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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think Kanye West's racism is going to lead to an increase in violence against Jews?

254 replies

smokedsalm0n · 02/12/2022 11:03

Firstly, I am Jewish, no connection to Israel, I'm not Israeli (not that I need to qualify my post with that) and have lived in the UK all my life.

So, after his recent rantings about loving Hitler, Nazis and the holocaust (torontosun.com/entertainment/celebrity/i-like-hitler-kanye-west-doubles-down-on-hate-speech-on-alex-jones-infowars-show)

I'm feeling very scared and scared for my kids, especially reading recent threads like this:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4662884-kanye-wests-harmful-views-tackling-antisemitism-at-school

Kanye is very influential and popular with the younger generation and my Jewish children are already getting more racist comments said to their faces without any fear of retribution. I am genuinely scared for their physical safety. Jews shouldn't have to live in fear, its 2022 ffs not the 1930s!

OP posts:
Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 02/12/2022 11:07

Is Kanye West really all that popular with the kids now?
Everyone I know thinks he's a bit of a joke
(and in recent times more of a dangerous joke - but definitely not someone to look up to/ respect/ take seriously)
I sincerely hope he becomes more of an irrelevant has-been as soon as possible.

Pinniepotter · 02/12/2022 11:09

It's absolutely awful OP. It's so frightening. And what really freaks me out is all the people piping up and agreeing about Jews controlling music industry etc.

Luckydip1 · 02/12/2022 11:09

Don't be ridiculous, of course it won't.

SavoirFlair · 02/12/2022 11:09

Kanye is very influential and popular with the younger generation

No he really isn’t.

they listen to Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Juice World, Roddy Ricch, etc

Kanye is older generation rap music. Influential as hell musically in terms of the named rappers above. But your statement is wrong

Timeforaswim · 02/12/2022 11:16

It's horrendous what he's saying and doing and I am so sorry your children are experiencing an increase in racism.
No one should live in fear.
I find it puzzling there isn't more outrage about it and that people are dismissing your concerns.
I hope you're ok..

FrancescaContini · 02/12/2022 11:18

I just started reading the Toronto Sun article. WTAF??

Inmyonesie · 02/12/2022 11:18

I’m not sure a rise in antisemitism can be attributed to Kanye. However I’m not Jewish so don’t have any experience the racism you experience, but I imagine it’s more complex than Kanye. And yes, it is shocking and no one should have to worry for their kids safety, especially over race.

PerkingFaintly · 02/12/2022 11:18

Even if he doesn't appeal to the younger generation, it's still absolutely appalling that he's said this stuff - and he clearly felt very comfortable saying it.

I'm worried about it, and I'm not Jewish.

(And quite right, OP, you shouldn't have had to qualify your post by saying you're not connected to Israel. It's awful that things are such that you feel you have to say it.)

Sparklesocks · 02/12/2022 11:20

I don’t think he has the influence he once has. He’s lost a lot of fans over the years, and his ‘new’ fans tend to be hard right types who are happy to have another celebrity mouthpiece for their cause rather than neutral people he’s radicalised into agreeing with him.

Echobelly · 02/12/2022 11:23

I'm not particularly scared for my kids, but then we're not obviously Jewish, ie not Orthodox so we don't have any outward signs. I have occasionally worried that someone might shout something at us when we're walking to synagogue (or to our kids when they were still at primary school, which was Jewish). But I imagine it could increase targeting of more orthodox Jews and it does encourage online antisemitism.

What worries me is that we are such a small group (and people don't realise quite how small) that there are many, many people who have never met a Jewish person and I think it's then easy to forget we are people. I wonder if it might help to have some kind of social media/school campaign showing different Jewish people to help remind others of this! When you make certain comments or share certain memes, they need to know they are harming real people. And that if you don't know any Jews, it's not because we are secretive, or cliquey, or we think we're better than non-Jews, it's simply because we're a very small minority and mostly clustered around only a few places where there's the infrastructure for us to practice.

Greenfairydust · 02/12/2022 11:30

I am not Jewish but I am so annoyed that this idiot was allowed to get away with the offensive statements he has been making for so long.

