-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".
DBC
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.
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
