when i say "western" i am referring to europe and its outgrowth, the u.s. which has tried very hard to differentiate itself from the rest of the world. whatever the cultural influence "semitic" ideas had on western civilization - it is obvious that europe dealt with "semites" on its own terms and made it very clear that "semites" were definitely different and targetted. i think karibkween brings up an important viewpoint as to WHERE these aversions to "semites" arose - for example how much of this was reaction to semitic invasion such as the islamic incursion into europe.

if we are going to talk about the root of western thought - its linear mindset, etc. then yes we have to talk about where these ideas came from - the cultures which emphasized these perceptions of reality and how they are a thread within what "the west" is.

i think though that there are very important historical developments and nuances that must be taken into consideration when trying to understand the situation. for example - europe set up israel - it was judaism with a european modus operandi which then became the "jewish" state for world jews no matter where they resided. the level of back and forth violence between various "semites" in palestine for example was no were near as escalated and prolonged as what exists now SINCE britain/u.s./u.n. set up a proxy power called israel. many of the jews who were brought to israel were white europeans with very different cultural experiences and mindsets than the indigenous semites.