NEVER AGAIN.....i wonder......
Freedom of speech, power of rational debate; Holocaust deniers have long used these core values of some societies to defend their hatred-filled speech. In light of the Danish cartoons row, this was a favorite line in those weeks: “If one is allowed to mock a religion, why shouldn’t one be allowed to deny Holocaust??? Isn’t it freedom of speech for all??”
I’m not going to go through the entire list of arguments for which an equal sign cannot be put between the two…Just think what the consequences of Holocaust denial are. History has proved, in too many occasions, that no matter how absurd an idea, it is sufficient to repeat it loud enough and long enough, for people to gradually start believing that ‘there might be some truth in it’.
It doesn’t matter that the idea can be clearly ripped apart by historical evidence and rational argument. The average person of the world won’t go chasing the source of alternate opinion, on the contrary, will likely want to listen again to the ‘weird, absurd’ theory....and again and again, till it has been around for so long, that he/she gets used with it and accepts it…It’s how political propaganda worked for centuries and how it works even better today with intense media coverage we’re all exposed to..
That’s what’s hideous about Holocaust deniers: they don’t need to prove anything! The don’t need to have any evidence of their statements! For their purpose, it is enough to keep talking, to keep screaming their ‘scientific speech’, till a critical mass of followers and created. And once there, restarting another ‘historical argument’ - “Jews are to blame for all evil of the world and that needs to be eliminated’ is the natural step to follow”…
The idea sounds so absurd in today’s society. Indeed, it would probably take much longer than the same cycle took in previous massacres/pogroms…but, give it a generation change or two, get holocaust deniers platforms like international history conferences for their message, and you’ll see the world showing its dark face once again…
I signed this petition of the Simon Wiesenthal Center against the Iran's Holocaust Denial Conference and sent it across to my friends as well. Not sure if it can change anything, but beside writing this blog and signing that letter, I don’t know what else I can do…
I’m not going to go through the entire list of arguments for which an equal sign cannot be put between the two…Just think what the consequences of Holocaust denial are. History has proved, in too many occasions, that no matter how absurd an idea, it is sufficient to repeat it loud enough and long enough, for people to gradually start believing that ‘there might be some truth in it’.
It doesn’t matter that the idea can be clearly ripped apart by historical evidence and rational argument. The average person of the world won’t go chasing the source of alternate opinion, on the contrary, will likely want to listen again to the ‘weird, absurd’ theory....and again and again, till it has been around for so long, that he/she gets used with it and accepts it…It’s how political propaganda worked for centuries and how it works even better today with intense media coverage we’re all exposed to..
That’s what’s hideous about Holocaust deniers: they don’t need to prove anything! The don’t need to have any evidence of their statements! For their purpose, it is enough to keep talking, to keep screaming their ‘scientific speech’, till a critical mass of followers and created. And once there, restarting another ‘historical argument’ - “Jews are to blame for all evil of the world and that needs to be eliminated’ is the natural step to follow”…
The idea sounds so absurd in today’s society. Indeed, it would probably take much longer than the same cycle took in previous massacres/pogroms…but, give it a generation change or two, get holocaust deniers platforms like international history conferences for their message, and you’ll see the world showing its dark face once again…
I signed this petition of the Simon Wiesenthal Center against the Iran's Holocaust Denial Conference and sent it across to my friends as well. Not sure if it can change anything, but beside writing this blog and signing that letter, I don’t know what else I can do…
3 Comments:
I was so dismayed to read about this gathering in Teheran. And even more so to read about one representative of the Ukrainian University (in fact the rektor of the Academy of Personnel Management) attending this mascarade. His instituions lost license for over 30 affiliates and I am sure they will close it down for good sooner or later - and this is from the nation that has Babiy Yar and thousands of others across the whole country.
As a schoolkid I went once to Salaspils concentration camp in Latvia. One never forgets after such experience.
it really makes you wonder...
although I also found this conference funny in a strange way... I mean, I can understand that someone can be against Israel as a country (or any other country) or hate etc... that`s a matter of choice, education, whatever...
but denying holocaust?? I laughed so hard when I heard about this for the first time - I really thought someone is making a joke...
I fully agree with everything that is said in this post - that this is absurd, and its extremely wrong etc.
However, I dont think it should be a Crime to deny holocast.
To assume that outlawing denying holocast will lead to reduction in extremist right-wing forces is pretty naive. Infact it encourages underground movements which can't be ridiculed or regulated to proliferate.
I would de-criminalize holocast denial; and by having this dumb-asses showing their faces in public - humiliate and outcaste them so.
In germany, where holocast denial laws are the strongest, also boasts the strongest growth of anti-semitic parties - which are now even elected to the parliament.
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