What is a Semite?

From The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition "originally one of a people believed to be descended from Shem, son of Noah. Later the term came to include the following peoples: Arabs; the Akkadians of ancient Babylonia; the Assyrians; the Canaanites (including Amorites, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, and Phoenicians); the various Aramaean tribes (including Hebrews); and a considerable portion of the population of Ethiopia. These peoples are grouped under the term Semite, chiefly because their languages were found to be related, deriving presumably from a common tongue, Semitic. The Semites were largely nomadic pastoralists, although some settled in villages. At least as early as 2500 B.C., the Semites had begun to leave the Arabian peninsula in successive waves of migration that took them to Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean coast, and the Nile delta."

Contrary to popular opinion the majority of Semites are Arabs and not Jews. By calling someone who speaks out against Israeli atrocities "anti-Semitic" is wrong, it halts discussion, mutes doubt, stops dialogues and crushes debate on Middle East policy.

So, don't call me anti-semitic until you understand what it REALLY means!