Antisemites Gave Us Antisemitism
“Tossing Out the Melting Pot Gave Us Antisemitism” (Opinion, Aug. 24) in my mind constitutes a not-so-subtle bash at positive ethnic, religious and cultural identity. Being proud of one’s skin color after centuries of discrimination and hatred can only be a boost to one’s self esteem. How can a person of color diminish their difference, if skin color is one of the first aspects people notice?
A friend of mine suggested we engage in positive semitism to combat antisemitism, which is what we see in the multiplicity of museums, books and interfaith programs, to name a few examples. To suggest we Jews cower and hide, which is essentially what a melting pot encourages, is to return to an era of fear and a dilution of our principles and customs, for example when Jews had Christmas trees to fit in.
Whether the founding fathers visualized our present or not, they included “all men are created equal” to mean we as individuals have equal rights and dignity. To suggest that antisemitism is on the rise because people demonstrate their identity is to blame the victim. Antisemitism was virulent in Europe when Jews were assimilated. Antisemitism flourishes when demagogues whip up fear and engage in and allow old tropes against Jews. I, for one, do not want to be considered “bland,” as the author suggests is the result of a “melting pot.”
Karen Levi, Potomac
Karen, thank you for your thoughtful reply to Gerard Leval’s article which I believe was also thoughtful and fostered deliberation and dialogue. I think Gerard would agree with you that being proud of one’s identity is a positive emotion and should be celebrated. I sense that Gerard is very proud in a positive “tribal” sense of being Jewish. But what I think troubles Gerard is when emphases on one’s personal or sociological identity turns toward the hatred of the “other” and a feeling of oppression wrought by the “other,” one rightly may fear the danger of conflict, including violence, arising.
On individual to geopolitical levels, we saw such occurrences taking place in pre- and post World War I Europe leading to mass genocides. Gerard’s “melting pot” envisions various ethnics groups living with their proud identities side by side with minimum senses of victimization and animus toward others.