Within the text the references to Freemasonry especially intrigue me. Although Masonry and Judaism had been tied together earlier by french writers at the very end of the 18th century, it is wildly regarded that the Protocols popularized the Judeo Masonic Conspiracy. This conspiracy arises a lot during times of progressive change in society or leftist politics. A french priest blamed the revolution on a Judeo-Masonic plot, the Protocols reference the same thing and name Marx, and currently modern right wing figures in the United States are backed by radical groups which attribute many US domestic issues to a Judeo Masonic Conspiracy. I wonder if this originated out of the Masonic lodges being a separate and heavily secretive community away from the church. This collection of power and wealth with esoteric symbols and rituals does resemble religion although claims to be unspiritual. Judaism also existed outside of the main Christian cultural sphere and community. This grouping of the two together could be due to this as I see almost no real similarity between either group outside of their out-group societal position. Another interesting thing I came across was the usage of this text in Antisemetic Radicalization. Following the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 there were many Arab countries which printed Arabic translations of the text. It even became taught material in some more politically extreme nations. This is horrible and very disheartening. I once read of an account from a Sephardic Jewish Man who had grown up in Iraq in the 30s. In it he discussed how integrated Jewish people were in certain parts of the middle east and how the diversity was very normal up until 1948. I am unqualified to make any further statement to the political landscape of the Middle East and Antisemetism but this stark change is greatly disturbing.