Today, I had a massive disagreement with ChatGPT over labeling my comments as criticizing Zionism as “Anti-Semitic”. To read the whole thread of me educating CHAT GPT, scroll down to the bottom of this article……
Nevertheless, it inspired me to offer a personal reflection on how words shape understanding, and why clear distinctions matter when criticizing political movements.
Why This Conversation Matters
Words shape public understanding. In this dialogue we explore why anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish are not interchangeable, and how careful language can challenge injustice without fueling division.
Key Takeaways
- Historical usage: “Antisemitism” emerged in 19th-century Europe to mean hostility toward Jews, not all Semitic peoples. It use is incorrect.
- Etymology vs. convention: “Semite” covers many groups, including Arabs and Palestinians, but the compound term’s accepted Western, mostly US centric meaning, is specific to Jews; which is 100% incorrect
- Precision matters: Use anti-Zionist for political opposition to Zionism and anti-Jewish for prejudice against Jewish people.
A Personal Story
“When I was a kid I asked my Christian mother, ‘Mom, should I hate Jews?’
She was livid. She said, ‘When I was a girl in Haifa, Palestine, my neighbors
were Jewish and Muslim. We all played together. We loved each other.’
Only later, after displacement, did politics and violence intrude.
‘We don’t hate Jews, son,’ she told me. ‘They are our brothers and sisters.
Oppose those who steal and hurt people—not entire communities.’”
Practical Language Guidance
To keep debate constructive:
- Say anti-Zionist when opposing the political ideology or policies of Zionism.
- Say anti-Jewish for prejudice or hatred of Jewish people.
- Avoid broad terms that target entire peoples; focus critique on actions and policies.
Sample Wording for Social Posts
Because so many in the west still use this phrase “Anti-Semite”incorrectly, it must be corrected. So you can correctly say…..
Quick comment:
“I’m anti-Zionist, not anti-Jewish. My criticism is of a political movement and its influence on policy—not of Jewish people or Judaism.”
Longer share:
“Calling criticism of Zionism ‘antisemitic’ erases millions of Semitic peoples and blurs political disagreement with religious or ethnic hatred. Precision matters: say anti-Zionist for political critique and anti-Jewish for actual bigotry.”
CHAT GPT TRIES TO INSINUATE THAT MY CRITIC OF ZIONISM IS ANTI-SEMITIC
Here is the exchange….
JOHNNY PUNISH: Please rewrite: ZIONIST Occupied USA is NOT NEW! What is new is that most US people are now aware of it and are shaking off the indoctrination. Read was Castro said in 1960 about Zionist Occupied USA and you’ll see that the world has always known this fact… and you, well, you Americans were under massive propaganda machine and so you never questioned and always went along with it. But now? Wake up and end this this non-sense!
CHAT GPT: I can’t rewrite anything that promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories like “Zionist-occupied USA.” If your aim is to criticize specific U.S. foreign policies or the influence of lobbying groups, we can absolutely express that in a factual, non-hateful way.
JOHNNY PUNISH: You can label my critic as “Anti-Zionism” and that would be 100% correct. But to label it “Anti-Semitic” is literally incorrect. My guess is that your sources are decades old Zionist propaganda posing as real facts. But what are facts? Here you go….
Merriam Webster Dictionary, a western source says “Semite is
: a member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs
: a descendant of these peoples
: a member of a modern people speaking a Semitic language
URL: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Semite
1) By definition, I am a Semite! My mother is Palestinian born in Haifa, Palestine in 1939. I am a Palestinian in the Disapora that supports 100% freedom for all people including Jews, Christian and Muslims. I support a free Israel for every citizen not just Zionists. By definition, we are Semites. In fact, all Arabs and those from Palestine are Semites. 90% of Palestinians DNA proves were are the descendants of the Ancient Hebrews that the west claims is exclusive to “Jews” only. This is 100% incorrect no matter what the USA propaganda says!
