Content

It is always bothering to see the term "anti-Semitism" being misused and misinterpreted. Normally thousands of Arab Americans, and American Muslims just shrug it off and turn a shoulder of indifference to the whole issue.

Among Arab Americans and American Muslims it is widely believed that the popular American media is heavily dominated and controlled by liberalist Jewish thinkers and financiers. This conception has resulted in a strong mistrust of the Muslims toward the media on one hand, and an equally strong feeling of despair of any positive change taking place to improve the popular image of Islam in general and Arabs in particular.

The fact is that Arabs are every bit as Semitic as are the Jews, but don't take my word for it. Here's how the experts have defined Semite:

Semite: a member of the group of peoples including Arabs and Jews. (Webster's Universal Dictionary, 1993 Geddes and Grosset Ltd, New Lanark, Scotland)

Semite: Originally one of a people believed to be descended from Shem, son of Noah. Later the term came to include the following peoples: Arabs; the Akkadians of ancient Babylonia; the Assyrians; the Canaanites (including Amorites, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, and Phoenicians); the various Aramaean tribes (including Hebrews); and a considerable portion of the population of Ethiopia. These peoples are grouped under the term Semite, chiefly because their languages were found to be related, deriving presumably from a common tongue, Semitic. The Semites were largely nomadic pastoralists, although some settled in villages. At least as early as 2500 B.C., the Semites had begun to leave the Arabian peninsula in successive waves of migration that took them to Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean coast, and the Nile delta. They were organized into patrilineal tribes, occupying defined territories and ruled by hereditary leaders, or sheiks. In Mesopotamia, Semitic people from the earliest times were in contact with Sumerian civilization and with the rise of Sargon of Agade (Akkad) and Hammurabi of Babylon were able to dominate it completely. In Phoenicia the Semitic population developed a widespread maritime trade and became the first great seafaring people. That group of Hebrews that had been diverted through Sinai into the Nile delta settled at last with other Semitic inhabitants in Palestine. (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition)

Semites: Are people who speak a Semitic language, such as Arabic or Hebrew. Semitic people gave the world the alphabet and the idea of one God. Three great religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - originated among Semitic peoples. The word anti-Semitism means hatred of Jews or prejudice against Jews. But the term is misleading because not all Jews are Semites, and Semites include not only Jews but also Arabs and other peoples. (The World Book Encyclopedia, 1978, World Book-Childcraft International, Inc.)

We tend to take many of the terms and definitions used by the popular media at face value without question or scrutiny. Anti-Semitism is one such term. It is high time that we correct the use and interpretation of this term. Hate crimes against Muslims are on the rise nationwide. Mosques are being attacked, and some have even been burned. Individual Muslims, especially women due to their overtly Islamic appearance, are being harassed, hassled and discriminated against.

In the increasingly diverse and complex society in which we live, it becomes paramount that we take concrete steps towards educating ourselves and others about the different people with whom we come into daily contact. We must build bridges of understanding and respect to avert the fear and misconceptions produced by ignorance.

I have always been a firm a believer in the old wisdom; that it is far better to light just one candle than to curse the darkness. Anyone interested in improving the general moral fabric of our society can help in this process of bridge-building by positioning themselves to become part of the solution.