To think there are very few allies against Anti-Semitism?

[Longingdreamer]

This month, I have had experienced Anti-Semitism twice. Both times I was with my children.

Both times, my children were distressed, and no one around did anything to protect us or raise the alarm. When we asked for help, we were dismissed. We were in very busy public spaces both times: a tube platform, then a high street.

I reported the first episode to the police. I'm not even sure if it's worth reporting the second episode. Sadly it feels so mainstream, and the authorities are not supportive when I report it either.

Oh that was hilarious! That couple - if they existed, you don't tend to see Hasidic Jews using the tube for reasons too obvious to go into here - must have thought you were off your head with your condescending grinning. Do you also smile at black people so they know you don't think less of them despite, well, you know.

Already said, try to keep up.

What rubbish. Of course Hasidic Jews use the tube. I get on the tube at Colindale and at Golders Green it's not unusual to see them at all.

I thought it was a brilliantly useful & clever comment. Illustrated perfectly what a lot of us on this thread have been getting at!

Fair enough.

It's not condescending to smile at someone.

It's easy to keep your head down and ignore people, it takes more courage to engage with people and smile at them. I have always appreciated people taking the time to smile at me and talk to me.

I don't want someone smiling madly at me because I'm Jewish and they want to let me know that despite that, they neither hate me nor hold me responsible for the actions of a government thousands of miles away, thanks.

I'd be surprised if the couple saw it like that. Most people tend to be appreciative of a smile.

Perhaps you're looking at it from a different perspective to that of the recipients of sickly, condescending smiles. I don't tell people I'm Jewish any more, partly because of that very reason. Like they're doing me a big favour by not shunning me. 🙄

I was responding to a previous message

As much as they would disagree with it, I don't think that a lot of people would intervene in something public like that.

Out of fear for themselves. They would be afraid that they would be stabbed or something.

I remember reading about a woman in ireland. She witnessed homophobic abuse. She should up for the victim.

His attacker then turned on her, punched her and knocked her unconcious

‘People seem to forget the atrocities caused by Hamas’
far from it. Atrocities committed by a terrorist group.
Israel in the other hand, not a terrorist group, a legitimate democracy, bombing, shooting, massacring and starving civilians to the point where even their supporters are starting to call it genocide and call for respite.
It would be better if a government didn’t behave in a way that made them seem worse than terrorists, wouldn’t it?

As i pointed out …. I gave my head a wobble as I realised I probably looked a bit tapped. I’m an empath and my first reaction was I want to make this young couple feel comfortable. That was it. No hidden agenda.
as you have no colour what colour I am it’s quite strange that you ask if I smile at black people .
Finally, I see Hasidic Jews on the tube frequently.

Sorry , corrected to say “As you have no idea what colour I am “.

"I am an Empath" is one phrase that strikes fear into my heart.
Unless its a line on Star Trek (JLP seasons)

I'm sure you can recognise a rhetorical question. As you say I have no idea what colour you are. That doesn't detract from my point. Just replace black people with Chinese people or Sri Lankan people or Syrian people. Whatever you prefer.

Glad to hear the tube is becoming more inclusive; in my north London days a lot of orthodox Jews preferred to stay local.

Why would that be ?

I knew it was a rhetorical question but I just needed to point out your assumption.
In fact I smile at a lot of people. I smile at women with babies who are roaring their heads of or mothers at their whits end with their over tired toddler . I smile naive been there and I rightly or wrongly think I might put them a tiny bit at ease .

Such as?

I smile at people too but it's not occurred to me to smile at people to prove either that I'm not a racist or that I don't blame them for things that couldn't conceivably be their fault.

Hence why, as I have reiterated many times, I gave my head a wobble when smiling at the young Hasidic Jewish couple . What more do you want me to say ?

Nothing. I haven't questioned whether you thought it was a bad idea at all. I just found the mental image quite funny that's all.

Well we know you're a racist if nothing else.

OMFG. What the hell is wrong with you? Incidentally, "we all" don't know anything of the sort because we all aren't thick as mince antisemites.