The Fall issue of the Hoover Digest (a fascinating quarterly), from the Hoover Institution has an article adapted from Thomas Sowell’s new book Black Rednecks and White Liberals. Sowell argues that anti-Semitism is a generic. The same hatred of Jews can be found towards Ibos, Marwaris, Lebanese, Parsees, South Koreans, Armenians and Overseas Chinese. All these people have in common their skills in trade and success in commerce. Most get good educations when it is available and help their peers in business. Sowell argues that the hatred is often open scapegoating and also covert envy.
I totally support Sowell’s thesis and would add the Japanese to his list of hated and commercially skilled people.
The trouble I see with Sowell’s thesis is that one group doesn’t fit the list: Rom people. They are hated in Europe and were included in the Holocaust … but they are not considered strong on trade skills.
I would also point out to my readers that the convergence of Lefty Fundamentalism’s dislike of commerce and the thriving State of Israel will continue to be expressed as weak anti-Semitism and can be expected to grow to a much worse form of anti-Semitism.