I have been visiting a lot of websites and reading a lot of material lately that deals with Hate Crime statistics. And I have discovered that, for all the talk that goes on about the persecution of Christians and Muslims in this country and throughout the world, the Jewish people are still persecuted more than any other religious or ethnic group.
At the World Net Daily site (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52568) there is an article which states that out of the 1,314 hates crimes committed in 2006, 68.5 of them were committed against Jews. A blog website called Mystical Politics (http://mystical-politics.blogspot.com/2007/11/2006-hate-crime-statistics.html) gives a much better run down of Jewish hates crimes for 2006.
All that I have read seems to indicate that hate crimes against Jews and anti-Semitic violence against them is definitely on the rise and increasing more and more every year.
While hate crimes against people of Hispanic origins has also increased dramatically in the United States, violent and racist acts against Jewish people has more than doubled in the past two years.
It may be hard to believe, but according to statistics, violence against Muslims and homosexuals has actually decreased by 14 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
In the United States alone, over 13,000 Jewish cemeteries or grave sites were desecrated or vandalized in 2007. According to the various reports that I read, while only about two dozens Muslim mosques were vandalized or damaged last year, over 300 Jewish synagogues or churches were vandalized or damaged in 2007.
While I am totally and 100 percent against hate crime of any kind, I can still see a kind of warped and twisted logic to why people in the United States would persecute Muslims, or Gays, or Hispanics. Violence of this kind is sick and inexcusable, but one can still see and understand the evil motives behind it. To some people, Muslims, Gays and Hispanics all represent a threat of some kind. It is a completely racist and totally erroneous perception on their part, but it is a perception that exists and persists, nonetheless.
But why would the persecution and violence against Jews be increasing?? Especially in the United States?? What is it about the Jewish people thar bothers some people in this country so much?? How can the Jews living in the United States be perceived as a threat of any kind?? What are the deep-seated psychological and emotional motives behind spray painting swastikas on Jewish gravestones?? Attacking a person because of religious or ethnical reasons is one thing, but to attack and desecrate graveyards would seem to indicate something profoundly more sinister.
I am interested and curious to read and learn about the opinions and viewpoints that all of you may have regarding this subject. What is up with all this Jewish persecution?? What is it about a Jewish individual or the Jewish religion in general that incites such intense and illogical hatred and anger in sone people?? Of all the religious and ethnical groups in this country and in the world, why are the Jewish people persecuted more than anyone else??
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Comments: 79
.....I believe I may have mentioned that somewhere in my article.........
There are Americans, Russians, Europeans, Asians and Ethiopians who are Jewish !!! It is impossible to define Choseness as anything related to race, since Jews are racially diverse, and are located in various places throughout the world. Is being Jewish a race or a religion?
It is not so much that God Chose the Jews as His Chosen People; it is more accurate that the Jews, through Abraham Chose God. To be "Chosen" meant to serve the role as God's messengers and spread the word of his message of love. Only Abraham and the Jews of all the people of that time Chose to take the mantel. They were Chosen for that reason ~~~ not to receive special (or Chosen) recognition.
It is reasonable that an employee who agrees to work overtime, attend training seminars, and manage special projects, should be viewed as special, or Chosen. Particularly if each employee was given the same opportunity. Being Chosen means taking the responsibility, and getting out and doing the work that goes with it.
Jews have been persecuted for the longest period of time, but the group of people who rate as the most persecuted are the Native Americans. Many still don't have enough food, live in huts on the plains through severe winters & whose plight is seldom talked about or acknowledged.
Correctly, the Jewish community has taken a "never again" stance. Enforcing this requires reporting. It's too bad it took the Holocast to encourage that.
We should not, however, forget that other groups are being targeted on a day-by-day and moment-by-moment basis. No matter the target, hate is wrong.
I'm a Muslim and I don't hate Jews at all but love them, love to listen from them, love the Torah as I believe in it and of course love Prophet Moses "peace be upon him" as Prophet Muhammad "peace be upon him" loves him a lot.
