# Is Emory University weakening the word "anti-semitism"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 16, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354 "2004-04-16T13:24:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/21 "2004-04-16T15:37:42Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > _Huh?_ I gave a link to the entire article, and snipped what I though were the most pertinent points to provide an easily accessible summary: Right. But my question was why you regarded the “occupation is the root of the problem” as being the “most pertinent points”, when the article and quote by Robinson indicated otherwise. > [@](#): > > Better? Yes. (The problem I had with your first post is that by isolating the issue as being criticism of the occupation you distorted the issue and made your own rejoinder more apt than it actually was.) > [@TwistofFate](#): > > I don’t think she was equating them, rather try to encourage understandingh that there had been suffering on both sides. Possible. However, it is also possible that the same words take on a different meaning when viewed in the context of what was an attempt to accuse the Israelis of conducting a Holocaust and genocide of their own. > [@DMC](#): > > I also don’t have to balance that with criticism of suicide bombers to prove that I’m not anti-Semitic, which seems to be the yardstick some are using to measure by. If the lefties (my side) do something that pisses me off, I’m not required to spend half of my rant about it talking about the bad things the righties do, just to prove I’m not anti-lefty. Well you’re portraying yourself in the context of someone responding to a specific incident, in which case you’d be right. But if you are someone charged with dealing with the overall situations and you tend to see things in a one-sided manner your position does not hold. If you are a policeman who arrests a black person who commits a specific crime there is no reason to think you are a bigot. If you are a policeman who only arrests blacks, there is. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/22 "2004-04-16T15:39:27Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Her previous position as the head of al-Haq, along with her beliefs that the Israelis are attempting genocide in the Occupied Territories, cast some doubt on her objectivity in the Israeli-Palestinian situation. [This](http://www.palnet.com/~alhaq/about.html) al-Haq? > [@](#): > > Al-Haq, the West Bank affiliate of the Geneva-based The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), is a Palestinian human rights organization which was founded in 1979 by Palestinian lawyers concerned with the protection and promotion of the principles of human rights and the rule of law. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/23 "2004-04-16T15:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > my question was why you regarded the “occupation is the root of the problem” as being the “most pertinent points”, when the article and quote by Robinson indicated otherwise. Because the article did not say what the problem with her speech at Durban actually _was_. And, curiously, neither have you. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/24 "2004-04-16T15:45:26Z")
> [@IzzyR](#): > > Well you’re portraying yourself in the context of someone responding to a specific incident, in which case you’d be right. But if you are someone charged with dealing with the overall situations and you tend to see things in a one-sided manner your position does not hold. > > If you are a policeman who arrests a black person who commits a specific crime there is no reason to think you are a bigot. If you are a policeman who only arrests blacks, there is. > [@Mary Robinson](#): > > It is not possible in a short report to convey the depth of pain, suffering, humiliation and despair which comes through when reading the accounts furnished to us from the occupied Palestinian territory. Nor is it possible to convey adequately the level of trauma, fear, and anger experienced by Israeli citizens in the aftermath of a terrible series of suicide bombings. I’d say she passes the test then. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/25 "2004-04-16T15:48:08Z")
For the record, even the student who started the petition doesn’t think she’s anti-semitic. His reasoning for not wanting her to be the speaker seems more related to the fact that she’s controversial, and he wants more student input on future commencement speaker selections. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/26 "2004-04-16T15:59:21Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > Are you sure you want to go down that road? If so, how is this any different: > > Now, criticism of Affirmative Action isn’t necessarily racism, but there is a relationship between the two, and the fact that Affirmative Action is the Republican parties perpetual punching bag does tend to make you wonder. If somebody excessively and non-proportionally criticized Affirmative Action constantly, I’d wonder about his motives, too. I’m not saying you’re an anti-Semite, and you don’t have to balance every criticism you make of Israeli policy with one condemning suicide bombing, or something like that. But, for as bad as some of the stuff that goes on in the Occupied Territories is, it’s not the only injustice in the world, and its not even the worst injustice that goes on. Yet, there are people who gladly condemn any questionable action by Israel who ignore or downplay the other, more severe human rights abuses happening elsewhere There are also those who seem willing to attribute the worst possible motives to Israel, and who see every Israeli action in the worst possible light, and every Palestinian action the best possible light. They’re willing to rationalize the bad stuff that Palestinians do, but not the bad stuff the Israelis do. For these people, you need to wonder if they are making legitimate criticism, or if it’s an expression of anti-Semitic feelings. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/27 "2004-04-16T16:03:26Z")
