To prevent myself from having a breakdown and losing all hope in humanity (as if that hasn’t already happened), I’m going to have to assume that this ADL poll isn’t accurate.
Fifty five percent of Poles think that Jews have too much power in international financial markets, according to a new survey by the Anti Defamation League.
The annual survey (pdf) looked at attitudes towards Jewish people in seven countries – Austria, France, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Sixty three percent of those surveyed in Poland responded that “Jews are more loyal to Israel than their own country,” a rise of four percent from a similar report taken in 2007. Fifty five percent think that “Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust,” a fall of three percent 12 months ago.
Overall, the findings across Europe were similar to those in 2007, with many Europeans continuing to believe in some of the “most pernicious anti-Semitic stereotypes,” says ADL.
“This poll confirms that anti-Semitism remains alive and well in the minds of many Europeans,” claims Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.
The poll was taken from a sample of 3,500, with just 500 from each country
(source: Poles think Jews have too much power, claims survey )
and now back to (not) studying for my final tomorrow morning!
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Based on anecdote, I wouldn’t be surprised by this percentage. I had a Polish girlfriend–that is, born and raised in Poland–and amongst her many unpalatable personality traits was the snide ant-Jewish comment from time to time.
E.g., “Well, only wealthy old Jewish people shop there.” “That’s expensive [...], only Jewish people…” “That’s an expensive-looking house [...], probably owned by some Jewish…”
Yeah, I disliked her tremendously.
I got into a heated discussion with a Polish dude last summer. He claimed Jews act way too affected by the Holocaust and deny that it affected anyone else.
While I explained that Jews were the overwhelming majority affected by the Holocaust, I don’t pretend (and I don’t think others do) that no other groups were also affected. Take for instance the Gypsies, and I have two good friends of Eastern European Romani origin, one of whom has family that were sent to the gas chambers.
The Shoah was an atrocity against humanity, and this nagging idea from some groups that we Jews use it gain sympathy, or that we’re a bunch of whiners who need to “get over it” is appalling.
The first time visiting the Kotel, all I did was cry for EVERYONE and not just the Jews, but EVERYONE that was lost in the Holocaust. And while my Jewish ancestors were wiped out, and what was left were a bunch of Ashkenazim masquerading around the New World as Christians to escape further persecution in post-war Canada, somehow I managed to still end up in Israel honoring their memory.
Anyway, I think I may have inspired some feelings of remorse in him for spewing anti-Holocaust sentiment in my presence, because he came up to me later and apologized!!!
I spent a few days in Poland a couple of years ago “touring” the “sites”. I first arrived in Warsaw on christmas eve. It was so eerie to be standing at the ghetto wall, and seeing christmas trees and cheerful christmas decorations inside the apartments adjacent to it. Our group got stares from inside the apartments and one person even yelled at us to leave.
That whole country just feels like one huge graveyard. My experiences there were surreal. But unfortunately, it’s actually as real as it gets.
This probably isnt what you wan to hear but me and my school are collecting buttons in remembrance of the jews that died and it would me a lot to me if you would donate. If you need info or want to donate please call (314)-401-9728