The great majority of Americans–more than 70 percent–believe that the individual who indulges in anti-Semitic talk should not be allowed to get away with it, according to a study made public today by the Commission on Community Interrelations of the American Jewish Congress. Rather, they say, the person who utters such insults based on another man’s religious beliefs should be answered on the spot to counteract the influence of his remarks on his hearers.
This opinion poll is part of a large-scale study in which the Commission is endeavoring to find out by psychological tests how to deal with anti-minority remarks made in public places and what kind of “verbal ammunition” should be supplied men and women of goodwill who want to answer but are unsure of their ground. Attitude tests have been made on approximately 2,000 individuals, mostly Gentiles in New York, Chicago, and other communities.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
