Auschwitz 835


I was involved in the organisation of the 50th anniversary commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz, while First Secretary at the British Embassy in Warsaw. The 50th did not receive anything like the media coverage given to the 70th, of which more later.

Senior British visitors to Poland invariably included a concentration camp on their itinerary, and from escorting people around I visited camps a great deal more often than I would have wished. I found the experience appalling and desolate. The first I ever saw was Majdanek and I recall that I just had to sit helpless and shivering for some time. One thing the experience left me with – including meeting survivors and both Polish and German eye-witnesses, and seeing the architects’ plans for camps – was a contempt for those who claim the whole thing did not happen, or was an accident, or was small scale.

It in no way diminishes the genocidal attack on the Jews to remember that a vast number of Poles also died in the camps, as well as gypsies, homosexuals, the disabled and disparate political prisoners. I tried sometimes to diminish the horror I felt at involvement with the camps, with attempts at humour. I was present at a meeting listing the guests of honour; the President of Lithuania was included. I whispered that he was coming to represent the camp guards. That was offensive, and I apologise. But there is a real problem that to this day Eastern Europe – including Poland itself – has not come to terms with historical truth about collaboration with anti-Jewish genocide and other attacks on minorities. I recommend this website, which tackles these issues very honestly and is well worth a lengthy browse.

It requires bigotry not to be able to understand why nationalist resistance movements against Russian occupation became allied with Germany during World War II. That would be reprehensible only in the same sense that allied collaboration with Stalin might be reprehensible, but for the added factor of enthusiastic collaboration with genocidal and master race programmes and fascist ideology. That is what makes the glorification of Eastern European nationalist figures from this period generally inappropriate.

I fear however that the real reason that the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz received so much more coverage than the 50th is a media desire to reinforce the narrative of the War on Terror and Western policy in the Middle East by invoking the spectre of massive anti-Semitism. There have been isolated but deplorable, apparently anti-Semitic attacks of a small-scale terrorist nature in France and Belgium in recent years. But to conflate this into stories of a wave of popular anti-Semitism in Europe is a nonsense. Maureen Lipman’s claim that she may have to leave the UK is not just silly but disingenuous. I do not believe she feels in personal danger of attack – there is absolutely no reason why she should – she is rather making a political point.

There are two factors which could exacerbate anti-Semitism at present. One is the appalling behaviour of Israel and its indefensible action in continually seizing Palestinian land and using its military superiority to dominate and occasionally massacre Palestinians. Regrettably, there are a very small minority of people who wrongly blame Jews in general for the actions of Israel.

The second factor is of course the terrible economic hardship wrought across the whole world by irresponsible banking practices, and the fact that the bankers luxury lifestyles were maintained at the cost of everybody else. There are still a tiny minority of people stuck in the medieval mindset associating banking with the Jewish community. There is in fact a very plausible argument that if any “race” has a disproportionate influence on the development and character of international banking since the mid eighteenth century, it is the Scots! But those who see banking as a racial issue are nutters.

You could construct an argument from these factors, and you could identify that anti-Semitic people do exist. They certainly do. They dominate the very small category of people who get banned even from this free speech blog. But are their opinions intellectually respectable, promoted in the mainstream or able to be expressed openly without fear of either social or legal consequences? No, no and no. Anti-semites are fortunately a tiny and strange minority. I might add that in my numerous and frequent social contacts in the British Muslim community, I have never encountered anti-Semitism (unlike, say, Poland and Russia where I encountered casual anti-Semitism quite frequently).

The final point, is of course, the conflation of anti-zionism with anti-Semitism. That seems to me the fundamental design of the media campaign exaggerating the scale of anti-Semitism at the moment. Yes, we must always remember the terrible warnings from history and it is right to remember those who died in the concentration camps, Jewish, Polish, Romany, Gay, Communist or any other category. But we should be aware of those who wish to manipulate the powerful emotions of horror thus evoked, for present objectives of the powerful.


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835 thoughts on “Auschwitz

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  • Ba'al Zevul

    Ba’al: PS Most of Genesis didn’t happen. Legal.

    Genesis is not best contemplated as a legal text, or with a lawyer’s critical facultie for after all do not lawyer’s select those facts which support their arguments or their preferred preconceptions.

    Sure. But I was denying the entire basis for all three Book religions, a denial which is (as I said) legal, uncontentious and not even on this blog the subject of bitter controversy. Though if I had said ‘the Babylonian Talmud is a load of pig’s kidneys’, I think the reaction would have been different, from some commentators.

