Conservatism decries showing special sensitivity to any group. Truth is truth. If statistic show blacks disproportionately commit more violent crime, or that Muslims disproportionately commit more terrorism, one shouldn't be afraid to say so.
But many conservatives have long practiced a "Jewish exception," showing greater sensitivity to issues pertaining to Jews.
This actually received official endorsement some 30 years ago when Buckley published his famous article (latter expanded into a book), "In Search of Antisemitism."
I never read the book, but I read the article. I recall one line vividly, "The Jews are sui generis."
By this Buckley meant that the traditional conservative disregard for political correctness should not apply to Jews, due to their "unique" history of persecution, which entitled Jews to greater sensitivity.
Buckley coined the term "contextual antisemitism." By this he meant a statement that wasn't hateful in itself, and would be perfectly fine if said of other groups, but would be hateful if said of Jews.
For instance (my examples; I forget Buckley's), "Blacks commit disproportionately more violent crime" is not hate, because it's true. But to say, "Jews commit disproportionately more financial crime" could be problematic even if true, because of the context of Jews unique history of persecution.
What of blacks' history of slavery, or other groups who've suffered persecution? Buckley doesn't grant exceptions to other groups. He explains why the Jews are sui generis in a long and tortuous exercise in hand-wringing that I found ultimately unconvincing.
I wonder how many young conservatives are aware of the intellectual history of this movement?
Good post. I suspect Buckley’s extra sensitivity regarding Jews is very much a product of the post war environment (and still is). I’d guess a black man might question whether the backdrop of the civil rights movement shouldn’t heighten sensitivity in their regard... I’d argue it does... obviously a huge difference in degree of oppression however.