While we still have problems with antisemitism and isolated acts of religious violence and vandalism, I don't think my Jewish friends from high school and college would say America in the 21st century is practicing systematic oppression against Jews. AFAIK my Jewish college mates had the same opportunities for higher education, employment, salary, housing that I did. They undoubtedly did run across some verbal abuse, name-calling, or bigotry from antisemites at some point in their lives, which is highly unfortunate....or the Star of David?
A lot of it depends upon what side of the sword, spear or gun one is on.
The VC saw the American flag as a symbol of oppression. Poles saw the Soviet flag as a symbol of oppression.
Archaeology of the New Testament
- Thread starter Cypress
- Start date
ZenMode
Well-known member
From post-WWII to 2016, I'd agree. Under a White Nationalist autocracy, I disagree.
The top two reasons the White Nationalists support Israel is 1) to satisfy the Evangelicals in rebuilding the Temple in order to lay the foundation for Christ's return and 2) stick it to the Muslims whom they hate more than the Jews.
This ancient proverb applies: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". White Nationalists want to eradicate Muslims, all 2 billion of them, before applying a "final solution" to the much smaller "Jewish problem", all 16 million of them.
As previously discussed, to rebuild the Temple requires removing the Dome of the Rock. The Muslims will resist such an effort.
To me 'oppression' means systemic discrimination in employment, education, salaries, housing, political rights, and civil rights.From post-WWII to 2016, I'd agree. Under a White Nationalist autocracy, I disagree.
The top two reasons the White Nationalists support Israel is 1) to satisfy the Evangelicals in rebuilding the Temple in order to lay the foundation for Christ's return and 2) stick it to the Muslims whom they hate more than the Jews.
This ancient proverb applies: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". White Nationalists want to eradicate Muslims, all 2 billion of them, before applying a "final solution" to the much smaller "Jewish problem", all 16 million of them.
As previously discussed, to rebuild the Temple requires removing the Dome of the Rock. The Muslims will resist such an effort.
I don't see 21st century America as genuinely being an oppressive nation against Jewish Americans or Asian Americans, even though they can unfortunately still be subject to name-calling, individual prejudice, isolated acts of vandalism and assault.
NiftyNiblick
1960s Chick Magnet
It's my view that people afflicted with the belief in religious superstitions
to such a degree that they're willing to go to war over them
are a very serious problem within the human species.
I also don't understand how people can be so detrimentally moved
by beliefs based on zero physical evidence.
If Jesus is indeed an omnipotent deity, he can certainly make preparations for his own return without their help,
and without war. His New Testament teachings don't seem to include any call to war to his followers.
Too many American Christians are just as crazy as Middle Eastern Islamic Jihadists.
Domestic terrorists have proven to be far more of an existential threat to this republic, in fact,
than the aggressive Jihadist Muslims are.
to such a degree that they're willing to go to war over them
are a very serious problem within the human species.
I also don't understand how people can be so detrimentally moved
by beliefs based on zero physical evidence.
If Jesus is indeed an omnipotent deity, he can certainly make preparations for his own return without their help,
and without war. His New Testament teachings don't seem to include any call to war to his followers.
Too many American Christians are just as crazy as Middle Eastern Islamic Jihadists.
Domestic terrorists have proven to be far more of an existential threat to this republic, in fact,
than the aggressive Jihadist Muslims are.
Those all apply. Oppression also includes popular or governmental support of hate speech and violence motivated by bigotry.
Blowing up or shooting up groups of people because of their religion is social oppression. Nutjobs exist, but when the violence against a specific group of people is instigated by another specific group, such as white nationalists, and that group is supported by our own government, I view that as systematic oppression.
The MAGAts AKA the White Nationalists, deny this, of course, or point fingers elsewhere.
Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2024
In 2024, ADL tabulated 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States.
Those motivated to commit violence over ideology are often on the backside of the IQ bell curve or mentally ill.
Pure "when you're dead, you're dead" atheists are less than 10% of humanity....about the same number of men who are color-blind (8%), people who left-handed or non-heterosexual.
