"I am writing to apologize, as sincerely as I can via this limited form of communication, to anyone who may have felt offended by the comments I made last week. To be very clear, as there seems to be some confusion, I would never, ever, ever call anyone, under any circumstances, a “smelly Jew”.

Such disingenuous bullsh_t is unfathomable. The insulting little creep said what he meant to say.

He should be expelled.

WTF?

Having not been there I have to assume that the question wasn't completely baseless...

Stated the same, yes, I suspect that there was something other than a stereotype that brought the question.

antisemitic, not provoked by any issue with actual body odor:

http://www.israellycool.com/2016/04/21/hls-student-who-called-tzipi-livni-smelly-is-no-stranger-to-controversy/

And not actual odor, the student should be immediately expelled..

he should have been smart enough to refrain from asking such a personal and/or anti-Semitic question at a public forum. And expulsion is the proper action. Whatever the reason, you shouldn't be providing him with cover.....

I have never heard the "stereotype" of "smelly jew" either...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7771205

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Thank you.

Not everyone has heard the stereotype....I haven't.

Maybe it was just sexist.

It was disrespectful, inappropriate and rude. Can't you even see that?

If the student has an antisemitic history and there was no actual loud odor, there is no indication of it in this article.

How does one "prove" anti-semitic intent? Anti-semitism is an attitude, and as such can only be measured subjectively. The only person able to know for certain whether or not the remark was anti-semitic was the person who made the remark, and that's not accounting for that special kind of self-deception typical of bigoted asshats. You're demanding a standard of proof that is simply impossible to meet. But you probably knew that already. Or did you?

Luckily, some of us were gifted with a rare and mysterious ability to smell bullshit from a mile away. If you're thinking some random fucknugget asking questions from the crowd at a panel discussion was close enough to the panelists to smell them, then I deduce you don't often attend these kind of events. Or are you suggesting the speaker was especially pungent? Because if you are, I have to point out the article does not indicate that, either.

And the questioner was just curious about that?

Either. I have heard a million times about other groups. It is horrible no matter who says it. On the other hand, I have been with people that lack personal hygiene and it makes it very unpleasant and uncomfortable for all. But again, that is an individual thing.

"there is no excuse for excessive BO unless homeless" seems to be a tip off that you are making some sort of satirical point.

That you would write such a post. That you would think that was an appropriate question no matter the circumstances. I'm not sure I even believe that you didn't know that stereotype - that's how egregious I find your post.

In what forum would it be appropriate to ask another person that question? Nothing cloudy about your cluelessness.

Had the question been, "How much did it cost to get your horns shaved down," that wouldn't be anti-Semitic either since Jews having horns isn't a common stereotype in the US, right?

Here's a free clue: the hated "other," no matter who they are - black, foreign, fat, Jews, players past and future - are always thought to be dirty and foul-smelling.

Where is it written in the article that Ms. Livni showed up at the forum "with a cloud of B.O. or dirty clothing....some unpleasant odor..." ?

Thank you in advance.

Note to potential jurors: before you vote to hide this, please read the fucked up message that precedes it, very possibly the most offensive post I've see in 10 years on DU.


Holy fucking shit.

Witness the video of Ted Cruz. Stupid people do exist.

It is hard to imagine that he is clueless considering how engaged he has been.

utterly clueless is a student at one the best universities in the world makes me want to vomit. The apology was self serving bullshit - a typical non-apology apology and I hope the backlash continues until they graduate (if they manage to do that).

Especially on college campuses.

I have a very good friend with a son at Oberlin. I'm sure you've already heard about the happenings there.

It was an awful bigoted stereotype to voice, but in the student's defense, he said it about a Jew.

They are after all a penalty free group to insult in much of academia.

Translated, it reads more like, "I'm sorry you're such a stinking Jew." Very classy. Very Trumpish.

the asker. It would be much deserved for embarrassing their university like this.

People all over the world fight hard for a chance to get educated there. I wonder how someone this freeking clueless got in.

He is a Palestinian Activist delivering an intentional anti-Semitic insult at one of the nations premiere Universities. The saddest thing is that he probably being hailed a hero by his fellow activists.

That "apology" was anything but and I'd expel them for embarrassing the university like that.

this person's transcripts. Even Harvard has affirmative action.

But then again I'm not a pro-Palestine activist who obviously has strong opinions on the issue. I'm far from coy, and have heard plenty of negative stereotypes about Jews, just not this particular one.

