# Anti-Jew vs. anti-Semitic **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891 "2003-08-08T19:52:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891/1 "2003-08-08T19:52:14Z")
A harsh accusation (thought not always unjustified) is calling someone an “anti-Semite” - which has a connotation of having an irrational hatred for Jews and Judaism, usually by being corrupted by anti-Zionist, anti-Judaism conspiracist filth. However, many so-called anti-Semites are also pro-Arab. For what it’s worth, many, many Arabs are anti-Semitic. (I have yet to meet an Arab who’s okay with Jews and/or Judaism.) This makes no sense - Arabs are, technically, Semites too. I propose replacing “anti-Semite,” when referring to anti-Jewish and anti-Judaism hatred, with “anti-Jew” and “anti-Judaism,” whatever may fit. (I know this will create a flame war - let’s stick to the semantics here.) WRS ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891/2 "2003-08-08T20:38:11Z")
You’re right that anti-semite is a misnomer, since it only refers to Jews. But I doubt you’ll be successful in changing it. These kinds of things have a lot of inertia going for them. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891/3 "2003-08-08T21:53:28Z")
> [@](#): > > The word “anti-Semitism” is inadequate. It is a misnomer. The word was coined in 1879 from the Greek words “anti”, meaning “against” and “Semite”, meaning a descendant of Shem. The word was first used by Wilhelm Marr a German agitator, who created it to explain the current anti-Jewish campaigns in Europe. Since the Arab peoples are also Semitic people it is not the best expression. Anti-Jewish, and Jew- hatred, are more descriptive. It is more than just prejudice. The word came into general use in the past hundred years and encompasses all forms of hostility manifested toward Jews throughout history. From this site: [http://www.cdn-friends-icej.ca/antiholo/summanti.html](http://www.cdn-friends-icej.ca/antiholo/summanti.html) So, while everyone agrees that it isn’t semantically correct, words don’t always follow their origins. Usage is what counts, and since the term was coined, it has been used to mean anti-Jewish sentiments. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891/4 "2003-08-09T03:41:04Z")
“Antisemitic” works perfectly well to describe attitudes or actions against jews. No need to replace the word with something else. Practically speaking, Semitic peoples as a whole have not been similarly targeted. No need to coin a word for that which essentially doesn’t exist. If you’ve been seduced by the idea of making language consistently follow logical precepts (Esperanto, anyone?), I would suggest you instead take up the endeavor of demolishing the Great Wall of China by beating your head against it. Much greater chance to get desired results. ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891/5 "2003-08-11T14:20:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary T \* > **Practically speaking, Semitic peoples as a whole have not been similarly targeted. No need to coin a word for that which essentially doesn’t exist.** Could you please clarify? Semitic peoples as a whole have not be targetted as Jews have been, which is why “anti-Semitic” is inaccurate. I am aware of the impossibility of changing words people use - but it would be nice to hear what other people think. WRS ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891/6 "2003-08-11T14:30:05Z")
[nitpick] > [@](#): > > (I have yet to meet an Arab who’s okay with Jews and/or Judaism.) My friend is an Iraqi Jew by descent. Her parents fled the country in the sixties, because of persecution. Now they are Canadian citizens and are constantly harassed at the border because their passports show Iraq as their birthplace. The fact that they were pretty much chucked out of there - they hate Saddam as much as anyone - is completely irrelevant. And so they all have to put up with _both_ anti-Semetic _and_ anti-Arab prejudice, which is a position I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. [/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jew-vs-anti-semitic/193891/7 "2003-08-11T16:21:50Z")
I should have clarified my statement: Jewish Arabs are, obviously, an exception. Sorry. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone either. Recently, I’ve been running into a few people from Iraq. All of them have been Christian (Assyrians to be more exact). Really nice people. WRS