Australia’s antisemitic wave escalating and spreading

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Some Australians do have antisemitic views (I don't dispute that). But, the statistics you quote suggest the rise in antisemitic attitudes is linked to the Israel war. If you are make this link then it's more than coincidental it coincides with the increase in actual attacks on Jewish people and property.

According to the numbers which I will cite again here for ease of reference:

Islamophobia, which was already more widespread, had also increased (even though it had been decreasing) and by a wider margin. Thus, both forms of bigotry have increased since Oct. 7th leading to crimes being committed against people from both demographics.

Antisemitism and Islamophobia are escalating and spreading and in a comparable way with folks suggesting that (alleged) crimes committed by a few or by specific governments or groups say something about Jews or Muslims as a whole.

The following also appears to be a valid concern which likely relates to the widespread negative attitudes toward Muslims in Australia I cited (although there’s more research out there if you’re interested), not that Australia is an anomaly in this regard.

Former senator Pyman (who was also an Afghan refugee now married to a labour senator) is naturally going to say:
not “the same level of anger and vitriol when the roles are reversed”.

But the point is moot. People who are islamophobic, are always going to carry those views. Just like racists. All this incident does is embolden them to speak out. So yes, among the people who are angered by the nurses include opportunists.

But Pyman would have you believe they are over-represented in the voices of anger about the nurses. the reality is more likely that these two have caused considerable anxiety for all the people whose loved ones are in bankstown hospital and other hospitals. Did you know hundreds of members of the nurses union stopped work to protest these clowns to inform the public that all nurses have been tarnished by these social media fools and that nurses as a whole "condemn" their claims that patients were murdered. Nurses already bear the brunt of physical and verbal assault in hospitals. Do you think these nurses are islamophobic?

I think the peak muslim bodies need to handle attitudes in their own community (that is rife) that lead to views expressed by the two nurses. I hardly think these two are unique, everyone knows this but we can't say anything. Fact is we live in Australia (not Israel). You can't express a desire to kill fellow Australians in your care and not expect a nationwide backlash.

None of my posts suggested anything of the kind. However, I will state in a more general sense, not necessarily with the nurses or any specific individual, that I think it says a lot about a person when they consistently focus on the victims of one sort of bigotry and ignore those facing similar problems - in their own country or in the same conflict.

The evidence demonstrates that Australian society is rife with bigotry towards Muslims, and yet, some choose to focus on isolated events to uphold their prejudice. That’s not likely to improve societal relations among disparate communities in Australian society or anywhere else where such behavior occurs.

I am fairly sure the nurses did not intend for their views to be broadcast but even if unintentional, they have expressed a desire (and they sure looked enthusiastic when saying it) which has resulted in nationwide average Australians being terrified of whats going on in hospitals (particularly Jewish Australians). Effectively they have become inadvertent terrorists.

I am not sure how reacting to this incident should mean people need to reflect on islamophobia though? Do you think the parents of children killed on Oct 7 should have thought "well, lets not blame the thugs who did this to our children" "afer all, we need to consider the feelings of the otherside"

I am not saying we as Australians should not address islamophobia, but this incident + spate of antisemitic attacks currently going on is not really the time or place for raising this issue. One thing at a time. I believe the peak muslim bodies have not timed their comments appropriately and are only going to reinforce islamophobia by ignoring the concerns of fellow Australians.

I acknowledge this but also consider many people who are antisemitic (the topic of this thread) are not always Islamophobic.

Remember the #StopAsianHate movement during COVID. Many in the Asian community blamed African Americans for the attacks caught on CCtv camera. But then arguing that african americans are an oppressed minority and America is not doing enough to stop racism against African Americans did not stop racist americans from weaponising attacks on Asians as a stick to beat African Americans nor alleviate anxiety for vulnerable members of the Asian community from feeling safe.

^^ Islamophobia is a widespread issue, but people can grow and change. They don’t have to continue espousing bigotry towards groups they don’t like or don’t empathize with.

Attacks are also being carried out against Muslims in Australia. It’s just garnering less media attention. Like I said, it’s two sides of the same coin and is interconnected in a way, so it makes sense to talk about them side by side.

Why are you equating Hamas with Muslims here? I could make a similarly problematic claim about the slaughter of over 40,000 people in Palestine, including many women and children. A more reasonable approach would involve trying to understand the challenges faced by Jews and Muslims in Australia rather than choosing a team at the detriment of humanity.

Comparison was relating to the response of Jewish people (not HAMAS specifically). Perhaps not the best analogy but terror is terror. Israelis did not feel safe after Oct 7 and they sure don't feel safe here in Australia with the current random attacks.

Yes I am aware one incident here in Victoria involving an Australian woman attacking two women in hijab a few days ago. I don't know the details but it's an isolated incident and people think the Australian woman might be mentally ill.

Neither do Muslims.It seems like this isn’t a topic you spent much time seriously engaging with. The links I posted in a previous post could be a good start although I have other articles in mind if you’re interested.

Perhaps but this is AS's thread and he wanted to discuss the rising antisemitism in Australia. If you want to start a separate thread on islamophobia I am happy to read what you want to share.

The thread got onto this tangent due to dismissive remarks and otherwise negative, generalizing commentary that were made about Islamophobia and Muslims. If some folks can’t talk about antisemitism without going there, it makes sense why the issue of Islamophobia would be addressed when it seems warranted.

But a lot of antisemitism has nothing to do with islamophobia though. I am not sure this discussion belongs in this thread. Again happy if you want start a new thread and I will be willing to contribute.

If people want threads to stay on track, they could avoid making problematic statements, but it’s unreasonable to expect folks not to respond when some are made.

Please point out what was problematic that was said?

“Oppression Olympics” is helpful to no one.

A spike in hate crimes against a group probably does not mean a general increase in prejudice against that group. It probably means haters are activating each other and activating people who want to see their actions become a news item.

The nurses words have become symbolic of an antisemitic spike that had been notable for the lack of apparent Mideast War context. That is why I started this as a separate thread from the blowback from the Mideast War one. That said it was inevitable it would become about reaction to the Mideast War.

Precisely. While twighlight is correct that the spike in hate crimes coincides with a rise in anti-semitic attitudes in Australia, the link is not causal. goes back to the old saying - correlation does not equal causation.