We all know this Iranian president is on the lunatic side. No doubt his perception of history is, well, unique. I used to laugh at him. Now I don't laugh anymore.
This man has made denial of the Holocaust his favorite hobby and this hobby is quickly turning into a mission. He certainly seems to devote an enormous amount of his own and public time refuting evidence it ever happened, and it is no secret he dislikes Israel and Jews with passion. In other words, he hates our guts.
The conference now taking place in Tehran would be ludicrous as a blatant distortion of historical truth if not for the fact that it is impossible to laugh at such things. As Slate very well put it, the conference "is sordid and cynical, but we must take it seriously." And here is why: the last time the world did not take hatred against the Jews seriously, we all know what happened. Yes, I hate to sound like a broken record, but there is no alternative: we must remember, we must never forget.
Especially if this insane man is also a dangerous one with nuclear weapons.
The USA, Israel and most European countries, along with the Vatican, were quick to condemn the conference. But unfortunately most of the 67 people in attendance are well-known in Holocaust denial circles, among them: David Duke (former KKK leader), Robert Faurisson (a French clown who managed to get convicted five times for denying crimes against humanity in France); and the German Fredrick Toeben, convicted for insulting the memory of the dead. Lovely men who seem to be in dire need of some light-hearted entertainment, maybe some cable tv...
Now really - it is baffling that such a conference is happening in this day and age. There have been several gatherings of Holocaust deniers in many places, but this is a state-sponsored one in a Muslim country. Chilling.
Ahmadinejad, as we all know by now, knows no boundaries. His latest gem, during the conference, was his prediction that Israel's days are numbered: "just as the USSR disappeared, soon the Zionist regime will disappear"; according to him, then "humanity will achieve freedom." Prediction might not be that accurate a term - threat is more like it. Also strangely reminiscent of what another clownish (and dangerous) little man, the one with the mustache and the lisp, used to tell his bunch of fanatics in the Third Reich not long ago...
On a parallel note: it is with sadness that I noted the participation of two rabbis and four other Jews in the conference. They are all members of Neturei Karta (Jews United Against Zionism), a religious group which claims that the creation of Israel violates Jewish Law.
This is orthodox Judaism at its worst. It is inexcusable. It is sick.
December 12, 2006
THE HOLOCAUST DENIAL CONFERENCE IN TEHRAN
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See how the Simon Wiesenthal Center is responding.
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6 comments:
with all due respect for the jewish religion,as i a moderate muslim who is tought by my sacred book to repect all religions,which i do,but as a palestinian who still holds the deeds to the ownership of her land and the front gate keys ,i cannot accept or respect another person thinking they have the right to my property by force,while i become a refugee,the jews should be the first to refuse making refugees of another ,people as they themselves once upon a time became refugees,why should the palestinians pay the price of what christian euorope did to the jews,should europe not have created an independant country in euorope for the jews,and left palestine living in peice,with original palestinian muslims,christian,and jews...was it not the muslims of spain who stood by the jews,when the christians wanted their evaporation from the face of the earth...so stop this sorry talk,and face historical facts.
G,
i'm afraid absolute garbage , nothing to do with orthodox judaism - these guys number a few hundred worldwide who are taken seriously by nobody - they are orthodox fanatics , its like saying muslim suicide bombers are typical of frum muslims worldwide
To anonymous - first of all, I appreciate your comment, but I always encourage people to introduce themselves here. After all, my name and info is displayed for all to see and I think it is only fair that you, as a visitor, do the same.
Secondly, while I even agree with you to some extent, I would like to remind you that Palestinians refused the partition plan proposed by the United Nations back in 1947. That plan, by the way, was an attempt to formalize a situation that had been going on since ancient times - people of Muslim and Hebrew background living in what is now known as Israel. Palestinians did a sorry job of defending their home land, clinging to pride and letting other Arab nations influence them along the way with their own agendas. I am sure you know what I mean.
As for historical right, Palestine as you call it has been in the hands of many people over centuries. It was as much under "Palestinian" control as it was under Jewish/Hebrew, Roman, Ottoman control and so on. So yes, the solution should be coexistence, no doubt. Which means no one group should feel more entitled than the other. That incluces your group too, anonymous.
Sure, in general the Muslims in the Iberian peninsula (Spain) had a fairly positive relationship with the Jews of the time (well, as ruling lords, that is). But that was not always the case. For instance, in 1066 the Muslims razed an entire Jewish quarter in the city of Granada. And in 1148 all Jews of Al-Andalus (Spain) were forced to convert to Islam; their property was confiscated, their synagogues destroyed and many were sold into slavery. You're right - it is good to know history.
And lastly, "so stop this sorry talk,and face historical facts" - this is my blog. Sorry talk (open to interpretation) or not, I will write what I want. If you are polite and open to serious debate, please do visit. Otherwise, if I sense the slightest hint of aggressiveness from you, I will delete every single comment you make.
Michael - they might be garbage but they are still orthodox, and they are Jews. Shameful indeed.
Gisela, you seem to be supporting laws which put people into jail in France or elsewhere for saying things that Jews or Zionists don't like. Did I misunderstand?
But at least you didn't join the media bandwagon and misquote Ahmadinejad on the bleak future of the Zionist state--going the way of the Soviet Union.
I'm no big fan of Iranians or Iranian nukes, but they are not the only country with a nuclear program. Israel and Pakistan have nuclear weapons. And at least Ahmadinejad is not another Ayatollah.
He has also made some good points with his Holocaust Conference in Teheran, and thoroughly underscored the hypocrisy of the West: you can Deny God, but you cannot Deny the Holocaust.
I don't see why we can't do both--especially in Western countries that ought to know better than to pass and enforce laws against heresy and Thoughtcrime.
As far as the religious Jews who think that the idea of a Jewish State is a prideful sin before the coming of the Messiah, it seems to me that they have a good point.
A Zionist is a Jew (or a Christian for that matter) who likes to vacation in the Holy Land but who wants some other Jew to till the soil and serve in the Army.
And an Israeli is far, far more likely to be killed in a car accident than to become a victim of terrorism, so that isn't a very good justification for their hardline policies either, in my opinion.
And besides, isn't the idea of a "Jewish state" or a "Christian state" or "Muslim state," or whatever, a thinly-veiled form of Apartheid? President Carter seems to think so.
I think it is dangerous for political leaders to start justifying their policies on what Scriptures supposedly say. Also dangerous is the idea that people who say "unholy" things should go to jail or be internationally condemned.
So there was a Holocaust conference in Teheran. Big deal.
Best,
Scott
Scott, it's been a while. And I see that some things remain the same... Meaning, you still practice "selective" reading, dear Scott.
I made no such statement - "Gisela, you seem to be supporting laws which put people into jail in France or elsewhere for saying things that Jews or Zionists don't like". You did misunderstand me, I am against anti-denial laws. You can also see my post "Jail Time" from February 06.
I do believe, however, that the conference was a poor choice and in very bad taste. So the conference was no big deal? Maybe not. However, it is in bad taste. That is my opinion, set forth in my blog. Hope that you can understand me better now, although that is probably the equivalent to having high expectations.
Best,
Gisela
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