You, too, can deny the Holocaust

[Behind the Aegis]

There is something that gives Jews and Muslims alike a perverse thrill in calling the other a Nazi.

Maybe that's why we can't seem to stop.

Both sides ought to know better. Particularly ours.

We know this better than anyone: Whenever the Nazis are invoked to condemn an enemy - no matter how brutal - the enormity, the singularity, the very fact of the Holocaust, is diminished.

Leveraging the Holocaust to condemn a foe ultimately plays into the hands of Holocaust deniers. If enough leaders are compared to Adolf Hitler, and if the range is wide enough to include George Bush and Yasser Arafat, we could be excused for concluding that Hitler was, in fact, just one of the gang, no different than the rest, no worse.

more...

[MatrixEscape]

1. I see one, coming on the horizon.

The dead are dead. They are the past. Their death and sacrifice should serve us all in the respect that we are able to resist that which would bring there very fates upon us.

I cannot exchange my concern for the living with those who would want me to divert my glance in order to pay homage to the dead whose voice is not being heard.

I cannot support any political agenda at all, expect the one that is altruistic to every one of the 6.5 billion human beings, (whom I am a part of and one with along with this planet, in total).

If we must look to the past at all, please make practical and not myopic and totally sentimental.

I see around 35,000 children die on this planet for not reason other than lack of food an health care that could easily provided to them within our means. Why should the dead of the past trump their sad sacrifice of what we call life, only because we neglect them and look backwards?

I don't think that that many of us are simple, servile infants, who can fall for that kind fo semitic power-play these days. WWII is over, and we know as much as we need to. The Holocaust continues day by day and nobody seems to care. They could fill up a football stadium and you could watch them die each day, but would that make you care more, or would you rather we consider the corpses of the past who should be a warning about our current political state, if anything?

Can't happen here? It is! I assure you. As with the past, you are a number, a statistic, collateral damage, to you chosen leaders. Why worry about what was, when are you are living in the very same, exact conditions that brought the Holocaust? Don't let it be a distraction, let it be a tool of prevention.

Send not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee!

Don't buy into the emotional rhetoric that is desinged to dissuade you from the promised land.

[file83]

5. Excellent post. I agree whole heartedly. n/t

[madeline_con]

2. I don't se it as diminishing the suffering of the Holocaust,

but as a way to understand a cruel leader or event where there is enormous suffering.

For me, it is not necessary that a particular number die to equal Holocaust deaths, but the inhumanity that causes the deaths that it alludes to.

Like the word "Diva", its overuse is an error of context committed out of ignorance, not a slight meant to diminish or disrespect the victims.

[lvx35]

3. What was it Jon Stewart said...

here it is:

"So, to sum up: Please stop calling people Hitler when you disagree with them. It demeans you; it demeans your opponent; and to be honest, it demeans Hitler. That guy worked too many years, too hard, to be that evil, to have any Tom, Dick, and Harry come along and say, "Hey, you're being Hitler." No! You know who was Hitler? Hitler!"

:)

[file83]

4. "...the very fact of the Holocaust, is diminished." Speaking for yourself

I hope.

As for me, if the term is misapplied (grossly off the mark) it simply diminishes the credibility of the person making the remark.

However, if the term is supported by valid arguments as to illustrate parallel segments of Hitler/or the Nazi party's rise to power in 1930's Germany, then there the lessons learned are having an important impact on today's world.

Hitler/Nazi Germany are not the only historical example of how solidified power can cause epic human suffering - but it is the most powerful in recent human history. So for people to use it appropriately these days is an inescapable outcome.

It's the least we can do to honor the victims of that horrible period: Make sure we CONSTANTLY compare today's most powerful governments to Hitler/Nazi Germany to MAKE SURE they aren't headed in that direction - so history doesn't repeat its ignorant self.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Out of curiosity...

...did you read the whole op-ed, which I didn't write BTW?

[file83]

7. That's nice to know you didn't write it. Which makes me curious...

...have you ever heard of quotation marks, or indicating in any way, shape or form that would give others a hint that you didn't write it? How is anyone supposed to know that your cryptic name "Behind the Aegis" isn't your DU moniker but that your real name isn't "Bradely Burston"?

Yes, I did read the whole op-ed. It sounds like the writer and I agree mostly, except for the parts that I outlined. What do you think? Or do you only post articles and have no opinion yourself?

And just so you know, if you want to give others a hint that you are quoting, you can do this:

Click on the "HTML lookup table" in the "Message options" area to learn how to create a gray box. This is a good way to indicate you are quoting from an article.

The other way is to simply:
"Create italics and use quote marks. This is usually a strong indicator that you yourself didn't write it."

Just trying to help.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. You are new. I will cut you a break.

You will find that many post here, especially in I/P, just the title and four paragraphs of the article with no comment. If they do comment, their comment is italicized or it is indicated that it is their thoughts. So, do not condescend to me. I have been here for quite a long time and know how to properly post.

I have my own thoughts. However, when posting an article, I generally, just post the article, without commentary because that can distract from the actual post.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RJnAbbysNana]

16. I saw no indication of condescention in his post.

Regards,

RJnAbbysNana

[Behind the Aegis]

17. Well...I did.

[bemildred]

18. BTA and I are on the opposite side of the fence, politically and everyway,

and I thought it was completely out of line, antagonistic.
Snotty is the word that comes to mind. And it completely
iced it for me when he went after me too.

[bemildred]

9. It is very common to post without comment.

A lot of people come here for news, and it is often better to let an article speak for itself. In addition, we come to know each other, and have a lot of reading to do as it is, so there is a tendency not to comment unless one has something new or interesting to say, and likewise there is a tendency to ignore already well-masticated issues.

[bemildred]

10. Godwin's Law, for those not aware of it:

Godwin's Law (also Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies) is an adage in Internet culture originated by Mike Godwin on Usenet in 1990 that states:

As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.

There is a tradition of protocol in many Usenet newsgroups that once such a comparison is made, the thread in which the comment was posted is over and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost whatever debate was in progress.

It is considered poor form to arbitrarily raise such a comparison with the motive of ending the thread. There is a widely recognized codicil that any such deliberate invocation of Godwin's Law will be unsuccessful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwins_law

[pelsar]

11. so were beyond the "rule"...

even the long threads here dont go the "nazi route"....its actually pretty rare here....

[file83]

14. What a convenient/slick form of censorship. Very creative. Yet, digital.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bemildred]

15. I never post any other way.

Up to four paragraphs from the piece in plain text, separated with "---" where there a gaps.

My own comments, if any, in italic, and bold for any parts I consider deserve emphasis.

Then a link.

You are the first person ever to bring it up, although I did once have a guy tell me to leave the "Enter" key alone.

Edit: with an edit statement like this when I have to fix the spelling or grammar.