Anti-Semitism And Wall Street

When callers come on the show we never know exactly where they're headed. Today, a caller "Scott" made a fairly common complaint about the effect of Wall Street hijinks on Main Street and the national economy, then slipped right into a short rant about "Jewish bankers." We took his line down, took him off the air. One of our full-hour guests laughed, or gasped, nervously. I said something like come on, there are all kinds of bankers, and the show went on.

For the record, we have no interest in that kind of smearing attack on any quarter. It's a rarity at On Point precisely because, I like to think, we so steadily encourage respectful, sober consideration of the world. Is it a world that includes anti-Semitism? Sadly, yes. When those attacks come, should we drop everything and convert to a seminar on prejudice versus respectful, humane discourse? Well, maybe a bit more than I did today. But respectful and humane discourse is what we try to encourage, to model, everyday. Not mamby-pamby, but full-throated investigation of our world grounded in honest respect.

Indeed, there are all kinds of bankers, and bakers, and candlestick makers. Every stripe. Our goal is to look at the fact whole and without prejudice. We try by example to encourage our listeners to do the same. Every day.
-Tom Ashbrook