I have a question about people who keep saying anti-Arabism is anti-Semitism?

Question

YOu do realize anti-semitism is a word coined by a Jew to describe the hatred of Jews, right. I meen, you are correct that Arabs (I am one) are semites, but you also realize that the word Semite is derived from the Biblical story of the flood, and Noahs son Shem. YOu also realie that according to the same legend Europeans come from Esau, Isaac's other son, so Europeans are Semites too; thus making the word "anti-semitic" meaningless unless you just surrender to using it for what it was coined for.

I just wondered if you guys realize this stuff?

Answer 1

Great point! People have a tendency to adopt the conventions of outdated "wisdom" when it makes them sound clever. We know that dividing the human population into "Semitic", "Hamitic" and "Japathic" races is ignorant and ridiculous, but the words sound erudite, so they survive. By extension, Jews and Arabs fit into one category, but only because we've accepted the earlier premise.

Genesis was written to answer questions like, why we like these people, why we hate those people, and where these other people came from. Even when there was no answer, an answer was found. The characterizations often read like ethnic jokes. Moabites and Edomites were the product of incest. The people of Schechem not only approved of rape but were too stupid to avoid a trap. The stereotypes served to keep enemies separate, but after a few millenia, their relevance is doubtful, their information meaningless.

It's a shame Israelis and Arabs can't seem to get along but the issues between them are very real. Using a semantic trick to portray them as estranged brothers doesn't solve anything. Real problems need to be addressed.

Answer 2

I understand your point, although using the biblical story of Noah's flood to reason that Europeans are also Semites I disagree with. Europeans are not Semitic people.

But then, I'm not a bible-literalist, so those arguments hold no water with me anyway.

Answer 3

It was not 'coined by a Jew' but by a German who was a self-described anti-semite and he was very specific that it referred to Jews alone.

Other than that I'm really not sure what your point is.

Answer 4

Arabs are semites - therefore racist hatred of Arabs is anti-semitism
The fact that some semitic groups (who are actually very racially different) try and restrict it to themsleves is itself racism

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3950.htm
http://www.habtoor.com/anenemycalledapathy/l-14.htm

Answer 5

In a way, it is anti-semitism, hmm sorrry i dont get what u r saying.

Answer 6

Those who hate will always twist the truth to justify their hate.

Answer 7

Jewish people are SEMITES.
Arab people are SEMITES.

Yes we realize!