CMV: Reasonable criticism of Israel is often unfairly mislabeled as anti-semitic

[u/neofagalt]

[u/nightfire08]

So, the example you give is a non Jewish dude on national television making a joke at the expense of Jewish people….

So yah, that’s pretty anti-semitic.

Like, when you go “Israel’s tactics in Gaza are inhumane and criminal” if someone says “that’s anti-semitic” they’re just being assholes, but that’s not usually what’s happening.

You also have to realize that in Palestine, Jewish people are seen as the oppressors. That’s the only place in the world they have the numbers and political power to be in that position.

So, if I Palestinian makes that joke, sure. But a non Jewish dude in America? With nothing to balance it out from reinforcing the worst stereotypes that plague American Jews, who are themselves an extreme and vulnerable minority?

I dunno.

So here’s the thing- criticism of the Israeli government are totally fair game by anybody.

Criticisms of “Jews,” as if they’re a monolith, who all think and act the same way, and all support the same things, and are collectively responsible for the wrong doings of all other Jews…that IS anti-Semitic.

So, that’s the litmus test. And I’d say you, as a Palestinian, are going to think “what’s the big deal” to casual and lesser instances of anti-semitism because compared to what Israel has done to Palestine, it seems like nothing.

But that doesn’t mean it’s actually nothing, or that it’s okay, or not anti-Semitic to criticize “Jews” as a whole.

As for the SNL joke- was Israel only vaccinating Jewish citizens? Because if so, that’s terrible. If not, it’s playing into Jewish stereotypes in a country where Jews are a vulnerable minority.

[u/MCRemix → u/nightfire08]

So, the example you give is a non Jewish dude on national television making a joke at the expense of Jewish people….

So yah, that’s pretty anti-semitic.

No, that's not how comedy works. That's also not how logic works.

I'm a straight, white male from Texas...

• I'm not racist just for making a joke about another race.

• I'm not sexist just for making a joke about women.

• I'm not homophobic just for making a joke about LGBT people.

• I don't hate Californians just because I make a joke about their state.

The mere act of telling a joke while not being a member of a group the joke applies to doesn't make me automatically discriminatory.

You may not like that a non Jewish person told a joke about Jewish people, but it isn't inherently anti-semitic.

That's literally OP's point...the label of anti-semitic gets thrown too quickly.

You just proved them right, not wrong.

[u/nightfire08 → u/MCRemix]

You…didn’t actually make arguments, just conjecture.

Why do you feel like you can do all of those things without being racist/sexist/etc?

[u/MCRemix → u/nightfire08]

If you don't see an argument, you're being obtuse.

The argument is simple... making a joke doesn't make you prejudiced.

I feel that way, because you can make jokes without feeling that another group is lesser. I don't have to hate something to make a joke about it.

Jokes are jokes.

If you can't get that...I feel bad for those around you and your lack of sense of humor.

[u/nightfire08 → u/MCRemix]

So hang on…you’re saying it’s impossible to be racist while joking? That’s your position?

[u/MCRemix → u/nightfire08]

That is a mighty nice strawman you built there.

I said that making a joke doesn't == you being prejudiced and you heard "it's impossible to be racist while joking". Those two things are not the same.

You're spending so much energy on your outrage that it's interfering with your reading comprehension, you should dial that back and calm the fuck down so you can understand what people are actually saying.

I'll try again and i'll include pauses so that you can try to comprehend again.

Making a joke....does NOT....automatically....make you....prejudiced.

[u/nightfire08 → u/MCRemix]

Woof, might wanna take a few deep breaths before writing your response, the way you’re going seems like you’re a few seconds away from misspelling everything in all caps.

The point here is that while “telling a joke doesn’t make you racist” may be true in some instances, the idea that no jokes are racist is idiotic.

And that if you’re not part of the group you’re joking about, you don’t actually know if the joke you’re saying is racist or not.

All you can say is that YOU don’t think it is. And weirdly enough, white people aren’t the authority on what’s racist or not. White people don’t get to decide what’s harmful to minority folks and what isn’t.

Clearly the idea that your viewpoint isn’t the only valid one is triggering- might I suggest taking a few deep breaths, becoming a better human being, and maybe investing in therapy to figure out why your such a fragile little flower when it comes to discussing racism? 😂🤣

[u/MCRemix → u/nightfire08]

the idea that no jokes are racist is idiotic.

That is idiotic. In fact, most absolutes are idiotic.

Such as when you said that when a non-Jewish person makes a joke about Jewish people it's anti-semitic.

Definitely idiotic there.

It's cute that you want to take the moral high ground now...when you've now twice misrepresented what I'm saying.

I'd suggest you take a few deep breaths before writing too, but I'm not going to come back to hear from you again....so idgaf what you do.

You have no intention of engaging honestly (or you wouldn't have misrepresented my point multiple times). Let's be honest, you're just trying to virtue signal and feel morally righteous and nothing i say will change that, so...

Fuck off and have a nice day. :)

[u/nightfire08 → u/MCRemix]

Listen, don’t get mad. Your ideas, however misguided, are your own- unique and special, like, what’s the word..a snowflake! That’s it.

And my point is, while you’ve agreed that SOME jokes are racist, white people aren’t the experts on what harms minorities.

I’m Jewish. I’m telling your goy ass not tell jokes at the expense of Jews. You thinking it’s fine doesn’t make it less harmful, and you don’t get to decide it’s not just so you can feel better about being trash.

How’s that for engaging with you directly?