"Anti-Semites now face hostility from individuals promoting diverse thought, according to Michael Blume's statement"
In a series of insightful remarks, Michael Blume, the Antisemitism Commissioner of the Baden-Württemberg state government and a renowned researcher on antisemitism and conspiracy theories, sheds light on the ongoing issue of antisemitism, particularly in relation to the Corona demonstrations.
Blume acknowledges the persistence of antisemitism, having witnessed it firsthand during a humanitarian project in Iraq in 2016. He also admits that antisemitism was downplayed for too long, including during his school days in Germany.
Despite this, Blume cautions against oversimplifying the central motive of the Corona demonstrators as antisemitism. He believes that the psychological phenomenon of projecting fears onto an enemy image plays a significant role.
Blume has declined an invitation to speak at a Corona demonstration due to the presence of antisemites in previous events. He expresses concern that the media's ignoring of these demonstrations might lead to accusations of conspiring to silence legitimate concerns.
Blume suggests reporting on Corona demonstrations while also clarifying their psychological and historical backgrounds to avoid the 'attention trap', a concept he coined to describe the media's focus on sensational events while ignoring more reasonable ones.
Blume is particularly concerned about potential connections between fraternities, such as the Normannia in Heidelberg, and the police and justice system. He points out that the fraternity has been involved in multiple anti-Semitic incidents, revealing a persistent issue in university towns.
In the Baden-Württemberg state parliament, MP Wolfgang Gedeon represents clear antisemitic positions. The attack on the synagogue in Halle will be commemorated at the beginning of October, a tragic reminder of the ongoing threat of antisemitism.
Blume maintains distance from these topics by having a good mood, a supportive family and team, and a strong Christian faith. He believes that science helps him understand that antisemites, supporters of conspiracy theories, and so-called "lateral thinkers" are a minority.
Blume agrees with his colleague Samuel Salzborn that antisemitism is the central glue of the Corona demonstrations. He expects reasonable people to criticize real needs without aligning themselves with antisemites.
Blume believes that over centuries, the Enlightenment has worked in improving society and reducing antisemitism. He is concerned about the further radicalization of such movements, believing that the worse antisemitism will get as these movements become more extreme.
As an expert in his field, Blume avoids emotional entanglement with the conspiratorial narratives themselves, focusing on objective analysis and empirical data. This approach allows him to maintain professional distance while addressing these sensitive issues.
- To combat the growing issue of antisemitism, particularly in relation to the Corona demonstrations, it is crucial to apply a wider lens in education-and-self-development, focusing on personal-growth and understanding the psychological-and-historical backgrounds of such movements.
- It is vital for the media to report on general-news, including the Corona demonstrations, while avoiding the 'attention trap' by providing context and clarifying the psychological motivations, thus encouraging balanced and reasoned public discourse.
- In light of the persisting antisemitic incidents involving fraternities such as the Normannia in Heidelberg, a call to action might be necessary for university towns to implement measures promoting education-and-self-development aimed at fostering an environment of tolerance, reducing crime-and-justice related incidents, and ultimately contributing to personal-growth and the betterment of society.