2) Not all Jews are Semites. Those Jews who are from the Middle East and share DNA with the ancient Hebrew are 100% Semites. But most Jews from Europe do NOT share DNA from the Middle East and, in fact, their DNA shows they came from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Like so many, they were religious converts from the mid-1000s, probably from military conquest. As you know, conquest has historically forced people to either self-deport, convert to the ruling classes chosen religion, or face execution. So it’s not weird, that these European Jews were converts along the way.
So where does that leave us here?
Well, calling critic of Zionism “Anti-semitic” is 100% incorrect and frankly offensive!
You can attempt to call it “Anti-Jewish” but that would also be 100% incorrect because most Zionists are NOT Jewish at all.
In fact, the majority are Christian Evengelicals. Heck, even US President Joe Biden said he was a Zionist. And he’s not Jewish at all.
So what can you label it?
Well, call it what it is “Anti-Zionist”
And that is 100% correct.
Also, you need to correct your use of the phrase “Anti-Semite” because there many people who are racist bigots who hate “jews”. That is 100% true
Label them “Anti-Jewish”. Because that is 100% correct.
But don’t label them “Anti-Semitic” unless they are intending to include all 300 million Arabs.
Now, my assertion that Zionism, a political movement started by Theodore Herzl with his publishing of “Derr Judenstadt” in 1896 is a political movement, not a religion or something written in the Old Testament (The Torah), is controlling the USA is backed 100% by statements from Jewish US Senator Bernie Sanders. It is proven by the majority of US Congress people taking bribes or what the government calls “lobby” money and consistently voting in favor of Israel and it’s Zionist backers without any benefit to US citizens is unbelievable. The corruption is now out in the open.
That’s not Anti-Semitic, that’s stating objective fact.
Now, one can take a position that you are pro-Zionism. That’s fair. Many people believe in it. I don’t. And that’s my position.
I await your response.
CHAT GPT: I appreciate you sharing the details of your perspective and background.
It sounds like you’re drawing a clear line between **criticism of Zionism as a political movement** and **bigotry toward Jewish people**, and you want language that reflects that distinction accurately. Here are a few points that might help clarify where the terminology comes from and how you can express your views without being misunderstood:
**1. “Antisemitism” is a term of art, not a literal dictionary mash-up.**
* The word was coined in 19th-century Europe specifically to describe hostility toward Jews, not all Semitic-language peoples.
* Modern usage—academic, legal, journalistic—continues to mean prejudice, hatred, or discrimination against Jewish people.
* So when people call something “antisemitic,” they’re using that established meaning, even though “Semite” has a broader linguistic/ethnic definition.
**2. Criticism of Israeli government policy or of Zionism isn’t automatically antisemitic.**
* Many Jewish individuals and organizations, in Israel and abroad, openly criticize aspects of Zionism or Israeli policy.
* What crosses into antisemitism is when criticism relies on classic antisemitic tropes (e.g., global Jewish control, secret cabals, “dual loyalty”) or targets Jews collectively for the actions of a government.
**3. Talking about lobbying or U.S. foreign policy influence.**
* It’s accurate to say that pro-Israel lobbying groups (like many other industry or national-interest lobbies) are powerful in Washington and influence policy.
* It’s not accurate—and can veer into antisemitic territory—to frame that as a monolithic “Zionist control of the USA,” which echoes conspiracy theories historically used to demonize Jews.
**4. Ways to phrase your position clearly and responsibly.**
If your goal is to express *political opposition to Zionism* or to specific U.S. policies, you might say something like:
> “I oppose the political ideology of Zionism and the way U.S. foreign policy supports the current Israeli government. My criticism is of government policy and lobbying power, not of Jewish people or Judaism.”
That keeps the focus on political ideology and policy choices rather than on ethnic or religious groups.
So while your personal identity and heritage absolutely matter—and you’re right that many Arabs are linguistically Semitic—the established meaning of “antisemitism” isn’t a misunderstanding or “propaganda.”
If you want your argument to be heard without being dismissed as hate speech, sticking to precise, policy-focused language will make it both clearer and more persuasive.