> [@](#): > > In a statement to delegates last week, Robinson appealed for compromise, but then called for “understanding of the historical wounds of anti-Semitism and of the Holocaust, on the one hand, and of the accumulated wounds of displacement and military occupation on the other.” While this was presented as Ms. Robinson “equating” the Holocaust and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the reader should be aware of the context. Prior to the opening of the conference the agenda had been hijacked by anti-Israeli activists. At that point. Israel (understandably) and the U.S. (somewhat less understandably) chose to stay home and not make the effort to turn the agenda back to the broader goals for which it had been called. The comparison of the two situations had been raised by the people turning the agenda, so it would appear that Ms. Robinson was responding to an existing issue. It is possible (though not demonstrated) that Ms. Robinson has some anti-Zionist bent, but nothing provided by the folks at Emerson supports a claim of anti-Jewish bias. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/28 "2004-04-16T16:07:36Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > [This](http://www.palnet.com/~alhaq/about.html) al-Haq? Yes, [that](http://www.alhaq.org/) al-Haq. (That’s the link to their new, nicer looking website.) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/29 "2004-04-16T16:17:14Z")
So you’re saying documenting human rights issues in the occupied territories is a _bad_ thing? In her role as advisor to the UNHCR, was she dealing exclusively with Israel/Palestine? Or was her work in Somalia and with the ICJ what got her the job? ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/30 "2004-04-16T16:29:06Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Because the article did not say what the problem with her speech at Durban actually _was_. And, curiously, neither have you. Speech? What speech? Have you read this thread? > [@TwistofFate](#): > > documenting human rights issues in the occupied territories is a bad thing? Good or bad, it is an advocacy group representing one side in a conflict. Representing the head of an advocacy group for one side does not suggest an evenhanded approach. (I especially like the way you casually dismissed the Zionists Organisation of America earlier, but are so enamored with al-haq, including their description of themselves on their website. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/31 "2004-04-16T16:35:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Speech? What speech? Have you read this thread? Very well, what the precise problem with her _role_ was. Christ, you’re grooming my nits like a bonobo chimp. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/32 "2004-04-16T16:38:19Z")
> [@IzzyR](#): > > Good or bad, it is an advocacy group representing one side in a conflict. Representing the head of an advocacy group for one side does not suggest an evenhanded approach. (I especially like the way you casually dismissed the Zionists Organisation of America earlier, but are so enamored with al-haq, including their description of themselves on their website. ;)) I’ve no problem being enamoured of a Palestinian Advocacy group, who in their intoroduction states > [@](#): > > Al-Haq was established in 1979 with the goal of protecting and promoting human rights and respect for the rule of law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The organization is committed to the uniform application of universal principles of human rights \*\*regardless of the identity of the perpetrator or victim of abuse. \*\* Al-Haq conducts and disseminates legal and human rights research based on international and humanitarian law, as well as on human rights principles and standards. In addition, the organization, through an extensive database, documents and exposes human rights violations. Al-Haq also houses the only library specialized in human rights in the West Bank, and maintains a tradition of providing free legal services to the Palestinian community. By reinforcing the rule of law and promoting international human rights standards in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Al-Haq contributes to the development of a transparent and democratic civil society in Palestine. At the same time, **al-Haq expects to bring specific abuses to and end by targeting the human rights violations committed by the Israeli and Palestinian authorities.