膚色黝黑的歐巴馬當選總統,象徵美國絕大部分人已經擺脫二百多年的種族歧見。但成語說「百足之蟲,死而不僵」,以色列入侵巴勒斯坦人聚居的迦薩走廊,在極右派和極左派人士心目中,恐怕會引起更多對猶太族群隱藏的歧視。
久居美國的外人都瞭解,只有WASP才能高踞社會頂端。此字原意是黃蜂,但在美式英語中,它表示白人(white)、英國後裔(Anglo-Saxon)、和新教徒(Protestant)。早年問鼎大位者,必須符合這三個條件。四十七年前甘迺迪以天主教徒當選總統,才打破第三項慣例。歐巴馬突破了前兩項,只符合第三條,益顯他贏得不容易。
世界有歷史以來就有種族歧視,中國人尤然。華僑習慣用「老番」和「黑婆」稱呼當地人,渾然不覺其歧視與輕蔑的含意。美國仍有少數人稱華僑為Chinaman或Chinks,何嘗不帶侮辱口氣。本文要坦白檢討美國對猶太人根深蒂固、卻又深藏不露的偏見,探索為何以色列入侵巴勒斯坦,可能發生反作用的原因。
美國三億人口中,猶太裔人數不多,僅約五百六十萬人,其中一百四十五萬住在紐約市,包括終生不得修面、滿臉落腮鬍子的「哈西迪派(Hasidic Jews)」。但其影響力遠超過人數:金融界、律師、會計師、媒體、教育界,各行各業都占據領袖地位。最有影響力的《紐約時報》和《華盛頓郵報》的老闆都是猶太人。
猶太人天資既比其餘白人聰穎,又和華人一樣注重教育,在任何學校都名列前茅。哈佛大學有個從未形諸文字的「猶太限額(Jewish quota)」,即每年招收新生中,猶太裔不能超過四成。因為如照成績錄取,新生班有被猶太人包辦的危險。猶太人的對策是自己辦所大學,Yeshiva大學因而被稱為「猶太人的哈佛」,一樣高水準,只是學生全部是猶太裔而已。
大體而言,近四十年來美國的反猶太現象已經大為減少。過去極右派分子討厭猶太人,可以兩次競選總統的Patrick Buchanon為代表。絕大部分白人逐漸改變了過去的偏見,取而代之的是拉丁裔人和黑人,以及剃光頭的新納粹分子。
猶太人組織力強,社團數以千計,各司所事。最權威的「美國猶太人委員會」一呼百應。它早就設立對抗種族歧視的「反誹謗聯盟」,經常調查美國國內殘存的歧視猶太裔現象,發現雖已大幅改善,全國仍有百分之十七的人對猶太裔有反感,拉丁裔與黑人討厭猶太人比例,高達百分之三十五。出人意外的是全美大學生也有百分之三很不喜歡猶太人,是否因為成績總趕不上猶裔學生,就不知道了。
五星期前,本欄曾提到馬多夫(Bernard L. Madoff,此姓實應發音為梅多夫)案。他用老鼠會手法騙錢,只是台灣三十年前鴻源吸金案的翻版。如此後知後覺,在紐約卻轟動一時,因為受創者全都是猶太富商。不少住在東區上城的猶太老闆們,一夕之間變得貧無立錐之地。有幾位WASP朋友寫電子信來告訴我,可以想見他們心底有多麼高興。
雖然猶太裔在傳播界人多勢眾,兩周以來以色列揮軍進入迦薩走廊,每天電視上巴勒斯坦無辜兒童被父母抱到醫院急救的鏡頭,在廣大民眾間引起質疑:美國為何如此不顧世界輿論,拚命支持以色列呢?布希總統也罷了,怎麼平常正義凜然的歐巴馬也不敢說話了?歐的回答是他還沒有接任,任何時間美國只能有一位總統,避過媒體繼續追問。
極右派人士本來就對以色列有很深的反感,原因之一是美國每年總預算中,援外計畫最大的受益者就是以國。去年以色列獲得二十四億元美援,除以七百廿八萬總人口數,每人可分到三千美元,難怪有人說這個國家是美國豢養的。探究原因,猶太裔多年來在國會的遊說工作功不可沒。一向認為華盛頓政客們不知民間疾苦,花錢如淌水的右派人士,今年會藉金融海嘯造成國庫困窘為名,主張大刪對以色列的經援,可以預期。
極左派的美國人則同情占以國人口百分之廿五點五的巴勒斯坦人遭受的差別待遇,認為他們受以色列政府多年壓迫,從公平正義出發看問題,已經到了重新檢討美國對整個中東問題,特別是以巴爭執應採什麼立場的時候了。以軍雖在迦薩走廊所向無敵,迫於世界輿論壓力,已宣布每天下午「停火」三小時。再不見好就收,等隱藏多年的美國人對猶太裔的種族歧視爆發,恐怕會所得不償所失
I find this article so devoid of facts and filled with stereotypical nonsense as to be astounding!!! Is this twaddle what passes for “news” in the third world?
EGAD!!!
“Jewish people are more innately intelligent than white people.” Hmmm, I am pretty sure that Jews are “white.
“Foreigners who have lived in the U.S. for a long time know that only WASPs are ranked highly in American society.” Wow. I have lived here almost 60 years, and did not know this…
“This article aims at honestly analyzing the deep-rooted and hidden prejudice towards the Jews in the U.S. and exploring the reasons why the Israeli invasion of Palestine could be counter-productive.”
Again, I am speechless.
So this is what passes for ‘journalism’ in China ? Shocking.
I don’t know if the author is racist, stupid, or just a garden variety idiot.
Sorry for my late feedbacks…it was quite hectic last few days.
Actually I don’t agree to all the points of the author either, I did find some of the contents interesting and provoking, that’s why I selected this article to translate and I hoped to receive people’s comments. I’m glad to have your comments.
It’s clear that “Jewish people are innately innately intelligent than white people” sounds ridiculous, and it is totally a prejudice. However, except this, the other things he said are not non-sense. I’m not American so it’s hard for me to judge that objectively with abundant knowledge, but I think “WASP” is quite well-known internationally for ages, at least, my entourage knows that. (I’m in Canada)
Anyway, it’s a good thing that everybody could express his honest opinions in TAIWAN and I don’t see why that can’t pass for journalism in any countries.
Ah,one last thing, I’m afraid considering Taiwan or China as Third World is a bit inappropriate…
Wow, this story is from Taiwan. I did not know that.
I am surprised, Taiwan is more ‘international’ than China, so I would not expect to see this kind of article as often.
Actually…I think the author has a very good grasp of American Foreign Policy. In fact I find that non-Americans understand American Foreign Policy alot better than Americans do..Which is why I appreciate this site.
The article was, is, and remains nonsensical on its face. One’s opinion is not journalism. Once again, please explain:
Jewish people are more innately intelligent than white people.”
“Foreigners who have lived in the U.S. for a long time know that only WASPs are ranked highly in American society.”
Also not sure how this explains a deep understanding of American foreign policy. What twaddle!