parapet. Whether such a situation constitutes a 'new maturity' to be celebrated about Britain is quite another matter.

To me that almost sounds like she's taking his point on board but then denying it.
"Yeah, that's interesting, sure. But no. They're all racists."
I wonder if she'd consider that some of the most rabid Tory voters are in the "I'm not racist, but..." category, and I imagine they wouldn't have too much problem voting for the man of the night. She writes for the Daily Mail - hardly the most open-minded of papers. Not racist, but... Well, I don't think it's anti-semitic.
Rant ends.

 

[baxter]

much of the Jewish community in Britain feels besieged by an upsurge of anti-Jewish hatred

And this surely lies at the very heart of the terrible bitterness over British attitudes towards both Israel and the Jews. For the British think there's nothing wrong with the Jews as long as they agree with the generally accepted view that Israel is the cause of world terror because it is an apartheid or even a Nazi state

In other words, the newly 'mature' British like Jews as long as they dump upon Israel, and deny the now rampant public prejudice against them. The British like Jews as long as they turn the other cheek when people commit mass murder against them. They are the good Jews: the Jews who die, just like Michael Howard's picturesque relatives. The bad Jews are the Jews who fight back

I'm sorry did I wake up in a different country today? This certainly isn't the UK I live in.

 

[Razor]

I have never seen any sort of Anti-Jewish policies or hatred in England for all my life, the only time i have ever come across religious hate is when i lived in Scotland, but up there, it was seen as a norm with the problems between Protestants and Catholics.

 

[Feath]

I have never seen any sort of Anti-Semantic policies or hatred in England for all my life, the only time i have ever come across religious hate is when i lived in Scotland, but up there, it was seen as a norm with the problems between Protestants and Catholics.

I.e. Rangers and Celtic Supporters.

But anyway, I've hardly seen any anti Semetic attitudes in the UK. I'm not saying that it's not there, but it's not that widespread.

 

[clarky003]

I'm sorry did I wake up in a different country today? This certainly isn't the UK I live in.

out of sight, out of mind..

 

[KoreBolteR]

i have never seen any anti-semitism in wales, what the hell... :S

 

[jondy]

But anyway, I've hardly seen any anti Semetic attitudes in the UK. I'm not saying that it's not there, but it's not that widespread.

Absolutely

 

[Lobotomy Lobster]

This was clearly because [Howard] was viewed as an unctuous, oily, slippery, devious, too-clever-by-half lawyer — all epithets associated in the public mind with Jews.

I put this more down to Howard's personality than the fact that he is of Jewish decent. The only time I've ever seen Jews portrayed as slippery is in the old Nazi education books. I also agree with everyone else that I have hardly ever seen anti-semitism in the UK. I have seen it on occasions, but generally they were racists through and through anyway

In my mind, the real problem that is emerging in Britain is Islamophobia and racism aimed at people of Middle Eastern or Asian decent. Every time people talk about Islamic people, they portray it as "us and them" rather than accepting that they are part of British society like everyone else, and the amount of times I have to explain the difference between radical right wing 'Islam' and mainstream Islam is both worrying and upsetting

 

[Feath]

I think she's a sodding stupid woman for saying that anyone anti Israel is being anti Jewish. That's just playing the race card (excuse the Cliché). And it's stupid.

 

[Lobotomy Lobster]

I think she's a sodding stupid woman for saying that anyone anti Israel is being anti Jewish. That's just playing the race card (excuse the Cliché). And it's stupid.

It always angers me when people start playing the race card against those who disagree with Israel. Apart from anything, what about the Jewish Palestinians?

 

[Kangy]

Yes, the anti-semitism in this country is so bad!

*eyeroll*

Look, before this article, I didn't know Howard was Jewish. Now I do, I don't actually care. I thought he was all of those traits before I knew he was Jewish, and I'll still think he's all of those traits now I know he's Jewish.

I'm looking forward to this woman saying something about him being Jewish when he loses. That'll be a real hilarious thing.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Anti-Smitism really isn't an issue round here.

Maybe the person who wrote the article lives somewhere where there are Jews(Giving them a different outlook). Everywhere you get different people groups, you get tension, but that doesn't mean there is necessarily Anti-Semitism or any sort of ism....

 

[kirovman]

If they're talking about how charvs treat them, they must remember that charvs are anti-everyone else.

 

[Feath]

If they're talking about how charvs treat them, they must remember that charvs are anti-everyone else.

Is that a really posh way of saying "Chavs"?

 

[kirovman]

Dunno, always known them as charvers where I'm from, since I heard of them 10 years ago.

Chav is a newer word I think, derived from it.

http://www.newcastlestuff.com/charver/dictionary.html

I've also got an old geordie slang dictionary, describing "Charver" as a "young lad". It has since evolved to become more derogatory.

 

[KoreBolteR]

Charver > Charv > Chav.....

what next ?

 

[kirovman]

Chv


....

 

[ComradeBadger]

Charver > Charv > Chav > ****biscuit



Yeah - never know Howard was Jewish..

I'd say the bigger stigma was the John Major/Thatcher association

 

[Razor]

Charver > Charv > Chav > ****biscuit



Yeah - never know Howard was Jewish..

I'd say the bigger stigma was the John Major/Thatcher association

Or the John Major/Edwina Curry association, now that is the worst of British politics.

 

[mortiz]

hoho, Michael Howard is from Transylvania! Now the vampire jokes make that much more sense.

 

[oldagerocker]

Britain is no way Anti-Semetic. These people are talking bollocks... it seems all the minorities want to feel victimised by the white/middle class majority, and due to political correctness, it works...they get their way.