I won't harm them ever and never except if some of them fight me, I'll just defend myself and this also won't change anything in our relationships together. At least from my side.
I woulda guessed Hispanics or blacks . . . weird spike there.
I find it ironic that the Jews have claimed themselves to be God's "Chosen People" and yet so much crap is dumped on them. Makes me kind of glad "He" didn't "chose" my people. :O/
I don't know how much of it today is purely based on religion alone, and how much is based on the creation of the state of Israel, which kicked a lot of Palestinians out of their country. Of course it was the jewish homeland originally, sothey have a claim to it, but when your family has been living somewhere for generations, they also have a claim to the land. I just wish they could live peacefully together.
Let's not forget that the God of the Jews is also the Christian God, and Muslim God, except that Muslims seem to worship a prophet more than a God (or is it just my understanding?).
I don't know why there has to be so much hatred between different sects of the same faith, why Catholics and Protestants have squablles, or even Methodists and Baptists... but at least they don't go around bombing each others churches and temples like in Iraq. There is something really scary about radical Muslims - and that's the inhumanity, that doesn't manifest itself in any other religion, and it's a man made manifestation, which just makes it worse.
I just wish people could get along better, regardless of color, religion, nationality etc. We are all the same after all...
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump. I ran over and said: "Stop. Don't do it."
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked.
"Well, there's so much to live for!"
"Like what?"
"Are you religious?"
He said, "Yes."
I said, "Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?"
"Christian."
"Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?"
"Protestant."
"Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"
"Baptist."
"Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"
"Baptist Church of God."
"Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"
"Reformed Baptist Church of God."
"Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?"
He said: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915."
I said: "Die, heretic scum," and pushed him off.
(this came from http://www.squidoo.com/religiousjokes)
Why are people prejudice against Jews? I don't understand being prejudiced period. I was brought up that prejudice was an evil thing and one must aspire to accept people based on their own personalities as individuals and not because of there race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, colour etc. So this concept is really foreign to me. I have lived in a rural community for about 4 years. I have been for most of my life a "city girl". Hubby (who is a non-denominational Christian) was concerned when we moved here because I always wear a Mezuzah & Mogen David (Shield of David or known by the misnomer Star of David), he was afraid people might harm me because of my religious beliefs. So far we have had no problems, but I do know there are quite a few people in this area that do hate people because they are "other". I have to say I am always amused when I hear people talk about the "communist-capitalist conspiracy" of the Jews. Do people even think about and listen to what they say? To all you haters out there, we have been thrown out of some of the best countries in the world and lived through it, we have dealt with alot, we are not going away. Thanks for the article BERF!
(that means I haven't a clue why people are stupid, sad, and bigoted)
1. False perceptions.
2. Man's inhumanity to man.
3. Ignorance.
4. Hatred followers.
5. Maybe because they're God's chosen people.
6. Jealously.
7. Fear.
8. In the news
9. Historically determined and successful.
10. Image of danger, conflict, and turmoil.
11. Conflicting agendas.
12. Evil teachings against the Jews from Godless people.
Right not it is not "chick" to hate homosexuals, "black" people, etc. When it get popular again the hate will come out and be directed away from the jews for a while again. I notice most "hate crimes" happen in or near cities, Mostly along the coasts. Maybe it is something in the water?
I have noticed that when it comes to a one-on-one relationship men judge men and accept or reject them mostly on their "work ethic". I have heard it over and over during the years, "I hate all of such and such (blacks, jews, indians, catholics, etc) except old so and so, he's a good worker."
Jewish people have been pursecuted since the beginning of time, and still do to this day. It's just that they don't carry on about it, like the other cultures do. And, in spite of it, they continue to educated themselves and do something with their lives. They have been though so much, and there are so few left since WW11.
Hate is ignorance.
But, this country is mostly Christian. It surprises me, that many of them of all people feel this way from false teachings and whatever. How they can call themselves Christian, is beyond me, as they love Jesus Christ, the son of God. He, Mary, and Joseph were Jewish. Yeshua, Jesus!!!
