Antisemite slur a propaganda tool

False racism accusation used cynically to silence debate

- by KATIE GAMUCHA

THE Oxford English Dictionary defines an antisemite as one 'characterised by prejudice, hostility, or discrimination towards Jewish people on religious, cultural, or ethnic grounds; anti-Jewish'.

I am fortunate to have met few truly characterised by prejudice, hostility, or discrimination towards anyone on such grounds. Those with persistent malice towards other races or faiths have a distinctive, unpleasant vibe. Anyone seeing Hitler's speeches will perceive how he channelled and focused dark vibes into a passionate intensity of infectious hatred.

Our experiences of other's vibes are real and important, yet, being subjective, they are hard to qualify. Nevertheless, even before his hatred manifested in persecution, it was obvious that Hitler was an antisemite. Such hatred rightly evokes disgust in good people whose hearts are attuned to love and wisdom.

Evoking disgust is the most potent tool in the propagandist's armoury (with fear a close second), so smearing opponents as antisemites is a potent ploy. I witnessed this technique used against Jeremy Corbyn.

As a gentle soul, few would naturally regard him as 'characterised by prejudice, hostility, or discrimination' so the smears focused on inferring guilt by association.