The use of the term anti-Semite to portray a fascist and a demagogue and other such qualities is dubious.
In Jim Gallagher’s “Russian women’s party makes big splash in vote” (Dec. 17), Vladimir Zhirinovsky is called a flamboyant anti-Semite, which he no doubt is. But the apprehension with which the civilized people of the world watch his political ascendance in Russia is not because of what he thinks about Jews or how he would deal with them. It is, rather, for all the things he intends to do to all kinds of people and groups, including Jews, in and around Russia.
The label “anti-Semite” sends a twofold message, which, I think, is unfortunate. For one thing, all his non-Jewish potential victims lose their identity; their victimization becomes of a lesser magnitude relative to the revulsion anti-Semitism evokes. In addition, it implies an equation between anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. This, to my mind, releases many anti-Semites from guilt. After all, they are not advocating gas chambers; they are not contemplating concentration camps, hence, they should not be accused of anti-Semitism.
A flamboyant, dangerous fascist is a title that is wide enough for all the potential victims of his fanaticism to be concerned.
