Your (Anti-Israel/Anti-Semitic) Dictionary.com
Ami Isseroff brings to our attention the latest example of anti-Israel propaganda/anti-Semitism going mainstream.
The culprit? Yourdictionary.com
Yourdictionary.com is the latest example of how anti-Israel propaganda, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism have gone mainstream. Previously, we noted how anti-Israel propaganda had permeated Wikipedia, thanks to the efforts of a few dedicated anti-Israel editors. But Wikipedia, despite its tremendous authority, is a source open to public editing. Yourdictionary.com is supposedly a neutral source, which provides “educational content” for profit. When the propaganda gets into dictionary definitions, it is a sign that it really has become part of the mainstream culture.
The most remarkable thing about yourdictionary.com is perhaps the entries that are NOT there. Neither “anti-Semitism” nor “antisemitism” were listed in this dictionary as of July 19!
For the entry Jew, the dictionary lists the anti-Semitic verb form first. To be fair, it states that the usage is racist, but I have never seen the verb form of “Jew” listed first in any dictionary (as in “He Jewed me down”).
For other entries that we found, the definitions were correct, but the examples included vicious anti-Israel propaganda and opinionated slurs, including deliberate misuse of other words.
Examples:
Occupation
“The only way for Israelis to have security is, quite simply, to end the 35-year-old Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.”“The Israeli occupation will never respect the human rights or civil rights of the people.”
“The cause of the problem is the illegal occupation, by Zionist racists, of the land of the Palestinians.”
Apartheid:
The apartheid wall alone makes a mockery of the pride’s slogan of ‘ Love Without Borders ‘.
“Israel, like South Africa, is an apartheid state, ” he said.
ethnic cleansing
The end of Zionist ethnic cleansing, and the right of all refugees to return to their homelands.
Ami then suggests to write to both the Web site owners and to ADL.
Protest that politicization of dictionary entries is unacceptable, and that omission of “anti-Semitism” (in whatever spelling) could not be accidental. Yourdictionary.com has a disclaimer stating that examples do not reflect their opinions. The omission of “anti-Semitism” and the use of the verb form of “Jew” first must “reflect their opinions” and the examples, consistently anti-Israel were chosen by them. How could they not reflect their opinions?
What is your kid learning as he or she do their homework and use this dictionary?
Contact Information:
ADL: Via contact form at:http://www.adl.org/contact_us.asp
Yourdictionary.com (Love to Know)
1325 Howard Ave
Suite 307
Burlingame, CA 94010
US
admin@lovetoknow.comPlease check yourdictionary.com for other entries that might yield “interesting” examples.
Do not accuse them of “anti-Semitism.” It is enough to mention that they fail to define anti-Semitism. Keep reminding ADL and lovetoknow until these problems are resolved.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
Red flags of malicious intent all over this “dictionary.” Curious to know about who was putting out this propaganda, I plugged in the address you gave into Google Map search and went to Street Level (which gives pictures of the buildings, business names, etc), arrowing over until I found what seemed to be the location, right next to the Cane Cleaners), and sure enough the address corresponds not to an office or apartment, but to “The UPS Store” (whose address I confirmed here; anyway, in case you’re not aware (being that you’re an Aussie in Israel), these UPS stores are places where in addition to those w/legitimate convenience or privacy concerns (battered women, for ex), “shadowy” more sinister individuals and groups go to get post office boxes that are more private than using/revealing one’s regular address. This “dictionary” and its publisher reek of hateful intent.
I am shocked that Webster’s Dictionary puts its name all over this site–or did the purveyors of hate just ‘borrow’ the Webster’s name for their site? I have emailed these people, but I doubt they will care (and I hope they can’t use my email address to find anything out about me).
I’ve also shared your post to all friends and family members who have children or work with children, to make sure they never use the site… Next, the local libraries
It appears that the issues mentioned in the post have been removed.