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"ANTI-SEMITIC" -- A HATE-SPEECH TERM?

As with any language, the meaning of some English words change over time. My observations, during the past 30 years, indicate that the term ANTI-SEMITIC has evolved from a simple misnomer for "anti-Jewish" to now include hate speech directed at non-Jewish Semites. Accordingly, ANTI-SEMITIC has become inappropriate speech. Three observations support this contention.

Firstly, ANTI-SEMITIC has become an umbrella adjective with multiple meanings, including:

(A) A person with strongly bigoted feelings toward all people of the Jewish faith may be called an ANTI-SEMITIC person.

Some Ku Klux Klan members would meet this criterium.

(B) A person who is critical of the action or agendum of a predominantly Jewish group may be called ANTI-SEMITIC.

For example, in late 1994 or early 1995, U.S. Representative Newt Gingrich, then Speaker of the House, fired Professor Christina Jeffery as House historian. This happened after the Jewish Anti-Defamation League had publicly labeled Jeffery as ANTI-SEMITIC. She was called ANTI-SEMITIC because several years before, she wanted her students to hear the Nazi viewpoint along with a "holocaust curriculum" that was being pushed by the Anti-Defamation League.

(C) A person who is opposed to the large U.S. financial support for the Government of Israel, or one who opposes a pro-Zionist agenda in U.S. foreign policy may be called ANTI-SEMITIC. [Zionism is: (1) a plan or movement of the Jewish people to return from the Diaspora to the State of Israel, and (2) support of the development of a Jewish State of Israel.]

In his article, "Zionism and Anti-Semitism: a Strange Alliance Through History", Allan Brownfeld discusses the improper use of the term ANTI-SEMITIC. [Allan Brownfeld, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs [X] July/August 1998, Pages 48-50] Brownfeld, notes that fair-minded people, without any religious bias, are reluctant to speak out against an excessive pro-Israel U.S. foreign policy for fear of being labeled ANTI-SEMITIC.

anti-Semitism - "1: hostility toward Jews as a religious or racial minority group often accompanied by social, economic, and political discrimination... 2: opposition to Zionism : sympathy with opponents of the state of Israel." [Webster's Third New International Dictionary, 2002, Page 96]

Secondly, the word "Semites" means people who speak a Semitic language, including Arabic, Aramaic, Assyrian, and Hebrew. Accordingly, use of the term ANTI-SEMITIC in place of "anti-Jewish" is insulting to Middle-East Christians and Muslims. These people of Christian and Muslim faith feel that they are just as Semitic as people of the Jewish faith.

Today, the psychological impact of calling a non-Jewish Semite ANTI-SEMITIC is much like the word "nigger" was to Afro-Americans over 50 years ago. Back then, all black folks were somewhat annoyed by the use of the word nigger, but to some was it was very offensive. As time passed, the "some" grew to "most". My fairly-new desk dictionary defines "nigger" as "vulgar" not as just sometimes derogatory. When I listen to the context in which some people use the word ANTI-SEMITIC, I can understand why an Arab could find it offensive.

Thirdly, the person who is questioning or labeling others with the word ANTI-SEMITIC may be indicating his/her own religious bigotry. Asking if someone or some group has strong religious biases or prejudices, is a reasonable inquiry. But, to start out cold with an interest in only the person's bias toward Jews, Jewish political action groups, or Zionism is in itself religious bigotry. In recent years, I can't remember hearing one talking head on TV, who is concerned about someone's possible religious bias, start out with questions like, "Is he anti-Muslim?" or, "Is he anti-Mormon?" Typically the questioner says, "Is he anti-semitic?"

In conclusion: The time has come for Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Others to begin to reduce misunderstanding by using more precise terms such as "anti-Zionist", "anti-XXX" (group name), and "anti-Jewish" instead of "anti-Semitic". I leave the reader with two questions: (1) Is there anything wrong with the term "anti-Jewish"? (2) Would be any loss by discarding the term ANTI-SEMITIC from the modern English language?

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This page last updated: September 2, 2006