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Original poster

Is Scotland becoming anti Semitic?

87 replies

boompah · 29/05/2021 00:51

Jewish friends thinking of leaving Glasgow for London. Feeling there has been a political shift where they are feeling isolated.

I find it so sad and not something I've been aware of but don't want to diminish their experiences.

Anyone hearing similar comments?

OP posts:
S0upertrooper · 29/05/2021 01:49

Glasgow has always been hugely supportive of Palestine. Could your friends be interpretating this as anti semitism?

fb1978 · 29/05/2021 02:03

Unfortunately yes. Antisemitic incidents have risen around 500% recently (I need to dig out the source). Unfortunately there are many antisemites who dress their antisemitism in support for Palestine (most Jews are supportive of Palestinian rights).

Duke4 · 29/05/2021 02:17

Glasgow is a hot bed of antisemitism. As are places in England. Antisemitism is rising in the UK, Europe and the US at the fastest rate since not seen since the 1930s. It’s got nothing to do with Palestine and everything to do with the oldest hatred of Jew-hate.

Harriedharriet · 29/05/2021 03:19

@Duke4

Glasgow is a hot bed of antisemitism. As are places in England. Antisemitism is rising in the UK, Europe and the US at the fastest rate since not seen since the 1930s. It’s got nothing to do with Palestine and everything to do with the oldest hatred of Jew-hate.
That cannot be correct. In the 1930s antisemitism was embeded in culture right across Europe from the highest society to the lowest. This is why Hitler was able to do what he did, devasting as it was. Nowadays antisemitism is NOT acceptable. I do not doubt there is an increase of incidents (as there usually are when Israel and the Palestinians flare up) I do not for one second believe that it is the same as the 1930s. Lets not put the fear of God into people eh?
Duke4 · 29/05/2021 08:32

Did I say it was the same? I said antisemitism is increasing at the highest rate not seen since the 1930s. Considering this is 2021 I’m amazed this doesn’t terrify and shame you, it does me. Hitler was able to do what he did because he was appeased for too long. Now threats from Islamists emboldened by the useful idiots of the hard left “anti zionist” movement is terrifying the Jewish community, if only you would listen to them.

RaspberryCoulis · 29/05/2021 10:00

The whole Palestine thing - lots of people equate the State of Israel and the actions of its government with Jewish people as a whole.

You have numpties like that wee laddie Greer wearing a Palestine flag for his swearing in at the parliament and repeatedly tweeting how awful Israel is. Now I'm not saying he's anti-Jewish - but his criticism will be taken as anti-semitic by loads of people. And then you have old school anti-semites like George Galloway who have been stirring up anti-Israeli feeling for decades. The hard left of the Labour party has been called out for being anti-semitic and it would be wrong to think there are none of those supporters in Scotland too.

However leaving Glasgow for London appears to be out of the frying pan and into the fire...

Seeingadistance · 29/05/2021 10:20

I’m not Jewish, but a Jewish friend from Southside of Glasgow has been increasingly distressed about anti-semitism these past few years. Not only its existence, but the openness of people in making anti-semitic comments.

FelicityPike · 29/05/2021 12:39

Glasgow maybe....Scotland, no.

Sakura7 · 29/05/2021 12:43

You have numpties like that wee laddie Greer wearing a Palestine flag for his swearing in at the parliament and repeatedly tweeting how awful Israel is. Now I'm not saying he's anti-Jewish - but his criticism will be taken as anti-semitic by loads of people.

Supporting Palestine and criticising the actions of the Israeli government is not anti-semitic though, and it's not right for anyone to claim that it is. It shuts down any kind of meaningful debate.

RaspberryCoulis · 29/05/2021 15:27

No it's not. But there are a lot of people out there who cannot see the distinction between the state of Israel, and Jewish people.

Harriedharriet · 29/05/2021 16:21

I said antisemitism is increasing at the highest rate not seen since the 1930s.

Again - I contest this.

And bugger off with this: I’m amazed this doesn’t terrify and shame you

dementedma · 29/05/2021 16:31

Glasgow is rife with bigotry. Sectarian, anti-English...unpleasant place. And yes, I do know it well and still have some friends who live there, although others have moved away for the reasons above

Gothichouse40 · 29/05/2021 16:45

Dementedma, much as I love my country of Scotland, I agree. Nothing has ever been done about anti- catholic bigotry and this has went on since my own mother was a child. During the Indyref, I knew English people suffered anti- English bigotry. These issues have never been addressed by any party. It should not be happening to anyone. If Scotland wants to be seen as forward thinking and welcoming(most times it is). The Scottish Government needs to address ALL forms of bigotry and do something about it.

