Some Jewish people are upset with Brian May today because he used the word genocide in relation to the killing of badgers. They think the word belongs to them.
The Oxford dictionary defines genocide as "The annihilation of a race." May could have substituted race for species to support his argument, though genocide usually applies to people. The Jews say genocide refers to the Halocaust, and the murder of six million Jews.
They are right, it does. They find it offensive when used about badgers. The Jews have a terrible, traumatic, past. History has taught them to be wary of the rest of us, with very good reason.
But when they take offence at this sort of thing, or when they lambast Richard Dawkin for criticising the God of the Old Testament, saying that in doing so he is having a go at them, they are getting above themselves, by anyone's definition.
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