Richard, I quite accept that there is no anti-semitic intent to your version of
the goldsmith "fraud" story. Please note that I didn't accuse you of
antisemitism. I used the word "seems."
You must be aware that there are hundreds of websites that tell essentially the
same story, but that also closely associate bankers with Jews.
I agree with you that not only "many" but most bankers historically were not
Jews. Today, only a minority of bankers are Jews.
Even Deuteronomy that you cited figures prominently into the antisemitic
characterization:
"23:19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of
victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
"23:20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou
shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou
settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it."
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The antisemitic spin is that the Jews know that usury is inherently wrong, but
see nothing wrong in inflicting usury upon non-Jews. Jews are therefore evil.
This is not the case at all and is a perverse interpretation of the Scriptures.
The ancient Jews saw their race as being a family. It has to do with charity to
members of your family. If your literal brother comes to you in time of need,
you wouldn't take advantage of the situation in trying to profit from his
distress. But outside your family, there's nothing wrong with profiting from
commercial transactions. In fact doing so benefits society as a whole. This is
the proper interpretation of Deuteronomy 19 and 20.
The point I am trying to make is that when you tell your version of the story,
you must preface it emphatically with the fact that most bankers are not nor have
ever been Jews, to disassociate yourself from the antisemites who tell a very
similar story. You must emphasize this every time you tell the story.
Bill
-----------------original message------------------------
I think it is very sad that your reply has to resort to the 'anti-semitic
conspiracy theory' accusation. This is utter nonsense. As you well know many
leading bankers and banking dynasties past and present are not Jewish or semitic.
I have nowhere referred to such things and I refuse to be lumped together with
such nonsense. I would have expected higher standards from you.
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Apology
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