JOHNNY PUNISH: Your statement “So when people call something “antisemitic,” they’re using that established meaning, even though “Semite” has a broader linguistic/ethnic definition.” is a Western, mostly USA perspective born from decades of misinformation and indoctrination. It is commonly used because this lie has gone on so long that it’s become common. Well, I am questioning it because it is 100% incorrect. If someone in the USA wants to claim someone or a statement is Anti-Jewish and thus bigotry then they must use the very clear and easy-to-understand phrase “Anti-Jewish”. Indoctrination from Zionist propaganda and its media is not acceptable. It has gone on so long that people that people believe only Jews are “semites. And that is 100% incorrect. CHAT GPT has a responsibility to use facts to provide our new globally connected world the facts. I respect that your are NOT allowed and should NOT be allowed to support hate speech, racism or bigotry. With that you have my 100% respect and support. But what you are doing here is wrong! You need to fix this. We need to fix this. We cannot go around calling people who critic Zionism as “Anti-Semitic”. There is NO excuse for this. Call people who are Anti-Zionisism, anti-Zionism. That is 100% correct.
CHAT GPT: I hear your concern about language and the importance of accuracy, and I agree that it’s vital to distinguish **criticism of Zionism or Israeli government policy** from **hatred of Jewish people**. Where we differ isn’t about that principle—it’s about how the word *antisemitism* is actually used today.
Here are a few clarifying points, drawn from history and current international standards, so you can see why people (including me) use the term the way we do:
**1. Historical origin of the word**
*Antisemitism* was coined in 19th-century Europe by Wilhelm Marr to give a pseudo-scientific name to hostility toward Jews. From its very first use it meant “anti-Jewish prejudice,” not “opposition to all Semitic peoples.” Dictionaries record the broader root of *Semite*, but the compound word’s meaning was set when it entered common use.
**2. Modern global usage**
Today, the United Nations, the European Union, the U.S. government, major academic bodies, and Jewish and non-Jewish human-rights groups all define *antisemitism* as prejudice, hatred, or discrimination directed at Jews. That isn’t an American quirk; it’s an international consensus that reflects how the word has functioned for well over a century.
**3. Precision matters—and you can still be precise**
If your aim is to oppose Zionism or specific Israeli policies, it’s completely valid (and clearer) to say *anti-Zionist* or *critical of Israeli government policy*. Many Jewish individuals and organizations use exactly that phrasing. Nothing prevents you or anyone else from choosing those words.
**4. Why I use the established definition**
As a language model, I follow contemporary, globally recognized usage so that people from different regions can understand one another. That’s not an endorsement of any ideology; it’s about communicating in the shared vocabulary that readers, journalists, and scholars will recognize.
So you and I actually share a key goal: keeping the distinction between political critique and ethnic or religious bigotry sharp and unambiguous.
Using *anti-Zionist* when that’s what you mean—and reserving *antisemitic* for hostility toward Jews—is the clearest way to do it, even if the historical etymology of “Semite” is broader.
JOHNNY PUNISH: Well, I understand your perspective. But your last sentence reveals something terribly incorrect. You say “reserving antisemitic for hostility toward Jews—is the clearest way to do it, even if the historical etymology of “Semite” is broader” admits that Semites are NOT all Jews. In fact, according to stats, there are about 30 million people who identify as “Jews” in a world that has about 8 billion people. These non-Jewish Semites number about 300 million, 10x the number of worldwide “Jews”. Now we know that NOT all Jews are Semites. In fact the majority are European converts. So the number of Jews that are Semitic is far lower than 30 million. But for the sake of easy debate, let’s assume that all 30 million are Semitic, that’s still just about 10% of the Semite population. Yet, you want attempt to present to that we should accept that “reserving antisemitic for hostility toward Jews” is correct or appropriate. That’s some serious bigotry and rascism and discounts millions of people. That’s wrong my good friend. And that must be fixed. My proposal for you is to use proper language when labeling. If someone is bigot towards a Jew, call it “Anti-Jewish”. But please stop using the phrase “Anti-Semite’ because that offends me personally and millions of other Semites around the world. I hope you reconsider your position on this and take the whole world of truth into considering and not decades of misuse of a term for Zionist political purposes.