    In this connection, there are several theories about 9/11, also promoted here, all distinctly the product of fevered imaginations. But only one is unacceptable, apparently. This one:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11378475/Vicar-investigated-over-911-Israel-did-it-posting.html

    AQ did it? Of course they did. Saudis did it? Well, they were all Saudis, weren’t they? Neocons did it? Fine. It’s what neocons do. US Government did it? Terrific. Can I tell you about FEMA now?. Israel did it? OMG, you horrible antisemite, remember the holocaust.

    BTW Exodus sucks, too.

  • Ba'al Zevul

    Bottom line: being stigmatised for the opinions you hold is no better than being stigmatised for your parentage. And stigmatisation is unlikely to change either property.

  • fred

    “Bottom line: being stigmatised for the opinions you hold is no better than being stigmatised for your parentage. And stigmatisation is unlikely to change either property.”

    I think I’ll keep a copy of that and remind you of it from time to time.

  • Ba'al Zevul

    Just so long as you remember it yourself, Fred of the SNP = Nazi Tendency. Christ, what a two-faced creep you are :-)….get reminding, eh?

  • fred

    “Just so long as you remember it yourself, Fred of the SNP = Nazi Tendency. Christ, what a two-faced creep you are :-)….get reminding, eh?”

    Two faced? Because I oppose Nationalism in all it’s forms not just that of other nations, because I speak against injustice and inhumanity whether it’s conducted by Jews or against them?

    Those are my beliefs and you call me a creep? You stigmatise me for them?

  • Mary

    Netanyahu Speech Scandal Blows Up
    By Philip Weiss

    January 29, 2015 “ICH” – “Mondoweis” – In the last 24 hours the controversy over the planned speech by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to both houses of Congress on March 3 to rebut the president’s policy on Iran has blown up to a new level. Muted outrage over the invitation has turned into open rage. The opposition to the speech by major Israel supporters across the political spectrum, liberal J Street, center-right Jeffrey Goldberg, and hard-right Abraham Foxman, all of whom say the speech-planners have put the US-Israel relationship at risk by making it a political controversy in the U.S., has been conveyed to the Democratic establishment.

    The New York Times and Chris Matthews both landed on the story last night, a full week after it broke, to let us know what a disaster the speech would be if it’s ever delivered. So these media are acting to protect the special relationship by upping the pressure to cancel the speech.

    /..
    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40844.htm

  • Ba'al Zevul

    As I said, Bottom line: being stigmatised for the opinions you hold is no better than being stigmatised for your parentage. And stigmatisation is unlikely to change either property.

    I’m not trying to change your ossified opinions, Fred. I know I can’t do that. I’m just doing this for shits ‘n giggles, like you do. So good luck with the victim card, there.

  • John Goss

    More than 5000 killed in Ukraine and Sky News for some inexplicable reason has decided to report today’s attack on civilians in Donetsk. This must be important because it briefly interrupted the second burial of Sir Winston Churchill. You might think this is an opening up of MSM pointing out some of the fascists war-crimes at long last (and of course it may be a turning point). The reporting is still terribly biased with statements like “It was not immediately clear if the shells were fired by government troops or pro-Russian separatists” and “More than 5,000 have died since the pro-Russian separatists declared their own “People’s Republics” in the region last April.”

    http://news.sky.com/story/1418069/deadly-shell-strike-as-ukrainians-queue-for-aid

  • Republicofscotland

    “Then how come at the bottom of the page on rense.com you lifted it from it says ‘For the entire book “Did Six Million Really Die?”, click here.’?

    Do I have to post the proof? I don’t much want to be posting links to National Front propaganda.”
    ___________________________

    Thanks Fred for directing me to that website, I eventually found said article, its a belter.

    So much so I reblogged it umpteen times, and posted it on Chris Spiveys forums which now receive millions of hits due to the establishment fitting him up.

    Well done Fred you’ve helped to spread the word to millions.

  • Republicofscotland

    “I think you’ve got him there, Fred.

    But you know he’s not quite what he seems…..”
    ____________________________

    Habb aka Guido.

    Yip Fred got me alright he got me reblogging like mad,the article from the site he mentioned.

    As for things not being quite as they seem, you would Guido eh?

  • Republicofscotland

    “Two faced? Because I oppose Nationalism in all it’s forms not just that of other nations, because I speak against injustice and inhumanity whether it’s conducted by Jews or against them?”
    ______________________________

    Fred you’re,such a sentimental fellow, your above comment,could bring a tear to a glass eye, the establishment must be laughing up their sleeves knowing they’ve got such ardent useful idiots such as you running around.

