Before I begin this post, I want to emphasize that I value the work of Stop Antisemitism. They have consistently outed Jew-haters into the FAFOsphere, which is something I appreciate (and try to do myself, albeit using humor and sarcasm). This post is written in the spirit of constructive criticism for an outfit I respect, and also to give food for thought for all of us involved in combating antisemitism.
The increasingly despicable Candace Owens is in the news again, this time being named Stop Antisemitism’s ‘Antisemite of the Year.’
And while I fully agree that Owens has proven herself to be a Jew-hater, I do not believe this award is at all helpful.
Quite the contrary, it is counterproductive.
The main problem I see with the award is it is takes itself seriously. This, the official sounding name of the organization Stop Antisemitism, and the mainstream media reporting about Owens winning the award, make it sound like the designation is official and supposed to mean something.
But it doesn’t. What are the criteria beyond people online voting?
The fact Greta Thunberg was crowned runner-up should sound a warning bell that it is a meaningless designation. True, she has come out with some unhinged hatred of Israel, and one could mount a case (like I have) that turning a blind eye to dead, abducted and raped Jews while showing your support for the society from whom the perpetrators came (and from which they enjoy a huge amount of support) is an indicator of antisemitism. But the average person out there would not find her even close to as antisemitic as, say, Dan Bilzerian, who is constantly and blatantly attacking Jews.
What’s more, Candace Owens has taken the opportunity to use all of this to paint the narrative that the word “antisemitism” is just a tactic to shut truthtellers like her up:
The fact that Owens is coming off an interview with USS Liberty survivor and so-called “whistleblower” Phil Tourney, who claims Israel deliberately attacked the US spy ship (an interview Owens is bragging is her biggest episode ever), could give her claim the optics of being credible.
So by all means shine a light on the Jew-haters. Explain clearly why they are Jew-haters. Have them suffer the consequences of exercising their right to free speech on disseminating Jew-hatred (whether that be commercial or career-related consequences). These are all important things you do exceedingly well. But don’t create an antisemite awards that seems meaningless and provides the real Jew-haters with an “out” to claim they are being silenced for criticizing Israel.
For what it’s worth, if you want to have an award for antisemites, do it with humor, in a way that doesn’t take the awards seriously, while mocking the living daylights out of the Jew-haters – like I did with my Freakiest Looking Antisemite contests back in the day.
Some of the Jew-haters mocked in those posts were years later still ranting about Israellycool, clearly upset by the ridicule. Plus we all had a good laugh, which is something we shouldn’t forget to do even as Jew hatred and terrorism against us run rampant.
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