Antisemitism rises when Americanism fades
Jews were persecuted during the Middle Ages, often blamed for other peoples misery, and disease.
They were persecuted in Eastern Europe as well, suffering through the infamous pogroms.
Jews were persecuted again in Germany, when many Germans lost their minds at the beginning of the 20th century, embracing the belief that they belonged to a superior race destined to conquer Europe and eliminate all Jews. This ideology led to the murder of six million Jews.
With nowhere to escape from a seemingly certain fate of persecution, many Jews returned to their ancestral land and established a nation of their own: Israel.
Others continued to live in countries where they could reasonably enjoy freedom and live their lives.
Why does antisemitism keep returning—even in nations that were once among Israel’s most prominent allies?
I believe antisemitism resurfaces when reason, individualism, and trade (capitalism) are rejected as the foundations of how people think, act, and live together. For too long, American education, and political institutions rejected reason, individualism and capitalism. When these values are abandoned, tribalism takes root. Unwilling to think independently, and being bombarded with collectivist ideas, people begin to seek others or mystical forces to tell them what to do. They align with tribes for protection and begin to see their success not as the result of individual creativity, skill, or productivity—but as the fortune of their tribe. Having abandoned reason, they give up on themselves and become emotional pawns of their group. A tribalist is an individual who lost himself; he is now just a member of his tribe. A man becomes a Tribalist when he is unable or unwilling to think for himself, and live independently. This man will look for his tribe to tell him what to do.
Tribalists come to believe that, to gain power, their tribe must dominate—and for that, other tribes must lose. They become tribal medievalists. This is precisely what is happening with American left and right and what happened in Europe when Jewish persecution was prevalent. Both American political camps are more antisemitic than ever, with their cultural leaders unapologetically spreading propaganda against Jews, and Israel.
While possessing this mindset, the unhappy tribal medievalist may end up identifying with some sort of “subjugated” tribe. Jews, though a minority, include many individuals with significant influence. This makes them a target—especially for those who seek to invoke fear through conspiratory theories in order to concentrate political power.
The tribalist, feeling disempowered, rallies his group to “fight the Jews” as a way of life. Those successful Jews, who are often unapologetic about their success, become symbols of unjust power in the tribalist’s eyes. Add to that the mythic belief that Jews killed Jesus, and the hatred of a mystical Christian tribalist intensifies.
Historically, when societies embraced reason, individualism, and capitalism, Jews thrived with little resentment from others. When those values were abandoned, emotionalism, collectivism, and tribalism rose, and Jews were among the first to suffer.
The antidote to antisemitism is not mere “tolerance.” The antidote is reason and freedom: the capacity of each person to think for himself, to be independent, and to live free without needing a tribe to keep him alive. The rational, independent and free person deals with others through trade, not force. He seeks to live, thrive, and pursue his own happiness based on his own achievements. He has no interest in wasting time on tribalistic nonsense.
The antidote to antisemitism is the American system and the culture that created it—the system that protects individuals from coercion so they can be left free to think and live for themselves, because they are confident enough to do it.
Antisemitism should have no place in America—if America is to remain true to itself.
Antisemitism rises when reason, individualism and capitalism fade. It rises when Americanism fades.