Incidentally, homosexuals are NOT a race. Most likely, hate crimes against them are triggered by the high level of disgust some people have about what the homosexuals do with each other. They are targeted not by physical characteristics, but what they do - a major difference from race, which no one has control over.
I, personally, am disgusted when someone puts homosexuality in the same category as race and religion. The major difference is homosexuality is wrong, whereas race and religion are, for the most part, quite acceptable.
Since then the High Holy Days have included the local police car at the entrance to the parking lot. This year as I left, I was wondering if the higher Muslim population was an added threat to the congregants.
The only thing I can think of is lack of respect. I've noticed that when I have agency sitters join me, they often will wear their cross necklaces that I hadn't seen them wear at the churches we worked.
By the way, I was once a hippy and I never turned my back entirely on that hippy ethic stuff. peeps are talking about how much they despise hatred and all, well, from the hippy ethic, I'd say this: I love eveyone, including the ones who committ the hate crimes. Having said that, if I were a Jew, I would subscribe to the Meyer Khahany brand of Judiasm...self defense.
PETER PROSAC NATION
You are correct that antisemitism is on the rise in many places. This is very true in some parts of Europe and in other parts of the world.
Just because we acknowledge, admit, or recognize that antisemitism is on the rise in many places does not mean that we diminish the importance, or tragedy, of any persecution of or prejudice against any other group. Many here have expressed these thoughts in various ways. Prejudice and hate crimes are abhorrent and nobody should suffer them, though many do.
Saying that we want to understand why Jews are persecuted can lead to a precarious intellectual and moral position, however, though, of course, it won't necessarily take us there. The problematic issues arise if, in pursuing this question, we imply that the victim of persecution is to blame for that persecution. The criminals are the perpetrators of the crime, not the victims. While there are, of course, individual people who provoke others to anger or violence, it is not acceptable to consider that a racial or ethnic group deserves to suffer violence because of the acts of isolated individuals.
By analogy, we might want to understand how Africans became African American slaves, but we would never want to include in that understanding some "reason why they deserved it"- no such reason exists. This is the case with all victims of racial hatred and prejudice and colonialism and related crimes.
In fact, of course, the word "prejudice" means pre-judgment. Prejudice typically refers to hateful or disrespectful impressions people have formed about others... in the total absence of any relevant evidence, information or knowledge about their victims.
At the same time, there are certain things that can help provoke hatred in some predisposed individuals, even if those "things" have nothing to do with the victims or recipients of hatred. The obvious cases include financial hardship on a national or regional scale, monetary depression, and low standards of living (especially decreased standards of living). There are times when such unfortunate events, or even tragedies, can help make some people receptive to the rhetoric of demagogues and the demonization of "the other", whoever that "other" might be.
The truth is that people should be judged on their own merits and not as groups. This seems so simple, but it can be rare in some places, at some times. For some people, it is a way of life to be pre-judged. This is one aspect of "profiling" that can make life miserable for its victims. A basic problem with profiling is that it is simply institutionalized prejudice. It is easy to say that some group should be profiled for some reason, like the profiling of Arabs and Muslims in the post-9/11 world. Easy doesn't equate with right or good. How conveniently we forget that the first aerial bombing of a mainland US city was ordered by the mayor of Philadelphia, or that Timothy McVeigh carried out one of the most terrible acts of recent history in the US. How do we profile for Timothy McVeigh-like people? We can't, he doesn't look different from many of us, especially those of us "in power" in the US, so we don't try- it never occurs to us to try. Would others want to be pre-judged based on his crimes? Of course not.
So, this is a timely post with mostly sensible discussion (I'm not going to go after the small number of statements I can find amongst the comments that are unacceptable to me). Thanks for writing your article.
But then (very early into our visit here) Cain killed Abel. And the world changed.
I think a lot of the blame stems from the dialogue. How things are reported. It is not dissimilar to how the war in Iraq was reported (a war in which we have met the objectives - a win, that is perceived as a loss).
