I don't understand the people commenting that we should not call this out because someone said something on Twitter. This is a scholar at the Claremont Institute and it's a straightforward case of antisemitism. This kind of thing needs to be nipped in the bud.
I don't understand the people commenting that we should not call this out because someone said something on Twitter. This is a scholar at the Claremont Institute and it's a straightforward case of antisemitism. This kind of thing needs to be nipped in the bud.
I looked him up and you are correct he is not a scholar, but merely a fellow. In the context of my point, it's a distinction without a difference. My point had been he wasn't a nobody - and he isn't. He's a fellow at a major think tank and an editor at a conservative magazine.
In what way was it anti-Semitic? Seriously. I missed that part. Insulting appearances instead of arguing ideas: Bad Definitely call him out for that. But anti-Semite? DidnтАЩt see it.
What is the innocent explanation for his comments, тАЬThat Rothschild physiognomy is pure nightmare fuel" and тАЬOh look another cursed goblin physiognomyтАЭ?
I'd be interested in knowing if he's made other more direct anti-Semitic statements. Ilhan Omar does it blatantly and gets a pass (which is totally absurd), but this guy, while dumb and immature, makes a statement about someone's looks and it's automatically believed to be anti-Semitic. The article would have been a lot more convincing if he'd shown clear and obvious hatred. It's all stupid and childish but let's be careful with what defines anti-Semitism or racial hatred.
I guess he could claim he was focused on looks and not ethnicity but why in the world would someone share photos and caption it with terminology such as: тАЬThat Rothschild physiognomy is pure nightmare fuel" and тАЬOh look another cursed goblin physiognomyтАЭ? There are so many other instances of people not saying or doing anything wrong who have been accused of hate that I'm not really interested in twisting myself into knots figuring out how this guy might not be engaging in antisemitism.
I think the quick reaction to "cancel" or "assign" is incredibly problematic today. When, and I assume when if he is a bigot, he does it again, we can absolutely slap him with bigotry. If he does this to anyone or every type of person, he's a small minded idiot who doesn't deserve a column written about him. Why can't we slow our roll; the opposite has gotten us into far too much muck as it is.
"straight-forward" - not really. Was it crude and insulting - yes. He basically said he did not like the way the other guy looks. Was it antisemitism - possibly. But it could just be that he was trying way too hard to be clever. It is ambiguous. I would not jump to conclusions here. Calling people racist or antisemitic should not be done lightly or in a case where they is real ambiguity.
No one in the comments below is arguing AGAINST calling out antisemitism. Not sure how you came to that conclusion. Re-read the comments section.
Just to be clear - we are all against antisemitism and against racism. But this piece seems more like politically-motivated "whataboutism." Specifically trying soooo very hard to find a voice on the right o accuse of antisemitism. Clearly an agenda. The piece starts out saying there is a lot of antisemitism on the left -- so lets find some on the right to call out. Wow. Real balance there. The Progressives call for policies that would destroy Israel but Murray wants to call out a guy who may - may - have said he does not like the looks of a guy (maybe because he is Jewish - maybe not). Well, mission accomplished - if that mission was to show how desperate the left is to find someone on the right to balance out (or excuse) their antisemitism. And if the idea was to somehow excuse or mitigate the antisemitism of the left - that is a truly egregious form of antisemitism.
What is the innocent explanation for his comments, тАЬThat Rothschild physiognomy is pure nightmare fuel" and тАЬOh look another cursed goblin physiognomyтАЭ? Look, I'm center right and am pretty conservative. I know very well how antisemitic some on the Left can be.
But a few of the comments did not state they thought this was not worth a column because they didn't believe it was antisemitic. They simply objected to focusing on "something someone said on Twitter," leaving the question of whether they viewed it as antisemitic almost as irrelevant. I pointed out why it was relevant.
Antisemitism is rampant in extreme right wing circles. This column is a warning we should not let it slowly work its way into the conservative think tanks and other influential organizations.
