Jewish Confusion: One possible root of global animosity.

As most know, “Jew” can mean nationality, ethnicity, or religion.

I think this is a big, if not the biggest, part of why they are embroiled in conflict throughout their history. It linguistically makes bad thinking and speaking habits not only easier, but possibly unavoidable.

The inability to easily distinguish between the three categories is a veritable recipe for misunderstanding and confusion.

I think it’s also likely that some people get so used to conflating the terms that when thinking about themselves and their group in this interchangeable term that they start to see others in an equally homogeneous light.

Certainly they could more readily confuse attacks on (or defenses of) one category for attacks on another.

Imagine how confusing it would be, and how racist it would look, if every time I attacked Israeli policy I used the phrase “Jew policy.” Not only would that make me look racist, it would also make me look ignorant.

I think this causes all sorts of problems (throughout history) and if Jews themselves won’t clarify and specify, we as interested outsiders perhaps should endeavor to do so, even if they don’t adopt the language convention, just to keep our own thinking clear and to short circuit confusion and spurious (if sincere) accusations of racism.

As a simplified example of how this is could work, imagine you have two bronze age tribesmen talking about local affairs, and the non-Jew says to the Jew something critical of local Jewish (tribal) policy, but the Jew accidentally perceives it to be an attack on his race or religion, and becomes aggressive and (understandably) annoyed. The non-Jew not having intended offense perceives this as the Jew over reacting, perhaps spoiling for a fight, and comes to think of this person as aggressive, if not paranoid or delusional. Tensions then mount and conflict eventually erupts as the two return home and share different versions of the same event with equal sincerity.

Imagine this happening everywhere the Jewish guy goes. Imagine everywhere Jews feeling like everyone hates them as a result of it, while at the same time this recurring misunderstanding (caused ultimately by semantic confusion) creates the impression of a homogeneous behavior problem.

My solution is fairly simple, and if I am right anyone who adopts this technique will be more effective diplomatically in these contexts, via being able to address real issues as opposed to confusions and illusions.

I suggest we should come up with accurate and specific terms to distinguish the three classifications.

Along those lines (suggestions welcome) I’m curious about the following:

Is there a Hebrew/Aramaic word for a member of the Jewish faith? The goal here is something suitably reverential but also non-specific in terms of variants of the Jewish faith.

Is there a scientific term in demography or population genetics (anthropology maybe? etc) for members of the Jewish ethnicity? Again something appropriately respectful but not regionally specific.

We already know that “Israeli” accurately and inoffensively conveys “citizen of Israel” just like American means citizen of America without speculating or implying ethnicity or religion.

Once these terms are developed and a little self discipline is exercised in their use I think it would behoove everyone involved to get in the habit of using them because they would be more specific and accurate and thus less likely to inspire accusations of antisemitism.

Notes:
I’ve made a similar argument against use of the word Zionism because of this confusion, instead suggesting that more specific and accurate terms and phrases be used instead, such as “Israeli ultra-nationalism.” https://plus.google.com/115814334991654398665/posts/ieiufSUas6p

Author: Innomen

Writer. Philosopher. Nerd. If you want to know more, contact me. I don't know where it's getting that photo. View all posts by Innomen