(TOH to Ike) 20 members of the Russian Duma are pushing for legislation that would ban all Jewish groups in Russia. Arguing that stereotypes of Jews are substantially accurate but stylistically problematic (bigotry is a matter of finesse, after all), they believe that Jews in groups cause hatred and ... antisemitism.
Russia's chief rabbi respoinds by implying that these people are playing the antisemitism card to get attention in popular opinion.
So it's not just Russian nationalists who think that objecting to antisemitism causes more antisemitism. Norway's Kåre Willoch has also said that all this whining strengthens prejudice against Jews. Nor is this argument limited to Jews - civil rights opponents have long argued that the chief cause of racism is uppity black people.
More frightening is the rabbi's analysis that antisemitic propaganda is a red herring, something to get the masses (Lenin's word) excited. Which is to say that antisemitism runs deep and wide in Russia.
Which is one good reason why Israel exists. Sent wirelessly from my Blackberry.
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