It seems there was too much money involved and too many people dazzled by his celebrity status to call him out for what he is.

The sooner we see the back of that man, the better we will all be.

I never understood his appeal and never saw any kind of talent in his music. Good riddance.

MichelleScarn · 02/12/2022 11:33

Who on earth thinks op is being u reasonable in her concern for her children?!

Luckydip1 · 02/12/2022 11:34

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Dotjones · 02/12/2022 11:37

I don't think he's anywhere near as popular and influential is the OP suggests. His views are very controversial but are part of a long tradition of anti-Jewish sentiment that has long been part of our society.

We should look closer to home when criticising others. Take Simon de Montfort, he expelled the Jews from Leicester when he was in power. Kicked them out of town. For being Jewish. What happens in the modern world, he gets a (so-called) university named after him. In 1992! They're still operating under his name, offering higher education in the name of an antisemite.

It's bizarre to me that the removal of statues and of names in honour of racists against persons of African origin is high up the agenda but there's no such rush to do the same for people who discriminated against other groups.

Look at America. Washington, a man who "felt uneasy" about slavery yet still owned well over a hundred slaves at the time of his death appears on their fucking bank notes and has a giant tower erected as a memorial in the city named after him. Lincoln, a man whose views eventually mellowed to the extent he thought maybe "highly intelligent" African Americans might be allowed to vote, has his own statue just down the road.

Original poster
smokedsalm0n · 02/12/2022 11:48

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You think people shouting racist abuse at children is "freedom of speech"?

OP posts:
BigglyBee · 02/12/2022 11:49

I'm not Jewish, so in a very real sense my opinion doesn't matter a bit. However, from what little I know, many Jewish people already live with the daily fear of violence. A recent thread really opened my eyes about the level of security which is needed in Jewish schools, for example.

Again it's just an impression, but it seems to me that violence can erupt with very little warning, and the kind of person who will be influenced by Kanye West will need very little excuse. Of course, most people will pay him no attention, or think he is an idiot, but how many people need to think he has a point to make the situation dangerous?

OP, I'm so sorry that you even have to consider this. YANBU and I hope your very valid concerns turn out to be unnecessary.

DontSpeakLatinInFrontOfTheBooks · 02/12/2022 11:51

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It’s called racism. That is not the same at all.

Mrsrasputian · 02/12/2022 11:55

Yes OP. He is a vile individual and is trying to stoke up hatred of Jewish people!

MarshaMelrose · 02/12/2022 11:57

We should look closer to home when criticising others. Take Simon de Montfort, he expelled the Jews from Leicester when he was in power. Kicked them out of town. For being Jewish. What happens in the modern world, he gets a (so-called) university named after him.

You're looking back into history and judging someone by present day morals. Most people were anti other religions. He probably also slapped his wife around, as did most men of the time. However, on the other hand he moved our constitution forward hugely by bringing representatives from across the country to enable them to give their opinions on hiw the country was being managed. That does make him a hugely significant figure (albeit he was a bully and a thug).

toffeecrisps · 02/12/2022 11:57

Luckydip1 · 02/12/2022 11:09

Don't be ridiculous, of course it won't.

How to you know?

Maybe he's not as influential as he once was, but if even one person is antisemitic towards someone as a result of him that's one person too many.

Mrsrasputian · 02/12/2022 11:58

What I don’t understand is why he is getting away with it!

MrsKeats · 02/12/2022 12:01

Oh cool the 'ol 'freedom of speech' argument. The one trotted out by racists/anti-Semitic groups etc.
Hate speech is a crime.
I have Jewish friends who have definitely voiced concern over this type of rubbish being spouted by Kanye amongst others,

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 02/12/2022 12:06

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It's called hate speech

hamstersarse · 02/12/2022 12:09

He's a nasty man

I think most (all?) people can see that

He delivered that latest hate speech wearing a Balenciaga mask - which also tells you a lot about him given their recent child abuse claims.

He's just a dick and people can see that

He thinks he is some sort of genius, but really he is totally struggling with the concept of free speech and it's integration with society

skippy67 · 02/12/2022 12:10

Kanye is very influential and popular with the younger generation
Who told you that?!