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About this quote

What does it mean?
A satirical take on anti-Semitism disguised as neighborhood anxiety.
In plain terms
Someone claims historical anti-Semitism was just fear of new neighbors.
What can you take from it?
Prejudice often hides behind mundane excuses.

Where it applies

  • social commentary
  • writing satire
  • discussions

Putting it to work

  • writing satire
  • social critique
  • teaching

Questions to consider

  • How do we recognize bias?
  • Why do we rationalize exclusion?

Another view

It risks making light of serious historical prejudice.

More from Mel Brooks

  1. Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.

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  2. If they [presidents] can't do it to their wives, they do it to their country.

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  3. You know Cuneiform? You know Sanskrit? It's neither of those.

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