Anti-Semitism

This is an unfortunate sign.  A BBC reporter in Egypt gets shoved and the apology is that they thought he was Jewish.  So?

If Egypt has this kind of anti-Semitism, what do we think is going on in the Gaza Strip?  With this kind of an attitude, how are we going to get peace in the Near East?

In another forum there has been a discussion, in the last few days, about anti-Islamic attitudes and how a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan can tend to moderate those attitudes and allow the holders to refine their views and learn to discriminate between those who are Muslim, but not a threat and those who are Islamic extremists.  The first are people that military personnel know and work with or at least interact with.  The second are the enemy, trying to kill them.  This is an important distinction.  The mature can make it.  The immature can not.

But, discrimination is an approach to others that has a millennia long history.  It is rife in our time.  But, how can I find time and energy trying to refute anti-Islamic attitudes when I am still trying to clean up anti-Semitsm, and once in a while, anti-Catholicism, or racism, or prejudice against the homeless or the rich?

It is easy to vent one's anger at one's own condition by lashing out at others, but it is unhelpful.  And, it is lacking in insight.

Hat tip to the Instapundit.

Regards  —  Cliff