Anti-Semitism In America Remains Constant; 15 Percent Of Americans Hold 'Strong' Anti-Semitic Beliefs

The ADL recently surveyed the state of Anti-Semitism in the United States. Some highlights:

15% of Americans - or nearly 35 million adults - hold views about Jews that are "unquestionably anti-Semitic," compared to 14% in 2005

Seven years ago, in 1998, the number of Americans with hardcore anti-Semitic beliefs had dropped to 12% from 20% in 1992. The survey was released at the annual meeting of the League's National Commission. (Which means it's now UP three percent...)

The survey found that 31% of Americans believe Jews are more loyal to Israel than America, down from 33% in 2005; in 2002 it was 33%; in 1998, it was 31%; in 1992; 35%.

More than one quarter – 27% of the American people – believe Jews were responsible for the death of Christ, down from 30% in 2005, up from 25% in 2002.

Fifteen percent (15%) of the general population believes that Jews have "Too much power in the U.S." -- unchanged from 2005; 67% for those who are the most anti-Semitic. Heh. Gotta love this one... :)

Twenty percent (20%) believe Jews have "Too much power in the business world" and 18% believe Jews have "Too much control/influence on Wall Street, both up one percent from 2005. And this one, too... :)

The number of African-Americans with strong anti-Semitic beliefs continued to remain high and stable since 1992. The 2007 survey found that 32% of African-Americans hold strong anti-Semitic beliefs, more than three times more than the 10% for whites. In 1992 it was 37%; 1998 – 34%; 2002- 35%, 2005 – 36%.

"We continue to remain troubled and somewhat at a loss to understand why African-Americans consistently have such strong anti-Semitic propensities," said Mr. Foxman.

It's really quite interesting that basically one third of African Americans are anti-Semites. I'm sure part of this can be blamed on people like Malcolm X, Lou Farakhan, Al Sharpton, and THE REVERAND JESS JACKSON... You'd think that a people with whom we've much in common would be more tolerant, but this population segment has the most anti-Semites. Fascinating.

Education - The more educated a person is, the less likely he or she is to hold anti-Semitic views: 21% of those with a high school degree or less hold strong anti-Semitic views, compared to 10% of college graduates and 8% of those who hold post-graduate degrees.

So, the more educated you are, the less likely you are to be an anti-Semite.

It makes sense. Think about it. During the time of greatest ignorance, the Middle Ages, the Jews suffered the worst. So too during 1940s Europe (you know, that little thing called the Holocaust). Germany, Poland, and the Ukraine (the worst of the perpetrators) were the most uneducated or poorest, and Hitler brilliantly used the Jews as the scapegoats for all of Germany's ills. This is grossly oversimplified, but probably essentially correct.

For the complete survey and methodology used, click here.