"The problem here is a totalitarian uniformity, a cult-like mentality such that even allies are enemies if they fail to follow the Exact Party Line. " - Phyllis Chesler

Thursday, January 28, 2010

For The Asshats From Twitter Who Troll

Today there was a tweet from someone I formerly followed but decided to block. It was a quote about how lending money was evil. I'm paraphrasing of course. The quote was from Washington. I found the quote rather shocking. Although it wasn't outright antisemitism, the idea behind the words often are. And while I didn't think that tweeter was antisemitic nor meant it that way I pointed it out.

What I found not only ironic but hypocritical are the rants and anger from many of my followers who are Christians and who feel that progressives are anti-Christian but when pointed out that they might actually be participating in a similar act, which they claim is horrible when done upon them, they don't act humbly, but in anger and then attack my character, sending their followers to yell at me, or what we call trolling. Very Alinsky.

And I won't stand for it. I have always stood on principle. At 38 I've grown used to the consequences of that way of life and it ain't gonna change now!

So for the asshats that don't seem to understand that tweeting that we shouldn't be in the business of money lending/borrowing has antisemitic tones and that there is a better way to express the thought you were attempting to tweet BUT DIDN'T communicate properly here is just one source that explains why.

Read and learn PULEASE!

The same was true during the Middle Ages, long before anybody acknowledged the fact of the time value of money. Feudal lords, for example, needed money to plant their crops, at a season when they might not have much cash on hand. At the same period of time, Jews were generally not permitted to own or work the land, which was really the only way to support a family back then. With regret, Jews often turned to the practice of lending money to gentiles on interest. The Torah permitted the practice, but Jewish money lenders knew that their business was viewed as less than noble. Moreover, the practice of money lending often cast Jews in a bad light, in the eyes of their Christian neighbors. Too many times in our history, Jewish people were persecuted, even murdered or expelled from their homes, when the Christians to whom they lent money could not repay the loans. Even more often, when wealthy medieval lords faced an economic crunch, they continued to live high on the hog, while their serfs suffered. When the poor workers would begin to rebel, they would be told not to blame the wealthy Christian land owners, but rather that the fault rested with supposedly greedy Jewish money lenders. Inevitably, a pogrom would ensue, as understandably angry serfs, their rage displaced, would attack the Jewish village. Tragically, these violent outbreaks of anti-Semitism were not isolated and did not end in the pre-modern era. Hitler, too, utilized calumnies against Jewish bankers to stir up anti-Semitism among his people and to justify genocide.
http://www.beth-elsa.org/bb031105.htm

2 comments:

Opus #6 said...

Thanks for keeping an eye out for this stuff. It is good to educate people.

Aleta said...

I've heard of this history before. Very interesting stuff and good that you posted it, for those who don't know and as a reminder to those who do.