I even did a quick search to see how prevalent it is (that's a google reequest to phrase carefully if you want to avoid potential hate sites BTW). Nothing about smells showed up on the first swathe of links and it seems Wikipedia's contributors haven't come across it either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Jews

Now "stinking X" is a pretty universal putdown for any hated or marginalized group. It's certainly one I've heard applied to many groups from (Asian) Indians to Mexicans to Brits to Gypsies and even to Americans in some European countries (a bit ironic considering the obsession with bathing here). It's pretty much certain that some folks, especially antagonistic neighbors of which Israel has no lack, routinely apply it to Jewish folks. In fact it has probably been applied to all peoples by some other group opr another. Whether that rises to a universal antisemitic stereotype akin to, say, the grasping merchant, is not however immediately clear to me even after checking.

Again however that is unlikely to mean a Palestinian partisan asked the question out of a genuine offhand and specific notice of one Jewish individual's personal odor. That strange happensdtance is a bridge too far, and we can safely assume bigoted intent here.

What evidence is there that this was a politically motivated or attached to BDS?

So there's that ...

The student is a leader of Harvard Law’s Justice for Palestine chapter. And given they're asking their name be withheld, also a fucking coward (while pretending to not be in asking people offended to reach out - how are they supposed to reach out to someone who doesn't want their name revealed?).

I'm sure there's video footage of this asshat asking such a nasty question.

and saying he could still smell the sulpher at the podium.

then he should at least be removed from participating in any clubs, committees, or student organizations.

but I read through the thread and I'm kind of surprised how a couple have really gone out of their way to make excuses.

people's hypocrisy get them to leave their better sense at the door. This was so blatantly obvious but I'm not surprised in the slightest at what's considered acceptable - as long as they're focused on Israel. Let's for one second think about the HOWLS of outrage if this question had been asked to an African American.

absolutely have encountered well dressed, seemingly sophisticated people who had absolutely horrid body odor, to the point of my gagging.

I never could understand how some people, without any regard whatsoever to race, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, skin color, hair color, eye color, shoe size, dress size, country of origin or any other thing that sets humans apart, or that groups them together, could have such vile body odor and have no self-recognition of such an attribute.

While the question was indeed offensive, I believe in the innocence of the questioner in terms of anti-semitism, and that the person was just horribly rude. BUT that being said, mygawd I've wanted to ask such a question myself, countless times and never had the guts. Or just couldn't be bothered.

That's the reason I always wear gloves and a big scarf on public transport... to block body odor smells from others sharing the transit. Thank gawd for Chanel (perfume).

It can't possibly be, can it?

As an insult. But it's obvious this was meant as one and meant to be an antisemitic comment. So they should be immediately expelled. It's just hateful.

Now, I have heard the insult reversed against Palestinians and Muslims.

Which is why I found it odd when I first read it that it was used in the reverse.

That tends to be the preferred wording for anti-semites over the years.

Then I realized it was for real.

Wow, just wow.

Casual college campus anti-semitism strikes again. The student will probably get a slap on the wrist though.

Unless you count him being hailed a hero by his fellow activists.

And on the slim chance he is punished then he will be their very own martyr.

If a racial comment had been thrown at any other ethnicity in that manner, I guarantee that student would already be gone.

Israel (and to some extent, Jews in general) are an acceptable target more and more in academia. It's a troubling trend.

It will be interesting to see how things unfold further, if they do.

His "apology" stinks.

I'll be honest, I didn't know the "smelly Jew" stereotype, but then again I've never investigated that deeply. This kid probably knows them all.

That's usually the way that it is phrased by anti-semites.

I don't always equate filthy in the literal sense of grimy, smelly, etc.

The one I always hear is swarthy or cheap

A lot of the traditional Jewish stereotypes revolved around being dirty, smelly, filthy, gross in some way.

There was a rabid anti-semite who would call the shows also. Somehow, he got a hold of our home address (well we were in the phone book) and mailed us anti-Jewish propaganda. We are not Jews, but for some reason this was a way of harassing us I guess. None of it was Nazi based per se, but there was a lot of "cheap and swarthy" references....

until the next rotten thing...

Who on earth would say such a thing unless they were raised by wolves.

Actually, I don't think wolves would be that crass.

Anti-semitism or misogyny or probably both! And amazing that a grown-up, Harvard law student would descend to that level of insult - it sounds like the sort of thing that the class bully of first grade might say in the playground!

Of Hygiene has no religion or race, it is what it is. Someone does not take proper care of themselves.

Is this post for real?

Anti-'smelly,' from a very rude 'student.'

You think the person actually smelled bad and that's what inspired the question?