The accusation of anti-Semitism

[ciphergoth]

(This was originally a comment in webcowgirl's journal, but I wanted to share.)

The New York Times recently published a column by one David Brooks in which he alleges that
those who oppose the neoconservative agenda are anti-Semitic. (More coverage: Talking Points, This Modern World)

I look forward to the Times carrying my rebuttal in next week's edition, in which I argue that Brooks only says that because he likes to fuck pigs.

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I particularly like the bit about "neo- means Jewish". SINCE WHEN? IN WHAT LANGUAGE? Neo- means NEW, you fucktard! "Jewish Conservative" would be "judeo-conservative".

By the same argument, what does he think "neo-Nazi" means?

[djm4]

Hmmm. On the episode of The West Wing that I saw last night, it seemed to be accepted that 'New York' was being used by one of the Christians as a synonym for 'Jewish' - it wouldn't surprise me to learn that there are many phrases in the US which are generally accepted to mean 'Jew' in certain contexts. It's news to me that 'neo' is one, but I'd need to know a lot more about US culture and language use than I do to be sure.

Kinda like all the phrases that English people can use when they want to be derogatory about homosexuals, or French people, or the disabled, which don't actually mean anything of the sort and would puzzle the hell out of anyone not steeped in our culture.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I'm sure it is contextual, and American 'broadsheet' print journalism is notoriously smugly self-referential.

[narnee.livejournal.com]

As an (expat) American of Jewish ethnicity with a keen interest in linguistics, I can conclusively say that 'neo' is not a synonym for Jewish anywhere in the US. Even Americans know that 'neo' means 'new.' I haven't ever heard 'New York' used in that context either although it makes somewhat more sense given the history of Jews in New York; it's entirely possible that The West Wing writers made it up.

I wonder if anyone bothered to tell Brooks that most American Jews actually vote Democrat and have done for as long as anyone can remember.

[djm4]

Thanks!

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

(1) The neoconservatives call themselves that, goddamn it.

(2) The only ones whose religion I'm aware of are fundamentalist Christians. From Texas. Several of them have gotten in the news for being prominent in their pro-Christian religious bigotry.

(3) These are the same people (like, the same actual physical human beings) who would, thirty years ago, talk about how those evil "New York" liberals are scheming to take away all your money, drink the blood of your babies, and kill Jesus. They worked for Nixon, for God's sake.

Neocon is not code for Jewish, 'K?

Ooh further proof

[webcowgirl.livejournal.com]

You've opened up my mind! It's OBVIOUS that "Neo" means "Jewish" because in the movie The Matrix, the Christ figure was named "Neo" - and of course we all know Christ was just a Jewish carpenter ... computer programmer being a good enough parallel these days.