  • Scouse Billy

    RoS, good for you – love Chris Spivey.

    Here’s one for you – very interesting interview click the mp3 player and enjoy.

  • OldMark

    “It was not immediately clear if the shells were fired by government troops or pro-Russian separatists”

    Logic would presume that shells landing in government controlled areas (Mariupol) are launched from rebel controlled areas, whereas shells landing in rebel held areas (Donetsk/Lukansk) are launched from areas held by the Kiev government. However it seems pretty clear that the construction quoted above is preferred by the news editors at Murdoch’s Sky in the reporting of incidents of the latter.

    The silence of that channel in reporting the death of the Spanish peacekeeper a couple of days ago is also evidence of how Sky occasionally morphs into its transatlantic cousin, Fox News.

  • Republicofscotland

    “RoS, good for you – love Chris Spivey.

    Here’s one for you – very interesting interview click the mp3 player and enjoy.”
    ________________________

    Thanks Scouse Billy, had a wee listen, interesting stuff.

  • fool

    Ba’al : noted.

    The Times page 13 today has a story about a C of E vicar, who apparently spoke at a conference in Iran at which claims were made about Zionist involvement in 9/11. Yesterday the vicar is said to have put up an article on his social media web site apparently attempting to connect certain Jews (I don’t know who as I have not looked for the article) to 9/11 and then asked whether his post was anti-Semitic.

    In response Jonathan Arkrush the VP of the Board of Deputies of British Jews is quoted as:

    “Posting, and giving approval to an article which in effect accuses Jews of responsibility for the 9/11 atrocity is unquestionably anti-Semitic, just as it is absurd.”

    Now I haven’t seen the post, it may be that there is a questionable context, just as there so obviously is with the genocide deniers, the vicar’s suggestion might be ludicrous, and perhaps Mr Arkrush is misquoted or the quote is too selective, but nonetheless I can not agree with it. How can it be “unquestionably anti-Semitic”? Such inflexibility does no one any favours.

    Was the late Italian President Francesco Cossiga an anti-Semite?

    I won’t say any more about this as it is too taboo and I am a wimp.

  • fool

    Though I wold concede that the timing of the vicar’s post was extremely suspect, and perhaps that is what Arkrush was getting at, i.e. its a dog whistle if posted on the same day as the memorial day.

  • Mary

    The vicar is Rev Stephen Sizer, Virginia Water, the subject of this post by Craig. He has had a hard time from the Zionists.

    ‘Defend Stephen Sizer
    by craig on January 12, 2013

    Stephen Sizer has been active for many years in areas of humanitarian concern for the Palestinian population. I was with him on my recent trip to Baghdad, and I am convinced he is a good man.

    Stephen is a Church of England vicar. He is under huge pressure at the moment as he is under a formal complaint from the Board of Deputies of British Jews to the Church of England on a charge of anti-semitism. This is very serious indeed and could lead to the loss of both his job and his home.

    The essence of the long complaint is that he has posted links on his website to other websites which contain anti-semitic material. It is not alleged that he has linked to material which is itself anti-semitic; but that elsewhere on websites linked to there is such material.’

    /..
    https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/?s=sizer

    Rev Sizer broadcasts on this TV station under the programme title ‘Enlightenment’.

    http://www.aletejahtv.net/en/program/Omu9kLbj7EW3oaOjAJ9nmQ/enlightenment

  • Mary

    On topic and therefore relevant on the lack of a Palestinian narrative in the corporate media.

    Weekend Edition Jan 30-Feb 01, 2015
    Can the Unspeakable be Spoken?
    The Problem of Israel in the Modern World
    by MICHAEL WELTON

    The mood of our uneasy times is incredibly bellicose, dark, apocalyptic and vengeful. The “war on terror” is like a virus that infects everything it touches. And it does seem to touch everything, from our popular television shows, to getting across borders, travelling overseas somewhere. You can’t read the Sunday paper without feeling queasy, a sense of dread tingling our nerves and spoiling our lovely morning coffee. Everyday brings a new jolt. And if terror doesn’t do the trick, fear of global warming, or running out of oil will spoil your day for sure.

    I am particularly interested in probing the role that religious belief and mythological systems play in dividing us from one another, fuelling irrationality and hatred of others, and dampening any spirit of radical self-criticism. To illustrate the incendiary nature of religious belief, I will focus attention on the Israel-Palestinian conflict in the context of the Middle East. Perhaps no topic–Israel’s fate and role in the Middle East–is itself so incendiary and symptomatic of the failure of our global civilization to act justly.