** _bolding mine_ ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/33 "2004-04-16T17:47:20Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Very well, what the precise problem with her _role_ was. But this is actually something I’ve discussed here, with posted links and whatnot. Which contrasts with your “curiously” remark earlier. > [@](#): > > Christ, you’re grooming my nits like a bonobo chimp. Sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable. **TwistofFate** , they can say this or that on their website (much like the ZOA) but you can look through their website and it is pretty obvious who they are after. I couldn’t find a single example of them highlighting any abuses by the PA. Further, although you bold the part where they claim to disregard the identity of the victim of abuse, I could not find anything that suggested that they care about attacks on Jews in the territories, of which there have been many. And elsewhere (e.g. the Human Rights section) they are explicit in saying that their work is “advocating for the protection of Palestinians’ human rights”. (They have another section in which they claim that they also document abuses by the PA. But they go on to say that their role here is to work together with the PA.) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/34 "2004-04-16T17:51:20Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > _bolding mine_ Here are the titles of press releases from 1984-1995…over 100. [http://www.palnet.com/~alhaq/frames\_archive.html](http://www.palnet.com/~alhaq/frames_archive.html) Releases 94 and 95 are critical of rights abuses by Palestinians. The rest criticize Israeli rights abuses. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/35 "2004-04-16T19:20:39Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Please provide a quote which expresses clear anti-Jewish (since not all Semites are Jews) sentiment. While it is certainly true that not all Semites are Jews, the term “anti-semitic” has had its present meaning (that being “anti-jewish”) for well over a hundred years. Indeed, that is the only meaning the term has ever had, as it was coined in 1880 to mean exactly that. I don’t care if someone uses the term “anti-jewish” instead, if you feel the need to for some reason, but to object to the normal use of “anti-semitic”, as you seem to do parenthetically, is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SuperNova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNova)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/36 "2004-04-18T01:16:02Z")
As a current student at Emory University, I feel like I need to chime in here. I admit I have not been following the debate, having no real problem with Robinson as the commencement speaker. But the Jewish population here is ~30-40% of the undergraduates, so it’s understandable that any controversy about her views regarding Israel come under scrutinty. [Here is a link](http://www.emorywheel.com/) to the Emory Wheel (the newspaper on campus). Do a quick search for “Mary Robinson” on the right side and you’ll get all the articles and editorials written about her in the past month or so (and there have been many on both sides). Interesting note, she actually visited our campus briefly a week ago and spoke to small invited group about their various concerns. Obviously the people against her as speaker were not appeased, but it’s still admirable (I think) that she’s willing to go out and talk to people about issues like this. ---
**Author:** ![agiantdwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@agiantdwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agiantdwarf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/37 "2004-04-18T02:36:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Prof Kenneth Stein, the director of the Middle East institute at Emory, also questioned what he said was Mrs Robinson’s belief that “the root cause of the Arab-Israeli conflict is the occupation”. Heh. And I always thought it was when unprovoked Arab nations attacked Israel in 1948. I also thought that this occupation started because of Arab nations’ hostility. Strange. You have to wonder how knowledgeable this woman is about this conflict. As for the title of this thread, I hate how things like this always give anti-Israelis an excuse to claim in almost every damn thread on Israel that “Jews just love to use the anti-semite card when talking about Israel.” Few criticize them when they say this, too. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/38 "2004-04-18T03:16:08Z")
> [@agiantdwarf](#): > > As for the title of this thread, I hate how things like this always give anti-Israelis an excuse to claim in almost every damn thread on Israel that “Jews just love to use the anti-semite card when talking about Israel.” Few criticize them when they say this, too. “Anti-Israelis” like Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman, who said that American Jews are sometimes too quick to assume that antisemitism is at play? ---
**Author:** ![agiantdwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@agiantdwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agiantdwarf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/39 "2004-04-18T04:01:06Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > “Anti-Israelis” like Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman, who said that American Jews are sometimes too quick to assume that antisemitism is at play? First of all, I did not say that making that statement makes you anti-Israeli. And did Mr. Foxman say “Jews” or “some Jews”? Cite, please. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354/40 "2004-04-19T09:59:58Z")
Care to explain your dig at my thread title agiantdwarf? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-emory-university-weakening-the-word-anti-semitism/240354.md?page=3)