Excellent article. I cannot fathom what it is about some people that makes them hostile to people of the Jewish faith. I know it’s a problem with a long history, I just don’t understand how it persists across generations.
Excellent article. I cannot fathom what it is about some people that makes them hostile to people of the Jewish faith. I know it’s a problem with a long history, I just don’t understand how it persists across generations.
I don’t disagree with what you say, but that cohort which begrudges others their success have a wide field to resent. To focus so intently on Jews is irrational, albeit historical. We have in our lifetimes the horrific “never again” example of the Nazi persecution of Jews, yet here we are, with that same persecution rearing its abominable head. Do we learn nothing from history as human beings?
No, most people don't learn from history. Because they didn't experience it themselves. And schools tend to teach them horribly. I hated history through all of school because it was just name and date memorization. It wasn't until years later when I watched videos by people who cared about the subject matter that taught about why these things mattered and gave context on how and why they happened that I realized how important history is.
When some people hear about the atrocities of the past they simply assume that modern compassionate people would never do such things...and then we do them again.
As for the wide field of resentment, yes they do. But Jewish folks stand out. They are overly represented in fields that give them public notice (entertainment in particular) and culturally they seem to remind people more often of their 'otherness'. By that I mean that a Jewish person is far more likely to tell you that they are Jewish than, say, a person of Irish or German or English decent. And then they have sects like the Orthodox that also wear different clothes, and have different words for things. Add Israel to the mix. I also think the fact that 'Jewish' can both reference ethnicity AND religion, so you are stacking 2 potential biases.
Also, Asians, lets say, are reaching that point. They are less and less seen as 'minorities' because of their success. Top universities are discriminating against them (just like we did in the past with Jews). When Hollywood talks about PoC, they are including Asians less and less. And I promise there are communities that treat Asians poorly. My memory tells me that during some riots, Asian businesses were some of the first hit because of the neighborhoods' envy.
This is all speculation. And I certainly don't think it is ok. But populations have a habit of doing this, across history. Humans don't like when other humans stand out too much, good or bad.
Re teaching history I am beginning to think that it cannot be a one and done thing. Do an early, age appropriate introduction. Then reinforce it with expanded information as the student matures. I always loved history but I know many who hated it. I liked to read though and could visualize my reading.
And I agree about wearing your heritage on your sleeve and then lamenting g that people notice your history.
I think the issue is that in many schools, history is a throw away subject. In HS my main history teachers were the basketball coach and a woman that just made us take notes off the overhead every day and then take a test.
Teaching history well means more than knowing facts. Just testing is easier if you just have kids memorize names and dates. Sadly, this goes for a lot of school. If you don't have a learned teacher who cares about the subject, history, literature, art, etc can be very shallow and dull. So many of the subjects I disliked in school, I love now because I have access to videos and essays from people who love the topics.
What is sad is most of the few historical dates I know didn't come from school. The whole reason I remember 1776 isn't because of school. It is because of the Muppet Babies cartoon :)
In an ideal world, we could all be as different as we want with no negative impact. But humans are NOT ideal. We evolved in a very different environment than we now live, and things like this are our natures butting up against our compassion and reason. We can overcome it, sure. But some people won't. And right now, some of those people are considered part of a protected class, so they get away with it.
Don't dismiss the hate directed to anyone with epicanthic folds! Asian directed hate crimes are just as pernicious as Jewish directed ones. And guess which minority group perpetrates these crimes out of proportion to their demographics!
Excellent article. I cannot fathom what it is about some people that makes them hostile to people of the Jewish faith. I know it’s a problem with a long history, I just don’t understand how it persists across generations.
Success breeds resentment. Add to that a group of people who regularly remind people they are different, and this kind of thing happens, sadly.
I don’t disagree with what you say, but that cohort which begrudges others their success have a wide field to resent. To focus so intently on Jews is irrational, albeit historical. We have in our lifetimes the horrific “never again” example of the Nazi persecution of Jews, yet here we are, with that same persecution rearing its abominable head. Do we learn nothing from history as human beings?
No, most people don't learn from history. Because they didn't experience it themselves. And schools tend to teach them horribly. I hated history through all of school because it was just name and date memorization. It wasn't until years later when I watched videos by people who cared about the subject matter that taught about why these things mattered and gave context on how and why they happened that I realized how important history is.
When some people hear about the atrocities of the past they simply assume that modern compassionate people would never do such things...and then we do them again.
As for the wide field of resentment, yes they do. But Jewish folks stand out. They are overly represented in fields that give them public notice (entertainment in particular) and culturally they seem to remind people more often of their 'otherness'. By that I mean that a Jewish person is far more likely to tell you that they are Jewish than, say, a person of Irish or German or English decent. And then they have sects like the Orthodox that also wear different clothes, and have different words for things. Add Israel to the mix. I also think the fact that 'Jewish' can both reference ethnicity AND religion, so you are stacking 2 potential biases.
Also, Asians, lets say, are reaching that point. They are less and less seen as 'minorities' because of their success. Top universities are discriminating against them (just like we did in the past with Jews). When Hollywood talks about PoC, they are including Asians less and less. And I promise there are communities that treat Asians poorly. My memory tells me that during some riots, Asian businesses were some of the first hit because of the neighborhoods' envy.
This is all speculation. And I certainly don't think it is ok. But populations have a habit of doing this, across history. Humans don't like when other humans stand out too much, good or bad.
Re teaching history I am beginning to think that it cannot be a one and done thing. Do an early, age appropriate introduction. Then reinforce it with expanded information as the student matures. I always loved history but I know many who hated it. I liked to read though and could visualize my reading.
And I agree about wearing your heritage on your sleeve and then lamenting g that people notice your history.
I think the issue is that in many schools, history is a throw away subject. In HS my main history teachers were the basketball coach and a woman that just made us take notes off the overhead every day and then take a test.
Teaching history well means more than knowing facts. Just testing is easier if you just have kids memorize names and dates. Sadly, this goes for a lot of school. If you don't have a learned teacher who cares about the subject, history, literature, art, etc can be very shallow and dull. So many of the subjects I disliked in school, I love now because I have access to videos and essays from people who love the topics.
What is sad is most of the few historical dates I know didn't come from school. The whole reason I remember 1776 isn't because of school. It is because of the Muppet Babies cartoon :)
In an ideal world, we could all be as different as we want with no negative impact. But humans are NOT ideal. We evolved in a very different environment than we now live, and things like this are our natures butting up against our compassion and reason. We can overcome it, sure. But some people won't. And right now, some of those people are considered part of a protected class, so they get away with it.
Very true. Oh how I wish I knew how our time will be perceived historically.
Don't dismiss the hate directed to anyone with epicanthic folds! Asian directed hate crimes are just as pernicious as Jewish directed ones. And guess which minority group perpetrates these crimes out of proportion to their demographics!
Excellent observation.