Duke4 · 29/05/2021 16:45

@Sakura7

You have numpties like that wee laddie Greer wearing a Palestine flag for his swearing in at the parliament and repeatedly tweeting how awful Israel is. Now I'm not saying he's anti-Jewish - but his criticism will be taken as anti-semitic by loads of people.

Supporting Palestine and criticising the actions of the Israeli government is not anti-semitic though, and it's not right for anyone to claim that it is. It shuts down any kind of meaningful debate.

Nobody claims this but many of those people are incapable of doing so without being antisemitic. If the Jewish state is the only one you criticise without criticising arguably much worse states such as Pakistan, Iran etc, chances are you’re an antisemite.
PearlclutchersInc · 29/05/2021 16:50

I live in Glasgow; the people I know arent anti-semitic; they're generally not anti anyone. That said there's a good subset who are anti-everything, nasty mean-minded wee shites who hate everything not least themselves.

Duke4 · 29/05/2021 16:50

@Harriedharriet

I said antisemitism is increasing at the highest rate not seen since the 1930s.

Again - I contest this.

And bugger off with this: I’m amazed this doesn’t terrify and shame you

You’re contesting CST records of incidents? How novel! Do you contest all racism or just that towards Jews?
latissimusdorsi · 29/05/2021 16:56

@dementedma

Glasgow is rife with bigotry. Sectarian, anti-English...unpleasant place. And yes, I do know it well and still have some friends who live there, although others have moved away for the reasons above

It's always mattered what school you went to in Glasgow (and some surrounding areas) In rest of Scotland no-one gives a toss

Original poster
boompah · 29/05/2021 17:03

Yes, the prominence of an ever present and vocal Palestinian support was cited as a factor. Nuances don't filter down to day to day life and people more embolden with horrid comments. She regrets people at work knowing she's Jewish too.

I couldn't explain to her why it's become the number one issue over lots of others in Glasgow (as I don't know) but there is safety in numbers in North London, though still challenges.

The next stop is Israel, ironically.

Not sure anyone in scotland cares about this tbh. Or UK even.

OP posts:
Gothichouse40 · 29/05/2021 17:16

I disagree with the previous poster who said anti- catholic feeling only existed in Glasgow. That is a myth. It is also experienced in other parts of Scotland. I know this for a fact.

Duke4 · 29/05/2021 17:19

Unfortunately while antisemitism has never completely gone away, it re-dresses itself, mutates. The current form of antisemitism is the demonisation of Israel.

This excellent explanation from the late chief Rabbi might help you to understand and support your friend and other Jews:

Dohrehmee · 29/05/2021 17:47

I think hatred of Jewish people has increased everywhere. If I was a Jew I’d be frightened to wear anything resembling my Jewish heritage. I’d also like to add where are the people protesting against Yemen being bombed. There are so many human rights abuses going on in the Middle East. One is the ethnic cleansing of Christians and other minorities. There are no protests about these . I think that is why people might also think that why the demonisation of one state And one religion and not others .

ConfusedAdultFemale · 29/05/2021 17:48

Got really bad news for them if they move to London Confused

Puffalicious · 29/05/2021 18:26

@PearlclutchersInc

I live in Glasgow; the people I know arent anti-semitic; they're generally not anti anyone. That said there's a good subset who are anti-everything, nasty mean-minded wee shites who hate everything not least themselves.
Exactly this. And there are subsets of anti everything people in every pocket of society across the UK and the world, not just Glasgow.

I've grown up and lived here most of my life and it is an amazing place to live and bring up children in. The PP who said it was unpleasant clearly doesn't live in the Glasgow I do.

My good friend is an American Jew living in the South Side, and has never experienced anti-semitism or anti- American feeling. She's in and out of varied communities through her job and also runs a community arts venture where she has been nothing but welcomed.

Cherrycee · 29/05/2021 19:15

The current form of antisemitism is the demonisation of Israel.

This kind of statement lacks any sort of credibility.

Oppression, killing of innocents and the stealing of other people's land deserves criticism. That criticism is directed towards the Israeli government, not Jews in general.

If anyone dares to call out what's happening, they're gaslit.

murbblurb · 29/05/2021 19:21

...as long as they are just as vocal in 'calling out' similar actions by states not run by Jews....