Uncomfortable experience… am I overreacting?
Recently at a friend’s bday party I was talking to one of her boyfriend’s friends who I’d never met. Probably the first thing he said to me is “oh you’re Jewish right?” And I was like, yeah but who told you that etc etc. Not because it’s a bad thing OF COURSE but because I found it very strange that that would even be something worth mentioning. Especially because I don’t wear the Star of David or have any “outward symbols.” And he got all defensive and was like “oh no no no someone just said it in the same breath as like - no jokes about Jewish people tonight!” Literally ruined my night for so many reasons
- Was my friend telling her bf and his friend not to make antisemitic jokes because there was going to be a Jewish person there?
- This friend is extremely left leaning, very social justice equality etc but if it was her or her boyfriend saying this
to warn their antisemitic friend he couldn’t make his beloved jokes … then
- obviously that philosophy doesn’t apply to antisemitism… awesome.
- Perhaps worst of all is all my other friends standing by heard this and one even partook by saying in a patronizing / joking way “and that’s TOTALLY ok!” when the one guy said “you’re Jewish right?” Like….
Anyway, had to vent because it really was one of my first tastes of microaggression (at least for being Jewish, I’ve had ones for being gay of course before) … and it was not fun lol