Eli Weissenboeck '24 | “Arnold Schwarzenegger Denounces Antisemitism: Backlash”

“Arnold Schwarzenegger Denounces Antisemitism: Backlash”

Eli Weissenboeck ‘24

Former Governor of California and Terminator star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, gave a powerful denouncement of hate in a 12-minute long address (March 7, 2023). The current rise in hate—specifically antisemitism—prompted the Austrian-born politician and actor to weigh in with his own personal experiences. Having been born into a family where his father was a Nazi soldier, Schwarzenegger has first-hand experience into what being raised in the presence of hate might entail. Not only does Schwarzenegger highlight the importance of breaking the cycle of hate, but he also describes how difficult the feat might be. Schwarzenegger (known for his body-building training and muscular physique) compares fighting hateful mindsets with body-building. Just as lifting weights and building his form have forced him to push beyond his physical boundaries, breaking the antisemitic cycle of hate from his family forced him to push beyond his mental boundaries. 

“You have to fight the war against yourself… The [hate] path is easier–you don’t have to change anything, everything in your life that you aren’t happy about can be somebody else’s fault… [But] you will end up broken. I don’t want you to go through all that.” 

-Arnold Schwarzenegger 

The YouTube video, which has garnered nearly 300,000 views within the first 48-hours, has also reached very polarizing audiences. Some from the 8,000 comments praise Schwarzenegger for using his platform to combat hate. One commenter wrote:

“Dear Mr. Schwarzenegger, Of all the many successful chapters in your life, this one is perhaps the most important ultimately. I so admire your speaking out at this time. I wake up many days feeling like hate is overcoming our shared planet.” 

–commenter

Majority of the comments poke jabs at the movement combating antisemitism, for example:

“Imagine needing laws to stop other people from hating you lmao” 

–commenter

One comment that repeatedly appeared in the video’s comments section, “One thing they’ll never call you is a liar,” argues that people will call you antisemitic, but never a liar, implying that hateful messages have validity to them. This blatantly antisemitic message, which has been posted for 24 hours, has over 600 likes. The public response to Schwarzenegger’s speech validates his purpose and motivation for making the address in the first place. Seeing the sheer amount of antisemitic and Holocaust denying comments is eye-opening to the amount of hate that remains in our society, nearly 80 years following the end of the Holocaust.