Is being anti-Israel the same as being anti-Semitic?

Yes and no, but really… YES!

Anyone willing to remove themselves from the deeply-ingrained indoctrination of centuries of “Hate Mythology” handed down by their ancestors, can clearly see it. But that is not an easy thing to do, is it?

“What?? Are you suggesting that my dear papa and sweet old granny might ever bequeath some form of misguided, or immoral point of view?? They may not have known that those designs embroidered on our couch pillows were swastikas!”.

This is not new. Few of us escape the influence of our educators, the propaganda of our day, or the biases of our respective histories. De-programming requires education, a strong sense of morality, and ultimately, the courage to evaluate information accordingly. Because all opinions are valid, except the ignorant ones. After all, a paediatrician does not ask his patients which treatment they think its best. Why? Because the kid doesn’t know s**t!

For those who were not afforded the privilege of strong role models and/or decent teachers, and thus require the simplest path to enlightenment, a simple lesson can be found in either the old or new testaments, as well as any number of books on self-help, personal growth, or human interaction. In a paraphrased nutshell: “Treat others as you wish to be treated.”

So, how can you tell if you are an anti-semite, or just a warm-hearted person whose concern for the welfare of humanity is of paramount importance? Well, here are some questions you can ask yourself:

1. Do you lay awake at night horrified by human rights violations like: Persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar, the death penalty for gay sex in Uganda, and the generally accepted violence against, and raping of, women in extremist Muslim regimes like Iraq, Somalia, Darfur, Sudan, etc.? Or is your number one cause the “distasteful occupation” of Palestine by Israel that you’ve heard about but never seen?

2. Did you know that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has a Gay Pride Parade? Have you wondered what that might look like in Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, or well, take your pick?

3. What is your definition of an “occupied” territory? Is it a government ruling over an indigenous group? If so, are you similarly disturbed by U.S., Britain, or Canada’s occupation over their territories? And what is your definition of “Indigenous”? Is it the ones that were there first, the ones that were there last, or just the ones that say so?

4. When you see the truth, and are then told a lie, do you disregard the truth in favour of the lie even after the lie has been disproven, simply because you prefer the narrative accompanying the lie. Understandably, because you don’t want to appear wishy-washy in your convictions.

If you answered yes to any of the above, or simply chose not to read this based on the headline, I hate to be the one to break it to you… You are an an anti-semite.