I am rarely mistaken for Little Miss Sunshine, which would misgender me, and I am even less mistaken for Chicken Little, because if the sky seems to be falling, I want proof. No crying wolf for me.
As you’ve heard, opinions are like rectums, everyone has one, but valid opinions have a foundation in fact. I try to base my opinion on fact, and that’s why the motto of this blog is: “Reality determines my political opinions, not vice versa.”
In other words, my political or other beliefs do not determine reality.
Put another way, sometimes you must surrender your most precious political opinions when facts prove you are wrong.
This is something the election deniers can’t do.
In a semi-related topic, the Philadelphia Inquirer front-paged a story headlined: “Alarming rise seen in anti-Jewish incidents.”
The newspaper cites an Anti-Defamation League study that reports a 65% rise in anti-Semitic acts in Pennsylvania in 2022, versus 2021. I give the paper credit for also giving the actual number of “vandalism, harassment, and assaults” targeting Jews: 114 in Pennsylvania. That figure is a whole lot less frightening than 65%. Pennsylvania’s population in 2021 was 12.96 million.
Let’s review, that is 114 incidents of all kinds (see chart) among almost 13 million people.
To me, that is not “alarming,” the headline word, but it is noteworthy, in that the arrows are pointing up.
In Philadelphia, population 1.6 million, 34 incidents were reported. In New Jersey, population of 9.2 million, 408 anti-Semitic incidents were reported.
To broaden the focus to the nation, the FBI report on religious hate crimes lists 1,005 in all, 31.9% directed against Jews. That is about 320 crimes in a nation of 331 million — one hate crime per million people. Statistically, experiencing a Jewish hate crime is about the same as getting struck by lightning.
What is more concerning are the number of physical threats against Jews, specifically the 2018 attack on Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue that resulted in 11 deaths, 6 wounded.
That was the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, but unlike other mass shootings, it has not been repeated. There were no physical assaults against Jews in Pennsylvania in 2022, down from four in 2021. That could have been reported as a collapse of physical assaults, but that goes against the “alarming” narrative. [Disclosure: I am Jewish.]
The Inquirer quotes the report as mentioning anti-Semitic remarks or tropes by celebrities, such as Kanye West, or whatever he is calling himself at the moment.
He had his anti-Semitic rant and was immediately shouted down by other celebrities, and also business partners who walked away from him. To the vast majority of Americans, anti-Semitism is unfashionable and ugly.
I would say that anti-Jewish tropes (lies) — such as Jews are clannish, carnivorous in business, want to “replace” white Christians, and more loyal to Israel than the U.S. — are dangerous because they spread misinformation that can be liquefied into hate.
The rise in all forms of hate deserves our attention, and our willingness to challenge it, but the number of incidents is amazingly low, given the size and diversity of America.
I saw that headline and immediately wondered what the actual figures are. I do not read the inquirer any longer so, I thank you for posting this.
That said, whenever I see these types of chicken little headlines, I generally seek out the actual numbers. When confronted in discussions or debates where percentage increases are the basis on someone’s position and I ask what the actual numbers are, they never know.
I often remind them that if you have 1 instance in a time period and 2 in another period, that is an alarming 100% increase.
Point, I wish people would stop arguing based on headlines and educate themselves on subjects.
The rise in reported anti Semitism is alarming to me. The frightening rhetoric that has been reported on college campuses is increasing. The frequent tropes are relevant. Sadly, so many people believe them.
The national numbers have increased and whether or not you feel that the actual numbers are not so bad; I worry and find it all a disturbing trend.
I’m more with you, Susan. While Stu is not technically wrong in what he says – I think he was trying to give us his best in-other-words rendition of Mark Twain’s, “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.” and to this extent I agree with him However, what worries me more are the UNREPORTED and UNDERREPORTED numbers of incidents that never make the stats. Stu will say that they’ve always been with us. That’s true – but it doesn’t make is any less of what really should go into the numbers in some fashion. The fact that, while the numbers are small, relative to the population sizes, the fact that the increase has been somewhat more dramatic recently shows a TREND. And the trend is not a good one – for all of those maligned. That trend is what the Inqy was counting on to make headlines – for effect.
