tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321349.post8777198324343317727..comments2024-03-18T22:21:33.261-07:00Comments on The Debate Link: Interviewing My Friends: Sunny YangDavid Schraubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946653376744012423noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321349.post-26998538269235734192016-02-07T02:05:15.880-08:002016-02-07T02:05:15.880-08:00A very enjoyable and informative read.
Although I...A very enjoyable and informative read.<br /><br />Although I will say that I've always been uncomfortable with the conflation between Jewish experiences and marginalization with the cultural hazing that Irish and Italian immigrants endured in the 19th century. The most glaring flaw with this comparison is that it has the effect of trivializing Jewish oppression as something that was "temporary" as opposed to being a structural, longstanding prejudice that is thoroughly ingrained in Western culture. This is best illustrated by the fact that Irish people and Italians have long since been accepted and incorporated into the dominant narratives here in North America, whereas Jews have not. Antisemitism is still as much of a reality now as it was back then, and in some ways, is arguably *worse*.<br /><br />Additionally, I've always vehemently opposed categorizing Jews as white because, political concerns aside (e.g. if Jews = white and Middle Easterners = non-white, then obviously Jews = non-Middle Eastern and therefore Jews = not "really" Israelite/indigenous to the Middle East, and the modern state of Israel is an illegitimate settler colony), it isolates us from the broader academic conversation on race and the experience of ethnic minorities, thereby contributing to Jewish silencing in these fields. And since it positions Jews as "part of the white power structure", it encourages leftists and minorities to develop antisemitic feelings. After all, we're not "really" an outgroup, so it's totally ok to hate us and embrace antisemitic ways of thinking.<br /><br />I'd love to hear your thoughts (and if possible, Sunny's) on this. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297210042002570130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321349.post-60654666914225137792016-02-07T01:49:59.158-08:002016-02-07T01:49:59.158-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297210042002570130noreply@blogger.com