-Caveat Lector-
Together We Create Heaven on Earth
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-----Original Message-----
From: Damian B. Cooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: [CTRL] The Holocaust
> -Caveat Lector-
>
>At 04:57 PM 12/11/98 -0700, Hilary Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>I have tried to stay out of this discussion about Anne Frank and the
>Holocaust. For me, the debate is over.
>>
>>I have yet to figure out why people are even questioning if the Holocaust
>happened or not.
>
>
>Assuming your question is serious, let me propose an answer.
>
>The formulation of your statement betrays your acceptance -- perhaps
>unconscious, perhaps willing -- of
>a cunning sophistry. That sophistry incorporates two elements: 1) that
"the
>Holocaust" is an "event";
>and 2.) that there exist evil, awful people who question or "deny" this
"event.
>
>"The Holocaust" is NOT an event. It is:
>
>a. ) a neologism -- term that came into use only in the late 1960's around
>the time that
>President Carter created a "Presidential Commission on The Holocaust".
>
>b.) a metaphor (i.e, "like a holocaust")
>
>c.) an interpretation, specifically an interpretation of early to mid
>twentieth century
>history from the perspective of organized Jewry, the Soviet Bloc,
international
>Communism, or perhaps all of them together.
>
>d.) a "term of art" - the meaning of which is something other than the
exact
>literal meaning of the word itself. The meaning of "term of art" is
generally
>specified and controlled by the "artist" who created it.
>
>If one accepts a term of art, one must accept ALL of the meanings that the
>artist
>assigns to the term of art. The meanings are not subject to debate or
>alteration.
>A term is art is NOT "common currency" for dialogue.
>
>The term of art, "the Holocaust" incorporates a very broad and encompassing
>set of meanings. Some of the meanings that may be included in "the
Holocaust"
>convey unmistakable suggestions of ethnic, religious, and national origin
>bigoty.
>
>For example, "Holocaust" literature characterizes Germans as inherently and
>genetically predisposed to "anti-Semitism" and "white supremacy". (See
>Danial Goldhagen's "Ordinary Germans: Hitler's Willing Executioners")
>
>"Holocaust" literature also suggests that Christianity is inherently
>"anti-Semitic"
>and that the Catholic Church collaborated in the "Holocaust".
>
>Germans, Austrians, Swiss, Catholics, Lutherans and others indicted by such
>purported
>"meanings" of "the Holocaust" reject such unnuendo and view it as a
untruthful
>and dishonest slander.
>
>Those that promote "the Holocaust" are viewed, not as arguing "facts", but
>as promoting hateful and dishonest stereotypes.
>
>If you wish to assert that "the Holocaust happened", and mean by that that
>all Germans, Austrians, Swiss, French, Catholics, Lutherans, Christians,
>etc, are collectively guilty of all war crimes of WW II, then those you
>chose to
>condemn are going to reject your construction of whatever you mean by
>"the Holocaust".
Damian,
The Holocaust is a term that is understood to reflect a series of events
that resulted in the death of over 12 million people. You can play semantic
games all you want it won't change the fact that these people died many of
whom were not Jewish. So, yes, I accept the fact that these people died.
This isn't an issue of succumbing to "a cunning sophistry." It's an issue
of accepting facts.
Yes, I do still question why these deaths are being denied as having
occurred. The German government at that time got caught implementing a
genocide program. You can pretend all you want that they didn't get
"caught" however persistent denial doesn't make it fact.
No, I do not believe all those who question the validity of any occurrence
as being inherently evil. Good investigation and follow through are
cornerstones in furthering our development individually and collectively. I
do question the motivation behind such persistent questioning after one has
done research into this area and still denies that these deaths have
occurred.
I did not say or imply that "all Germans, Austrians, Swiss, French,
Catholics, Lutherans, Christians, etc., are collectively guilty of all war
crimes of WW II." That is your interpretation.
Hilary
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
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