@Cypress and I have discussed in other threads about this variance of 10% in human beings. IMO, pure atheists are a form of spiritual color-blindness.
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Into the Night
Contributor
Inversion fallacy. You can't blame your problems on me or anybody else, Void.
Into the Night
Contributor
Go stuff your racism and bigotry up your butt, Sybil.
Into the Night
Contributor
Ignoring the Bible again?
Into the Night
Contributor
MAGAts isn't a word, Sybil. Go stuff your racism and bigotry up your butt.
Into the Night
Contributor
Hence, the reason you are in your mental institution.
ZenMode
Well-known member
You can't blame your lies on me or make them go away by denying them. Void.
Those all apply. Oppression also includes popular or governmental support of hate speech and violence motivated by bigotry.
Blowing up or shooting up groups of people because of their religion is social oppression. Nutjobs exist, but when the violence against a specific group of people is instigated by another specific group, such as white nationalists, and that group is supported by our own government, I view that as systematic oppression.
The MAGAts AKA the White Nationalists, deny this, of course, or point fingers elsewhere.
In 2024, antisemitic incidents in the United States rose for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 9,354 total incidents—the highest level ever recorded in the 46-year history of ADL's Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. This 5% increase from the 8,873 incidents documented in 2023 demonstrates that elevated antisemitism has become a persistent reality for American Jewish communities rather than a temporary spike in the months immediately after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. These incidents occurred across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., showing that antisemitism is not confined to a particular region but represents a national challengeAudit of Antisemitic Incidents 2024
In 2024, ADL tabulated 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States.www.adl.org
That's fine, but I don't intend to dilute the word oppression.
Oppression is the unjust, cruel, or excessive exercise of power and authority, resulting in the systemic (long-term) subjugation of a person or group. It involves restricting rights, creating inequalities, and imposing, often through institutionalized mechanisms like racism or sexism, a "pressing down" effect that causes profound physical or psychological hardship. - AI summary
I do not consider 21st century America to be a genuinely oppressive nation for Asian Americans or Jewish Americans. If we had a reputation for being genuinely oppressive towards them we wouldn't have so many Asian and Jewish immigrants.I don't think infrequent cases of hate crimes, vandalism, assault, or verbal harassment, unfortunate as they are, are proof that the 21st century United States as a whole genuinely oppreses Asian and Jewish minorities.
Normally, I'd agree but under Trump, White Nationalist ideology has been gaining ground. It's one thing for people to have opinions, as bigoted and assholish as they might be, but when a government looks the other way or, worse, openly supports that ideology, it supports oppression.
Selective enforcement of the rules or rewriting the rules to favor one side or another, be it a government, club or forum, comes under the given definition: "It involves restricting rights, creating inequalities, and imposing, often through institutionalized mechanisms like racism or sexism, a "pressing down" effect that causes profound physical or psychological hardship."
Into the Night
Contributor
I am not you, Void.
Into the Night
Contributor
What oppression? Go stuff your racism up your butt, Sybil.
True, white nationalism is a lurking threat.
On the other hand, if I took a poll of all the Jewish Americans and Asian Americans I have known, I don't think a single one of them would say 21st century America as a whole is a genuinely oppressive* nation towards people of Asian or Jewish heritage.
Having to deal with the occasional bigot or name-caller to me does not elevate the problem to one of national oppression involving the cruel and unjust systemic subjugation of a group of people.
* as previously defined
ZenMode
Well-known member
Correct. You are a liar. I am not.
Theocracy sucks.
The Supreme Court is too deferential to the right-wing Christians social norms.
OTOH, I generally don't get on board with alarmism unless there's evidence to support it.
There hasn't been a religious war between Christian sects in 500 years.
I think the Arab Israeli conflict is far more political than it is religious.
Some of the most infamous domestic terrorists in recent American history were secular materialists. I don't think Timothy McVeigh or the Unabomber were Christians. Certain cults with a religious dimension have definitely been a problem.