OT Anti-Semitism is strong in Europe

Well, that's what the headline said in today's paper. The
Anti-Defamation League conducted a "survey" and came to that
conclusion. "This poll confirms that anti-Semitism remains
alive and well in the minds of many Europeans."

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASInt_13/5465_13.htm

I decided to take the poll for myself. Apparently the criteria
for anti-Semitism lies in the first four questions of the "survey"
where respondents were asked to respond "probably true" or "probably
false". If you answered "probably true" to any three out of four
you're an anti-Semite.


(1) Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country.
(2) Jews have too much power in the business world.
(3) Jews have too much power in international financial markets.
(4) Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the
Holocaust.

I answered "probably true" to 1 and 4 and "probably false: to 2 and 3.
Whew, that was close. ;-)

The "survey" continued with the following.


(5) The Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.
(6a) Is your opinion of Jews influenced by actions taken by the
State of Israel?

If "Yes"

(6b) Is your opinion of Jews better or worse?

(7) In your opinion, is the violence directed against Jews in
(insert individual country name) a result of anti-Jewish
feelings or a result of anti-Israel sentiment?
(8) Do you think your government is doing enough to ensure
the safety and security of its Jewish citizens?

I answered "Yes" to 5 and 8 and "No" to 6 and anti-Jewish to 7.

This last one had only one "correct" answer according to the ADL
and that is "not at all". Anything else and you're part of the
growing tide of anti-Semitism.


How much blame do you place on Jews in the financial industry for
the current global economic crisis? Do you blame them a great deal,
a good amount, a little or not at all?

They surveyed 500 people in each of 35 European countries, a decent
enough sample size if properly randomized. As for the value of the
"survey" in determining the amount of anti-Semitism in Europe I think
the ADL found what they wanted to find more than anything else.

--
Ken Fortenberry