    /..
    http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/30/the-problem-of-israel-in-the-modern-world/

  • fool

    Thanks Mary, I had to have a look but his posting has gone and it now says:

    “I very much regret and apologise for the distress caused by the reposting on Facebook of a link to an article about 9/11 from Wikispooks. It was particularly insensitive in that last week coincided with Holocaust Memorial Day. I removed the link as soon as I received adverse feedback, and realised that offence had been caused. I have never believed Israel or any other country was complicit in the terrorist atrocity of 9/11, and my sharing of this material was ill-considered and misguided. At the request of the Diocese, I will be suspending my use of all social media and blogs with immediate effect and until further notice.”

    Certainly is taboo.

    His timing sucked and he was either naïve or foolish, or worse perhaps the context of the day did make the posting anti-semitic, but I hadn’t been aware that a Diocese was able to police a vicar’s use of social media in this way…..I am not saying that this vicar is the voice of one crying in the wilderness, but if we can’t rely on MPs, journalists and vicars saying the unpopular then who can we.

    There once used to be a great Rector at one particular London church, who stood up for dissent. I am not saying that the diocese was right or wrong here, but I just hope they do not have a PR budget.

  • Je

    on the lack of a Palestinian narrative in the corporate media… the Independent is really outdoing itself. The lead article on their webpage is “Junior jihadis: Hamas camp for frustrated teens”

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/junior-jihadis-hamas-camp-for-frustrated-teens-10014786.html

    It reads like a propaganda leaflet for the IDF and is “© The Washington Post”.

    They do at least say that Hamas send their 12 and 13 year olds home. Whereas in the UK they do let 12 year olds join the cadets and play with real guns. Maybe they could do a series including “Junior drone killers: Royal Air Force camp for frustrated teens…”…

  • glenn

    @RoS: I’m actually rather surprised that you admire that cynical fraudster Spivey. An Alex Jones wannabe, hysterical liar and exploiter of tragedy (and don’t forget to hit the donation button and buy merchandise!)

    Scouse Billy I’d expect nothing better from – he’s well into his BS and pseudo-science, as everyone who’s listened to his crap for a few minutes quickly understands – but I actually thought you liked to consider yourself a serious commentator.

  • John Spencer-Davis

    CanSpeccy
    28/01/15 11:50 pm
    30/01/15 1:21 am
    30/01/15 1:36 am

    Many thanks for your responses. I haven’t forgotten you – sorry, been a tough day.

    Kind regards,

    John

  • Scouse Billy

    Just so you know Glenn “thinks”

    Vaccines are good for you
    Global warming is real

    and presumably the Woolwich incident, 7/7, 9/11, Charlie Hebdo, Boston Marathon, Sandy Hook etc. are all genuine acts of terrorism as portrayed in the MSM.

    Argumentum ad verecundium is his forte – baaaaaah

    Thanks for the opportunity to set the record strait, Glenn 🙂

  • Clark

    Scouse Billy, you’ve no idea of the damage you are doing by being so gullible.

    One of Lee Rigby’s murderers had been tortured at the request of MI6 in an attempt to turn him into an agent:

    “An awful lot of people were mortified when Rigby was killed,” said a well-placed security source. “The plan to recruit Adebolajo to work for our side was based on the hope he was so grateful to get out of Kenyan custody he would be easy to turn [persuade to switch sides]. We didn’t know what exactly would happen to him when he was interrogated [in Kenya], and of course we can’t be seen to condone anything other than the highest standards. On the other hand, it’s always useful to have the intelligence that results from that sort of questioning.”

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lee-rigby-murder-were-we-told-the-whole-truth-9893247.html

    What is the meaning of the word “intelligence” in the excerpt above? They didn’t gain any information from Adebolajo. No, the “intelligence” was merely the knowledge that he’d been tortured by Kenyan authorities – the knowledge that he could be coerced by fear.

    This is a human rights blog, not a contrarian theory blog. A recent survey showed that about half of the US population believe that torture “works”, ie. that it yields accurate information. Increasingly, the truth is being revealed – torture is used to coerce victims and produce false confessions. Waterboarding was approved specifically to produce false confessions to justify the destruction of Iraq:

    https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/04/waterboarding_a/

    If you want to criticise the 9/11 commission report, criticise it for being based upon false confessions extracted under torture.

    The “radical” theories you support obscure the truth and draw attention away from such obscenities. You help further the cover-up. Has it never occurred to you that such theories could be deliberately seeded by the spooks for that very purpose, with people like you doing their work for them for nothing?

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