The perspective is skewed, and the reports coming out of the middle east are not investigated. Source-reliability isn't investigated. Remember all the photoshopped photos used by the AP a year or 2 ago? Along with the erroneous reporting? How many people read the AP articles, saw the photos, but never found the truth?
For some reason there is very little vocal support of Israel and their right to defend themselves. Terrorist groups operate in civilian areas. They do not care if innocent people die, they know it will be great propaganda.
This is a very good article just released:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jn8pZJd8UGJEKKzJ5HSqMk0D_Z3wD965A6FO0
Its horrible that Jews are so persecuted, as to why, I've got nothing. It doesn't make any sense. I don't want to sound like Pollyanna, but if we have to judge why not do it for a reason is logical such as a person's behavior, how they treat people, do they lie, cheat steal, whatever. Its a sin what the Jews have had to go through over the years. Even more sinful is the school of thought that some are trying to spread now that the Holocaust never really happened, it was just propaganda. Yeah right, Hitler just had tea parties.
Second, the term "Chosen People" has, in itself, been a source of division between Jews and everyone else. The term refers to being CHOSEN to receive the Law, that is, not just the Ten Commandments, but all of the other edicts and commandments as well.
Not that we were preferred or exalted above others.
The fact of the matter is, being "chosen" places a HUGE burden on the Jewish people. Jews are on the hook, so to speak, to follow all 613 commandments. Non-Jews only have to follow what is called Noahtic law, which is a much reduced set of things to follow.
This is also why the rabbis make it really really hard to convert to Judaism. They discourage it in fact. Why? Because when a non-Jew converts to Judaism, they are putting themselves on the hook for following all of those 613 commandments. Going from the few that non-Jews must follow to those Jews must follow is a big commitment, and one not to be taken lightly.
Historically, it's easy to see why Jews have always been ostracized. Many of our traditional customs had us marrying and living only among other Jews. Some of this became enforced, hence, the many Jewish Ghettos including the famous Warsaw Ghetto. Jews are commanded to do various things, some of which affects their appearance, and certainly how they worship. Just as a Wiccan celebration would draw attention at a Baptist Church picnic, Jews look and act differently.
It is human nature to blame the easy target - those who are different -- for all of our ills.
Jews have served in this capacity for a long time. And, we will continue to do so, thanks to the continued rabid Antisemitism of the Muslim world (see http://www.adl.org/main_Arab_World/default.htm ) and the supposed love of Jews by some fundamentalist Christian sects (who believe that Jews will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus will return, and then most Jews will go to Hell).
As for Dan Walter's SLAP IN THE FACE:
"People have a perception that Jews are behind everything that can be used to hold them down .. important institutions like banks. Notice I wrote "perception". And the common thought seems to be that Jews don't really want to work for their money. That they only use others to get what they want. Is this true? I have no way of knowing. I suspect Jews are as hard working as anyone else."
Don't do me any favors Dan. I suspect you are as hardworking as anyone else too. Nice way to repeat lots of ridiculous stereotypes under the guise of "common thought."
Ain't common where I live.
By the way, I'm only half Jewish, though my wife and kids are Jewish. I can't seem to find those banks and movie studios I control, however. Must have left them in my jeans before the jeans went through the washing machine. Maybe if I hunt through the pockets and dry out what's left, really carefully...
In one sense, the targeting of cemeteries supports this. These people are looking to offend, not specifically Jews, but society as a whole, and the repugnance felt towards Hitler and the Nazis is why they chose to identify with them. Not because they share (or even understand) those ideologies, but simply because they offend.
There are many other ways, greater and lesser, that this behaviour manifests itself - I won't list them as we've all seen them. As for the older individuals, I think E. J. Manning (above) expresses it best.
And, equally as disgusting (and foolish) is the idea that there is any such thing as a "hate crime."