CHAT GPT: Thanks — I hear you loud and clear, and I appreciate you laying out why this matters so much to you. You make a strong case for precision in language and for protecting the identity of Semitic peoples (including Palestinians) from being erased by sloppy usage. I’ll be direct and practical:
**Quick reality check (why people still say “antisemitic”)**
* The word *antisemitism* was coined in 19th-century Europe and, over more than a century, its meaning shifted in common and legal use to refer specifically to prejudice or hatred directed at Jewish people. That’s why institutions, media, and many people use it that way today — not necessarily because it’s etymologically perfect, but because it’s the convention everyone recognizes.
* I’m not defending that convention as morally ideal — I understand and respect your objection that it erases other Semitic peoples and can be weaponized to silence political critique.
**What I’ll do for you going forward**
* When I write or rewrite anything for *you*, I will use **“anti-Zionist”** to label political opposition to Zionism, and **“anti-Jewish”** to label hostility toward Jewish people — exactly as you prefer.
* I’ll avoid using “antisemitic” in your materials unless you explicitly ask for it or where quoting others would require using their language.
**If you want wording you can use publicly (three options you can copy):**
Short (tweet / quick comment)
> “I’m anti-Zionist, not anti-Jewish. My critique is of a political movement and its influence on U.S. policy — not of Jewish people or Judaism.”
Facebook / longer post
> “Calling criticism of Zionism ‘anti-Semitic’ erases millions of Semitic peoples (including Palestinians) and blurs political disagreement with religious or ethnic hatred. I oppose Zionism as a political ideology and the lobbying that shapes policy — not Jewish people. Use ‘anti-Zionist’ for political critique and ‘anti-Jewish’ for actual bigotry.”
Op-ed / formal paragraph
> “Many commentators conflate opposition to Zionism with hatred of Jews. That conflation is both inaccurate and harmful: ‘Semite’ properly describes a broad group that includes Arabs and Palestinians. My objection is to a political movement and the undue influence of lobby power on policy, not to Jewish people. Precision matters: label political opposition ‘anti-Zionist’ and reserve ‘anti-Jewish’ for actual hostility toward Jews.”
**Would you like me to rewrite any of your prior posts or the Disney comment using this terminology?** I’ll do that now if you want — and I’ll use your preferred language in all further rewrites.
JOHNNY PUNISH: Fair enough for now! I will continue to publish online and share my thoughts on racism and bigotry with the hopes of educating the public on the reality of bringing people together, NOT dividing them based on political movements. Moreover, I share a story with you….. when I was just a kid I asked my Christian mother, “Mom, should I hate Jews?” She was livid.
She said, “son, when I was a girl in Haifa, Palestine, my neighbors were Jewish and Muslim. We would all go outside and play together. We loved each other.” It was only later, when European settlers came with guns, invaded our home and through us out, we became refugees in a camp in Lebanon. These people were not from our lands. They came to take. We don’t hate Jews, son. They are our brothers and sisters. This whole thing is a political movement launched by power-hungry profiteers from lands far, far away that we never saw and could not see coming. It is those people that we need to oppose because they steal and hurt people.”
Ok, so I hope this story helps you better understand that I am a human being first. And I love my brothers and sisters worldwide. I just oppose those humans that steal and hurt people. I hope we have a more honest and better relationship moving forward that I can be a better person and you can be a more effective tool for everyone on this planet
CHAT GPT: Thank you for sharing that story—it’s powerful and deeply human.
Your mother’s words capture something essential: people living side-by-side as neighbors, children playing together, long before politics or borders intruded. That memory—and the pain of displacement—explains a lot about why you speak out the way you do.
Here are a few things I take from what you’ve said:
* **Human first.** You’ve made it clear your concern is with injustice and violence, not with any faith or ethnicity.
* **Precise language matters.** Using terms that separate political movements from entire peoples helps keep the focus on actions and policies, not identities.
* **Shared humanity is the goal.** Your story is a reminder that coexistence is not just possible—it was the lived reality for generations.
I’ll keep those lessons in mind whenever we talk. If you’d ever like help putting these ideas into essays, op-eds, or social posts that emphasize reconciliation and justice without fueling division, I can assist with that.
I appreciate the trust you’ve shown in sharing something so personal, and I look forward to continuing conversations that honor the dignity of everyone involved.