The “under reported” element is always true, so you rely on numbers you do have.
You’re right Stu – but you have still chosen to basically minimize the trend – and trends are numbers you can reasonably rely on in this case. And that’s your choice, of course. I think that’s our only real difference of opinion here.
I do minimize it. and that it without delving into the categories reported by ADL that might have been a dirty look. I prefer the FBI’s listing of crimes, rather than micro aggressions.
See, when I was a kid, before these records were kept, America was a much MORE anti-Semitic nation than today. I mean, Jews were barred from housing, occupations and educational institutions.
So you can see why today’s hate seems minimal to me.
Stu is nothing more than an apologist for antisemitics. In his world because these only represent a small percentage of the population he does not see it as a growing problem. He doesn’t understand that Pizzagate was nothing more than a new version of the claims of Jewish blood rituals.
Apologist? Your comment is so f’n stupid I am considering deleting it. But because I believe in free expression, even for knuckle-dragging morons, I will allow it to stand.
Bravo, Stu!
I gave you the numbers, they are less than tiny.
There IS a rise of anti-Semitism on campuses, usually linked to anti-Israel rhetoric
A lot of anti-Semites (along with racists and bigots) support Trump. He’s never, ever denounced them. He called them in Charlottesville “good people”. If he denounced them, he’d lose a lot of supporters. And when Republicans, like Doug Mastriano, for ex. call themselves “Christian nationalists, what do you think that means? (They really mean “male white Christian nationalists). Trump made hate respectable among Republicans. Especially at the LGBTQ community.
BTW, is Marjorie Taylor Greene still blaming Jewish space lasers for anything?
I agree with Susan Green.
As is your right.
Disagreeing with something Israel may do does NOT imply anti-Semitism, nor does voting for Donald Trump automatically make someone anti-Semitic. We have to be very careful to avoid such blanket condemnation. And no one can claim, to be a Christian while at the same time hating Jews (or any other human being). Sitting in a church does not automatically make one a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes one an automobile.
I think you’ve got something here Vince. I’ve already heard Netanyahoo (yes, purposely mispelled) as “Israel’s Trump.” Also as “Trumpanyahu.”
Get to really know Jewish people, they are the same as everyone else !
BEING AROUND IN THE DAYS THE BUND CLUBS MARCHED ON BROAD STREET WITH THEIR NAZIS FLAGS FLUTTERING , LED BY A MEMBER OF PHILADELPHIAS CITY COUNCIL, (DAD RUN OUT AND PUNCHED HIM IN THE NOSE, (DAD WAS LOCKED UP FOR THIS), I COULD GO ON FOR HOURS ABOUT GROWING UP IN SOUTH PHILLY, SERVING IN THE ARMY, BUT THE STORY IS OLD BUT HATE REMAINS HERE. THERE A LOT OF JERKS OUT THERE, 30 MILLION VOTE!!!!
BEING AROUND IN THE DAYS THE BUND CLUBS MARCHED ON BROAD STREET WITH THEIR NAZIS FLAGS FLUTTERING , LED BY A MEMBER OF PHILADELPHIAS CITY COUNCIL, (DAD RAN OUT AND PUNCHED HIM IN THE NOSE, (DAD WAS LOCKED UP FOR THIS), I COULD GO ON FOR HOURS ABOUT GROWING UP IN SOUTH PHILLY, SERVING IN THE ARMY, BUT THE STORY IS OLD BUT HATE REMAINS HERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF JERKS OUT THERE, 30 MILLION VOTE!!!!
Times have changed, Barry. No more Bund marches.
Things haven’t changed or have forgotten about what happened in Charlottesville and the chant “Jews will not replace us”. The name of the band may have changed, but not the song they are singing.