What is Semitic? Anti-Semitic?

[zengrifter]

A previous domain of ZenZONE was denounced as "anti-semitic" and a "cesspool of hatered" because we posted/discussed articles critical of Zionism and/or questioning the OFFICIAL version of the Nazi Jewish Holocaust.

(WEBSTERS)
Se·mit·ic -adj.
1. Of or relating to the Semites or their languages or cultures.
2. Of, relating to, or constituting a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic language group
that includes Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic.

It is clear from any dictionary referrence that semitic refers not only to Jews but also Arabs. Therefore ZenZONE will not tolerate references to Jews or Arabs that are anti-semitic in nature.

Criticism of Zionisim (or any political scheme), as distinct from Judiaism, will continue to be allowed. zg

[bj bob]

Hey Zg, While you're on the subject of definitions. What is your personal definition of Zionism? This term is so overused and so misunderstood that I think is meaning has become distorted over the years ala "civil rights".

[ScottH]

Why are we not tolerating Anti-semetic comments but allowing anti-zionist comments?

[bj bob]

Respond to your faithful servants, O Wise (Zg) One!

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by bj bob

Hey Zg, While you're on the subject of definitions. What is your personal definition of Zionism?

On the face of it, this simple definition will suffice -

Zionism:Movement founded by the Viennese Jewish journalist Theodor Herzl, who argued in his 1896 book Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) that the best way of avoiding anti-Semitism in Europe was to create an independent Jewish state in Palestine. Zionism was named after Mount Zion in Jerusalem, a symbol of the Jewish homeland in Palestine since the Babylonian captivity in the 6th century BC. The movement culminated in the birth of the state of Israel in 1948.

Notwithstanding the above, many orthodox religious Jews, even in Israel, believe that the creation by man of a Jewish state is an implicit usurpation of God's role. And there are many liberal Jews, both in Israel and throughout the world, who do not support the 1967 conquest and subsequent occupation and colonisation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and who dislike the equation of Zionism with Israeli expansionism.

The notion that the Zionist state of Israel has a greater right to possess the land, or a greater right to security, or a greater right to a thriving economy, than the people who are native to that land is extremely racist, a supremacist viewpoint identical to past justifications for white South Africa's apartheid regime and to the rationale for all European colonial (racist) systems that exploited the human and natural resources of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia over the centuries for the sole benefit of the colonizers.

So in sumation, Zionism is anehtema to Judiaism and has been a polarizing force for ever greater escalation of unrest in the middle east. Whats worse, western anglo powers have never hesitated to utilize the secular Israeli state for their own nationalistic purposes... and resultantly, the US itself has become a hostage to it.

When I say that I am against Zionism I am not anti-semitic, and I am in good company. zg

See also -
Why, "Jews Against Zionism"?
Orthodox Jews Against Zionism
More Jews Against Zionism
Rabbis Against Zionism
Jewish protestors burning the Israel flag.

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by ScottH

Why are we not tolerating Anti-semetic comments but allowing anti-zionist comments?

We ARE tolerating pro-Zionist comments as well. Does that help?

I just don't think its appropriate for ZenZONE to tolerate statements like "Arabs are not human, they are animals" and not tolerate similar racial epithets about Jews.

And, unlike some I believe that the "problem" is not Jews or Arabs - its Zionism, among other things. And to criticize (Zionist) Israel is not anti-semitic. zg

STATEMENT OF THE CENTRAL RABBINICAL CONGRESS 1982

[shadroch]

Originally Posted by zengrifter

A previous domain of ZenZONE was denounced as "anti-semitic" and a "cesspool of hatered" because we posted/discussed articles critical of Zionism and/or questioning the OFFICIAL version of the Nazi Jewish Holocaust.

(WEBSTERS)
Se·mit·ic -adj.
1. Of or relating to the Semites or their languages or cultures.
2. Of, relating to, or constituting a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic language group
that includes Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic.

It is clear from any dictionary referrence that semitic refers not only to Jews but also Arabs. Therefore ZenZONE will not tolerate references to Jews or Arabs that are anti-semitic in nature.

Criticism of Zionisim (or any political scheme), as distinct from Judiaism, will continue to be allowed. zg

I find it interesting that semitic refers to both Jews and Arabs,as descendants of Shem,yet every dictionary defines anti-semitic as being anti-jewish,not anti-arab.

[zenzan]

that's because its the ultimate weapon they use to squash any criticism of the state, look what they are doing to Carter after publishing his book.

[EasyRhino]

I think this is just one of those cases where "anti-semitic", when created as a term in the 1800's has a simply different meaning than the words semite or semitic:

[q]1881, from Ger. Antisemitismus, first used by Wilhelm Marr in 1880, from anti- + Semite (q.v.). Not etymologically restricted to anti-Jewish theories, actions or policies, but almost always used in this sense. Those who object to the inaccuracy of the term might try H. Adler's Judaeophobia (1882).[/q]

"anti-Semitism." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 19 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/anti-Semitism>.

And since the term was apparantly invented by a German dude in the 1800's, it probably referred mainly to European racism. And Europeans probably weren't worried too much about Arabs at the time.

There are other examples of this happening with words, where a modification of the base word actually takes on a different meaning than the base word itself. I can't think of any, but they're out there.

[zengrifter]

Originally Posted by shadroch

I find it interesting that semitic refers to both Jews and Arabs,as descendants of Shem,yet every dictionary defines anti-semitic as being anti-jewish,not anti-arab.

Another ZIONIST mind-twist! zg

A Biblical Definition of Anti-Semitism