I don't understand the people commenting that we should not call this out because someone said something on Twitter. This is a scholar at the Claremont Institute and it's a straightforward case of antisemitism. This kind of thing needs to be nipped in the bud.
It is clearly anti-semitism, but he is *not* a scholar at the Claremont Institute.
I looked him up and you are correct he is not a scholar, but merely a fellow. In the context of my point, it's a distinction without a difference. My point had been he wasn't a nobody - and he isn't. He's a fellow at a major think tank and an editor at a conservative magazine.
Sorry, but I disagree. He seems like a nobody to me.
In what way was it anti-Semitic? Seriously. I missed that part. Insulting appearances instead of arguing ideas: Bad Definitely call him out for that. But anti-Semite? DidnтАЩt see it.
What is the innocent explanation for his comments, тАЬThat Rothschild physiognomy is pure nightmare fuel" and тАЬOh look another cursed goblin physiognomyтАЭ?
I'd be interested in knowing if he's made other more direct anti-Semitic statements. Ilhan Omar does it blatantly and gets a pass (which is totally absurd), but this guy, while dumb and immature, makes a statement about someone's looks and it's automatically believed to be anti-Semitic. The article would have been a lot more convincing if he'd shown clear and obvious hatred. It's all stupid and childish but let's be careful with what defines anti-Semitism or racial hatred.
I guess he could claim he was focused on looks and not ethnicity but why in the world would someone share photos and caption it with terminology such as: тАЬThat Rothschild physiognomy is pure nightmare fuel" and тАЬOh look another cursed goblin physiognomyтАЭ? There are so many other instances of people not saying or doing anything wrong who have been accused of hate that I'm not really interested in twisting myself into knots figuring out how this guy might not be engaging in antisemitism.
I think the quick reaction to "cancel" or "assign" is incredibly problematic today. When, and I assume when if he is a bigot, he does it again, we can absolutely slap him with bigotry. If he does this to anyone or every type of person, he's a small minded idiot who doesn't deserve a column written about him. Why can't we slow our roll; the opposite has gotten us into far too much muck as it is.
"straight-forward" - not really. Was it crude and insulting - yes. He basically said he did not like the way the other guy looks. Was it antisemitism - possibly. But it could just be that he was trying way too hard to be clever. It is ambiguous. I would not jump to conclusions here. Calling people racist or antisemitic should not be done lightly or in a case where they is real ambiguity.
No one in the comments below is arguing AGAINST calling out antisemitism. Not sure how you came to that conclusion. Re-read the comments section.
Just to be clear - we are all against antisemitism and against racism. But this piece seems more like politically-motivated "whataboutism." Specifically trying soooo very hard to find a voice on the right o accuse of antisemitism. Clearly an agenda. The piece starts out saying there is a lot of antisemitism on the left -- so lets find some on the right to call out. Wow. Real balance there. The Progressives call for policies that would destroy Israel but Murray wants to call out a guy who may - may - have said he does not like the looks of a guy (maybe because he is Jewish - maybe not). Well, mission accomplished - if that mission was to show how desperate the left is to find someone on the right to balance out (or excuse) their antisemitism. And if the idea was to somehow excuse or mitigate the antisemitism of the left - that is a truly egregious form of antisemitism.
Think.
What is the innocent explanation for his comments, тАЬThat Rothschild physiognomy is pure nightmare fuel" and тАЬOh look another cursed goblin physiognomyтАЭ? Look, I'm center right and am pretty conservative. I know very well how antisemitic some on the Left can be.
But a few of the comments did not state they thought this was not worth a column because they didn't believe it was antisemitic. They simply objected to focusing on "something someone said on Twitter," leaving the question of whether they viewed it as antisemitic almost as irrelevant. I pointed out why it was relevant.
Antisemitism is rampant in extreme right wing circles. This column is a warning we should not let it slowly work its way into the conservative think tanks and other influential organizations.
I agree.
Can you imagine if this disease infected The Hover Institute ?
That would be terrible for conservatives.
Always call anti Semitism out, whether from the left, the right or political Islam.