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Richard D

(9,717 posts)
4. It's a good question with a strong differentiation
Fri Apr 11, 2025, 02:13 PM
Apr 11

"Semitic" definitely refers to the language group that includes Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, Amharic, and a bunch more.

However, the term "Antisemetic" was coined by Wilhelm Marr in Germany, who was an antisemite who wanted a word to give his Jew hatred some pseudoscientific legitimacy. The word has always referred to Jew hatred, and not to the broad language group of the Semitic languages.

Now, many with Jew hatred will say that the term covers all Semitic language groups, but that is not so, and never was. It's use in that was is antisemitism.

This is why some people prefer the term "Jew hatred," though IMNVHO, it loses something.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Very timely message, thx. Mosby Apr 11 #1
It's more and more obvious to me . . . Richard D Apr 11 #2
Anti-semitic vishnura Apr 11 #3
It's a good question with a strong differentiation Richard D Apr 11 #4
Semitic vishnura Apr 11 #5
It is deeper than October 7th JustAnotherGen Apr 11 #7
Excellent read in the lead up to Passover JustAnotherGen Apr 11 #6
Kicking this up JustAnotherGen Apr 12 #8
Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Jewish Group»A 3,500-Year-Old Story Th...»Reply #4