I have to say, it's REALLY HARD to persecute a majority. I should know. I've been trying really hard for the past 40 years with little to no success. Christians just won't go away, or underground, or ANYwhere. They just stand there and whine about it.
hate crimes suck butt, but they happen its part of life. i think everyone is hated for their skin, background, religion, anything really, by someone. everyone is hated by someone, its a fact. hate crimes happen on people whether their jews or not. im not saying their okay because by no means are they acceptable but it goes along with every other controversy in the world...
I can understand wanting to bring to the fore an important issue for you, for Native Americans, and ultimately probably for the U.S. as a whole; but their plight comes no where near the persecution the Jews have been subjected to.
Let me say I'm not shouting, or wagging a finger at you ... and I see your point and agree that Native Americans got short shrift in the U.S. But, the Jews just are in a category of their own irt persecution worldwide across the spectrum of different cultures, societies, and peoples. +shrug+
Jews have been persecuted for the longest period of time, but the group of people who rate as the most persecuted are the Native Americans.
Willa W., Mar 5, 2008, 11:17am EST
In those posts/articles, these inevitable questions arise--> "Why is that so?" "Why does there seem to always be a disproportionate number of Jews in these high positions vs the actual very small percentage of the population they come from." Questions raised with obvious allusion to conspiracy of some kind on the part of those Jews and their "enablers".
Then there are those, like Berf, who truly don't understand and want to know: "What is it about the Jewish people thar bothers some people in this country so much?? ... Of all the religious and ethnical groups in this country and in the world, why are the Jewish people persecuted more than anyone else??"
Glome had some good thoughts on this (meaning she and a couple of others have come closest to my own lol).
In any case, here is something Mark Twain wrote in September 1898:
" If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. . . . The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dreamstuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a fast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality? "
Now, here are a couple of questions someone else asked in this same vein:
" One can only ask again, "Why this unprecedented treatment of Jerusalem?" What makes it so special? Why does it hold such importance for all nations? The Bible alone offers a reasonable explanation. If the biblical answer to that question is rejected, then no other rationale can be found.... ... Why should a world that doesn't believe the Bible's promises concerning Jerusalem nevertheless treat this city as though what the Bible said about it were true? "
----excerpted from "A Cup of Trembling" Copyright 1995, by Dave Hunt.
Um ..., if it's a conspiracy and if the statistics hold up, then ... perhaps it's a divine conspiracy; a message; something more of us should pay more attention to? Or maybe not, as one personally chooses.
The history of the Jews is amazing and is almost proof in itself of the truth of the Bible. It is foretold that they will wander without a nation and be scorned. It is hard to believe they went 2000 yrs without a nation and yet still exist as Jews. They seem to be very gifted of God and are a blessing to every nation in which they prosper; so I also am surprised that they are so persecuted...except God said that's how it would be. But God loves them and promised to bring them back to their nation and bless them. Read Ezekiel ch 36 in the Old Testament and Romans ch 9,10 & 11 in the New Testament for further insight. He also promises a blessing to the nations that bless Israel. Very interesting.
Glome . . . , Mar 30, 2008, 11:08am EDT
Personally, I don't care if anyone is purple or even polka-dotted. I am no perfect Christian ( by a long shot! ), but I treat others as I expect to be treated. However, I'm afraid that the US may turn against Israel some day, and that really bothers me. Reasons I think that, shall be kept to myself, so as to cause no anger or flaming. Just my NSHO.
Instead of wondering about it, as humans we should be taking a stand along side the Jewish state and crush those who have declared from behind their own religious curtain that they want to destroy them and their nation.
My patience is worn past thin watching and listening to news reports of small minded evil leaders blathering on the air waves denials of the holocaust and desires to wipe Israel off the map. We sit here and watch Iran rattle that saber daily and we also are watching Iran develop missiles and nuclear weapons and doing nothing about it.
Its like standing in a room with a crazy man telling you he is going to kill you all the while he is loading his gun and you do nothing about it.
Someday...I hope we all get along and put the past behind us. Unfortuanately...it won't be pretty...the effect, the event...that brings world peace. Just my opinion.