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eppur_se_muova

(40,533 posts)

5. The term "Semite" is basically inaccurate and effectively obsolete, so why isn't "Anti-Semitic" the same ?

Reply to gulliver (Original post)

Sat Nov 8, 2025, 02:08 PM

Saturday

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic_people

It came from old racial "theories", some of which led to the radical policies of the German Nazis. The term "Semitic" might have referred to many different ethnic groups in the Middle East, including Arabs -- which makes it a little jarring to hear Israel-hating Arabs referred to as "Antisemites".

I guess ignorance is bliss in some circumstances.

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gulliver

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Highlight:

Replacing "antisemitic" with "Jew-phobic" [View all] gulliver Saturday OP

When people have attempted to muddle the meaning of antisemitic sarisataka Saturday #1

That definitely adds a forceful historic bite to it gulliver Saturday #7

Can you give an example of who and what you would consider phobic JI7 Saturday #2

Arachnophobia, agoraphobia... gulliver Saturday #11

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Saturday #12

It's definitely one pathway, fear to hate gulliver Saturday #14

But how about when it comes to Jewish people JI7 Saturday #17

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Saturday #3

Phobia implies fear; anti- as a prefix mostly means against biophile Saturday #4

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Saturday #6

I agree but it depends on the audience gulliver Saturday #9

Sounds reasonable, yes biophile Saturday #22

The term "Semite" is basically inaccurate and effectively obsolete, so why isn't "Anti-Semitic" the same ? eppur_se_muova Saturday #5

The racist definition of Semites was developed in the 1770s sarisataka Saturday #10

That's the thinking behind removing the hyphen Mosby Saturday #13

Here's my take: semite is race oriented, and jew relates to theology. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Saturday #8

I couldn't remember what its derivation was, if I ever knew muriel_volestrangler Saturday #15

That take is incorrect sarisataka Saturday #16

I see 'shem' as the remnant of a much longer phrase that has been shortened into one syllable. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Sunday #25

"Shem" means, roughly, "name", and can have the same implication of "reputation" as in English muriel_volestrangler Sunday #26

Semitic is a language group Mosby Saturday #20

Why? Behind the Aegis Saturday #18

I'm largely in agreement gulliver Saturday #21

Language as a weapon Behind the Aegis Saturday #23

I see antisemitism as prejudice too. gulliver Saturday #24

Those two expressions have very, very different meanings. MineralMan Saturday #19