one of the interesting pop culture phenomenons I’ve recognized is how little regard anyone gives to antisemitism from revered artists - and I know many other prejudices and abuses are responded to this way, so I’m not dismissing that at all, especially when it comes to famous men - but someone can be completely upheld, especially posthumously, as a nearly deified figure, as someone who was all about peace, love, and humanity, and if anyone brings up the fact that one of these idolized figures expressed deep seated hatred of Jews, utilized antisemitic language and stereotypes, or was openly hostile to Jewish people, it gets handwaved away. “nobody’s perfect!” well, I agree, I don’t think we should expect anyone to be perfect, humans are flawed and make mistakes, and can still be good and kind, and can make amends if they choose. I just think it’s curious that “nobody’s perfect” is a response towards antisemitic attitudes in a specific way. “he was all about peace, love, and humanity, despite the antisemitism” says to me that you think peace, love, and humanity inherently excludes Jews.
nowadays, it’s even worse, because where this used to be dismissed or excused, it’s now gleefully justified. “did you know he hated the zios?” “he did not like the 🧃.” “he was Noticing before anyyyy of us.” “so based of him to be against the J’s.” “he was trying to tell the world about them.” “he knew and that’s why they took him out.” (these are all actual comments I’ve seen. about more than one person.) where before, the antisemitism was unfortunate but not disqualifying, it is now seen as an attribute, an admirable character trait. in fact, even minimal anti-Jewish sentiment is used to further conspiracies that certain public figures understood “the truth” about Jews. even apologies that may have been issued about this by the artists themselves are wholly rejected by fans in favor of applauding the anti-Jewish bigotry instead.
the flip side of this is the demonizing of deceased Jewish artists or allies as “Zionists (slur),” which, first of all, doesn’t quite make sense, because it’s very weird to blame people who are not here, some of whom have been gone for decades, for the current situation in the Middle East. no consideration is given that many of the celebrities who were outspoken in favor of supporting the Jewish community, and even of Israel, were people who lived through WWII and witnessed the aftermath of the Holocaust personally. many of the Jewish artists of that time were from immigrant families who faced discrimination in the early 20th century US and then saw their people suffer industrialized murder in Europe. it’s rather obvious why their opinions would be what they were, and why they believed what they did. modern politics cannot be grafted onto the generations who lived before us. and yet, iconic Jews and allies are smeared as “zionazis” and “genocide enablers,” and the rest of their legacies cease to matter, even if they were devoted humanitarians and did positive work for the world. you will not see them defined as being about peace, love, and humanity. don’t be silly. Jews and those who stand with Jews are never representative of peace, love, and humanity. so it goes.
amandla
discoholicmusic
dailybridgerton
