# I was told I said something racist... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 27, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102 "2002-12-27T04:54:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102/21 "2002-12-27T15:44:56Z")
Jew here (ethnically). I have no problem with ‘Jew’ used in any tense. When used as an adjective (Jew lawyer), I just assume the speaker has a problem with Jews. Speaker’s problem, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102/22 "2002-12-27T18:00:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Splanky \* > \*\*Most Jews don’t care; I’m _a Jew_ and I use the word Jew all the time. A lot of Jews do. I’ve heard Rabbis and Jewish Scholars use the term Jew. > > Although, using Jew as an adjective is very upsetting and offensive (Jew lawyer). To me and most Jews, at least. > > [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) pretty much sums it up: > > [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=jew](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=jew) \*\* Interestingly enough, I’ve noticed that Jewish people–or maybe it’s just the older folks–use the term _Jewish language_ to mean Yiddish. One would think that could be potentially offensive within the community, as it implies that any Jew ought to know Yiddish when many don’t, but nobody seems to mind. ---
**Author:** ![presidebt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102/23 "2002-12-27T18:20:40Z")
**Thanks to all who replied.** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fang \* > \*\*On the other hand, I do wonder why you don’t consider your assumption of “credibility issues” with Jews reporting on the Palestinian situation anti-Semitic. \*\* This has been addressed by others in this thread, but I thought as the speaker, I’d take a shot at it. I don’t see how what I said implies anti-semitism. I would uniformly wonder about the credibility of any person reporting on the other side of an acknowledged conflict. (i.e. a Palestinian reporting on the Israeli situation). Discussing credibility does not imply a uniform discount of one side, or even a complete discount of the writer in question, in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Eli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@Eli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eli)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102/24 "2002-12-27T18:40:21Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m open minded- what do you think? As a Jew, I see nothing wrong with what you said. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102/25 "2002-12-27T22:06:21Z")
Being of the Jewish faith or heritage does not mean that one is Zionist or supportive of the current government in Isreal. Making that assumption is 'stereotyping", and as such, can be somewhat racist. Like saying- “Of course YOU like watermelon- you’re black”. Maybe most black dudes DO like watermelon- but it doesn’t go with being black. Many Jews do support the current Government in Isreal- but assuming it because of their faith is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Paddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f19dbf/32.png) [@Paddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paddle)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102/26 "2002-12-27T23:58:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zwaldd \* > \*\*Jew here (ethnically). I have no problem with ‘Jew’ used in any tense. When used as an adjective (Jew lawyer), I just assume the speaker has a problem with Jews. Speaker’s problem, not mine. \*\* Well said. I agree entirely and this is essentially what I would think in this situation, and in most other situations involving alledged racism. Paddle. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102/27 "2002-12-28T00:12:37Z")
IANAJ but as a christian I see nothing wrong with your statement. If it was wrong, do we start calling muslims _Islamic persons_ Hindus are now …WTF …Hindu persons? atheists should be godless persons…? IMO Muslims and Jews are different than other religions in the respect that their religion is their life. Christians and catholics are not as bound to the rigors and stipulations of religious life. Jews have to be kosher 24-7 and Allah knows how strict the islamic way of life is. So to call someone a jew or muslim shouldnt be a slur on their beliefs, it is their way of life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-told-i-said-something-racist/145102.md?page=1)