The Two Anti's

Submitted by Diane Krieger (United States), Oct 12, 2004 at 13:38

I concur with R. Becker's comment, "Analogy," and would like to point to two recent books that dramatically reflect this analogy between anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism. The books are Phyllis Chesler's "The New Anti-Semitism" and Jean Revel's "Anti-Americanism." On the surface there isn't much similarity between hatred of a rich superpower and of a poor and powerless people without (until very recently) a country. But look at the hallmarks of the two anti's and you see some amazing similarities: elaborate conspiracy theories, scapegoating, double-standards, irrational fear, profound ignorance of facts and blind prejudice.

Dr. Pipes, if you read these comments, I'd be interested in hearing you discuss the bizarre parallels between these two very different movements, namely Judaism and American democracy/capitalism.

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