David Badiel - Jews Don't Count. Shocked

[Everanewbie]

AIBU to be disappointed and upset at the blindspot for antisemitism that was highlighted in last night's excellent documentary? The Leigh Francis part was especially revealing to me. The (quite correct) groveling apologies for the Michael Jackson, Craig David and Mel B characters were a contrast to the defining silence on the David Badiel character.

What is more, the reaction from the left-wing commentators (Owen Jones, et al) on twitter seem to suggest that Badiel says other racism doesn't exist, which feels like a deliberate and willful misrepresentation.

The argument on Twitter (mainly made by other minorities) is that Baddiel is claiming that all other discriminated groups have more privilege than Jews, which simply isn’t true and is actually very offensive.

Yanbu, I haven't watched it, but will do.

What I have increasingly noticed is that anti-Semitism is become an increasingly acceptable form of racism. This is exacerbated by certain celebrities eg Kanye West having extreme anti-Semitic views.

I've come across a lot of anti-Semitism, as well as a lot of denial that anti-Semitism exists, which generally comes from anti-Semites.

It often goes hand in hand with anti-Israel rhetoric, and holocaust denial.

Can you put a link to the documentary?

This this this a million times this

It's on All4 -
www.channel4.com/programmes/david-baddiel-jews-dont-count

@hesbeingabitofadick I'm sorry, I don't have it. But it'll be on channel 4 catch up.

That’s not what he was saying

he said, and evidenced, that anti semitism isn’t called out in the same way as other forms of racism. It’s denied (the whole “Jews aren’t a race” thing) and ignored.

I found it thought provoking.

If you haven’t already, read the book. It mak3s all the points the documentary mak3s but better and in more detail.

I haven't seen the documentary (I didn't know there was one) but I read the book of the same name over the summer. It really shocked me and made me think quite a lot about my own attitudes to racism and anti semitism. Very thought provoking & very funny in David Baddiel's unique way. Would definitely recommend - it's only a slim volume and not at all dry.

Anti semitism has been huge! And blatantly in everyone’s faces for years now.

Does anyone remember a tube poster that was straight out of the 1930s that couldn’t have been more anti semitic if it tried.

I’m RC but I was called a Jew by a housemate for not toeing her exact line on Palestine and for not being anti capitalist enough whilst she got her funding from the Saudi government.

One thing I would say is that the left have ignored established communities across the board in the U.K. ( Irish nurses, anyone, our fathers who built the cities) whilst simultaneously taking the experience of those communities and using that as foundation to create the discourse around more modern immigration.

I think with the Jewish community there is a more obvious vulnerability and not that long ago scar came down from the North to London and publicly shouted out violent, threatening language. It’s in broad daylight and we have done very little to protect our Jewish citizens.

This really troubles me.

I thought it was really interesting. What was the apology to Jason Lee for? I can't find anything specific and didn't watch Fantasy Football or whatever it was. It did strike me as being a tad hypocritical and as if he only apologised because of the documentary.

Another one recommending the book. I listened to the audio book and found it a thoughtful and balanced listen.

I have to ask... how did that typo occur twice?

No judgement, my posts are riddled with typos, I am just curious!

I’ve just watched it. I didn’t come away from it thinking he says Jews have it worse than other minorities. More that people are less outraged about antisemitism than other forms of racism/discrimination. That it’s not ranked up there with homophobia, Islamaphobia etc, particularly among the left-wing.

Jewish DP was laughed at and sacked when complaining about antisemitism at work, he was told ‘your white, it’s impossible for someone to be racist against you’.

Thanks for raising this.

I'm a Jew.

What really hits home for me is the fact that my daughter's Jewish school (in a northern English city) has police and security on the gates. No other minority group needs to be protected like this. I live with a sort of low-level fear that an anti-Semite might one day throw something over the fence into the playground, or try to enter with a weapon.

That's anti-Semitism. The fear.

They obviously weren't paying attention as Baddiel did the exact opposite. He mentioned still having white privilege quite a few times.

Maybe that's true of other discrimination but Islamaphobia, generally speaking, is almost socially acceptable. We elected a prime minister (in a landslide) who said Muslim women look like postboxes.

That isn't to say antisemitism doesn't have the same issue or to play it down in anyway, just that islamaphobia is not the best example to use.

Baddiel blacked up in a sketch in the 90s while pretending to be Jason Lee. It took him 25 years to apologise in person

Baddiel makes good points about anti semitism but does have some skeletons in his own closet (not just this) regarding racist comments and actions. I don’t think that makes him wrong on the anti semitism he raises, but does give people ammunition to dismiss it

Absolutely. And security on Jewish schools, synagogues, nurseries etc all across the world. The racism no one is talking about.

That's absolutely appalling.

I've heard blatant anti-semitism from certain parents locally. Its awful & they display real hate of Jewish people, which they pass on to their children. I agree it’s very much linked to a pro-Palestine stance.

Dont think Baddiel has ever apologised for ‘blacking up’ in the past, and deliberately inviting others to ridicule a black foitballer!

I think I may know where you live. We drive through that area quite often on our way into the city and I find the security needed at the school we pass absolutely shocking.
Absolutely horrific to think these children could be targeted by ignorant racists

I watched it and found it really thought-provoking. I didn't agree with all the points he raised but overall, I felt as if I learnt a lot and it really made me think.

I don't know anyone who has any negative opinions about Jewish people, and I've never heard any anti-semitism in social circles, although I have heard plenty of other types of racism and friends have experienced it. So I guess I've been somewhat sheltered from the reality of antisemitism. It was really shocking.

David Baddiel was questioning why they're not treated in the same way as other ethnic minorities and I did have a thought about that. Watching the show last night, it was very clear that Jewish people all look very different. I appreciate there is a stereotypical "Jewish look" (which is the point that Baddiel was making with one of the people he interviewed and how Jewish their children look). But there was an enormously varied mix of physical characteristics among the Jewish people talking on the documentary, and I wondered whether that is part of the reason why Jewish people aren't treated as a proper identity.

Obviously I'm not saying that it's OK, but I did wonder if that was part of the reason? Maybe part of the reason why they're not seen as a true group and recognised as an ethnic minority?