General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Anti-Semitism: One Jew's perspective about recent events (long read) [View all]Behind the Aegis
(54,061 posts)There are two types who engage in it, those who really don't know, like Dr. Nick Rivera, when he complained about the use of the word "inflammable". And, then, well, I explained it in the OP. If someone professed to love children, their own or others, then someone came along and called them a "pedophile". The 'target" would likely freak the fuck out. It wouldn't matter if the person saying it turned around and said, "well, pedo- means "child" and -phile means "lover of", so I don't see what the problem is with using a word that is etymologically correct."
As for the second point, you addressed that well too. There is also the issue of personal racism verses the concept of societal and institutional racism. The conflation of anti-Semitism and objection to Israel/Israeli policies is something which happens both ways, but I more often see people "pre-emptively" complaining about "being called an anti-Semite", then I see people actually doing it.
ETA: I just thought about it and remembered I was confronted one time with "why use the term "homophobia", when it really means "fear of man" or "fear of sameness"?"