I’ve written about prejudice and hate in the world (on my blog and other places such as Reflections of a Redhead).  It’s something that is taught by parents to their children.  It’s something that makes this world just a little tougher to survive.

I remember my youth, where it was a never ending daily tirade- from name-calling to rocks through our windows to beatings on the street.  I remember moving to Charlottesville, where while in a public meeting, a real estate developer declared, “Y’all don’t approve this rezonin’,  I’ll sell my property to a Jew from New York!”- and that was the mildest of problems.

I knew how the South dealt (or not) with its Black citizens- not just blocking their voting, but precluding them from education, stores, events.  And, knowing how that was happening, I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.  I knew what it felt like- and had to help stop it.

Now, in America, we still have folks hating Blacks, Hispanics and Jews.   (There’s a significant number of members of a political party that espouses the “Great Replacement Theory”.)  When I moved to the “officially liberal” city of Alexandria, my first neighbor wanted to see where my horns were.  Yes, prejudice (and stupidity) is alive and well -everywhere.

But, compared to the rest of the world, this is a drop in the bucket.  My friends in France all have bought property in Israel, so that when the next event occurs, they can high-tail it out of there.  I thought they were exaggerating.

But, a recent poll showed that anti-Semitism is thriving in Europe- and Asia.  (“Only” 9% of Americans had similar beliefs- which is way down from the almost 43% when I was a teen [1964].  You can bet it’s still a regional phenomenon.)  Before you jump the gun and say that it’s anti-Israel sentiments and not anti-Semitism, consider this one fact.  43% of the Dutch expressed negative impressions about Israel- but true Anti-Semitism was limited to only 5% of the residents.

The only antidote is education.  It’s way past time we start.  Memorial Day is a good day to do so- because so many of our wars have been related to religion and its prejudices.

By the way- besides Memorial Day, today is the centennial of the Lincoln Memorial.  Built on a swamp opposite Robert E Lee’s house (now the home of the Arlington Memorial Cemetery), it is one of the true great temples or cathedrals for America.

Share this: