The current conflict between universal rights and ethno-nationalism isn't new; it is a direct resurgence of a counter-narrative crafted in the 1830s by Southern intellectuals who argued that only the Anglo-Saxon race could handle liberty, in order to defend slavery.

Persecution of successful minority groups often arises during economic hardship. The majority stops seeing the group's success as a result of skill or community focus and instead frames it as a zero-sum game where the minority is 'taking from us,' fueling resentment and justifying aggression.

Unlike other forms of bigotry focused on exclusion, antisemitism often includes a belief in a global conspiracy by Jewish people, which is then used to justify violence against them as a necessary counter-action.

The attack on a Hanukkah party occurred amid a severe spike in anti-Semitic incidents in Australia. In the prior two years, there were more attacks than in the entire previous decade, with Jewish leaders noting the rate of increase was higher than in other Western countries with significant Jewish populations.

This concept describes a psychological state where empathy is completely withdrawn from an "out-group." This allows individuals to justify and even celebrate violence against perceived enemies, seeing it not as murder but as a necessary and righteous act in service of their in-group.

Using the 'horseshoe theory,' the analysis posits that the far-left and far-right often meet on extreme issues, such as antisemitism. This convergence serves as a critical litmus test for dangerous ideas. When ideologies from opposite ends of the spectrum align, it signals a significant societal risk.

The public sentiment towards minority groups, particularly historical scapegoats, can function as a canary in the coal mine for a nation's economic health. When fear and economic anxiety rise, society seeks a focus for its anger, making the "temperature on the Jews" a critical, if grim, socio-economic indicator.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, racism was not just socially acceptable but academically esteemed. Fields like phrenology and eugenics were considered legitimate sciences pursued by the era's leading intellectuals. This presents a stark inversion of modern values, where intellectualism is aligned with anti-racism.

Tech professionals are becoming a modern 'market-dominant minority'—an identifiable class that wins economically but is outnumbered democratically. Like historical parallels (e.g., Jews in Germany, Chinese in Southeast Asia), this status makes the industry a target for backlash from a frustrated majority, fueled by envy and political opportunism from both the left and right.