That Irving has been, and probably still is, a Holocaust denier is indisputable. In 1994, I interviewed him for a book on Holocaust denial, and he told me that no more than half a million Jews died during World War II, and most of those because of disease and starvation. In 2000, Irving lost his libel suit in Britain against an author, and the judge in the case called him "an active Holocaust denier, anti-Semitic and racist." And in April 2005, I attended a lecture he gave in Costa Mesa at an event sponsored by the Institute for Historical Review, the leading voice of Holocaust denial in the U.S. There he joked about the Chappaquiddick line and, holding his right arm up, boasted: "This hand has shaken more hands that shook Hitler's hand than anyone else in the world."
The important question here is not whether Irving is a Holocaust denier (he is), or whether he offends people with what he says (he does), but why anyone, anywhere should be imprisoned for expressing dissenting views or saying offensive things. Today, you may be imprisoned or fined for dissenting from the accepted Holocaust history in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Switzerland.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-shermer22feb22,0,2752813.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions
[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on February 24, 2006]
Note: http://www.latimes.com/...
Protecting The Rights Of A Holocaust Denier Ultimately Protects Us All
Posted on Friday, February 24 at 09:06 by DiogenesContributed By
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If the Holocaust is true as explained, then all attempts to refute it will fail as their hypotheses will be proven erroneous. There have been countless holocausts throughout history - why are we squelching debate on this one?
Defending Irving's right to question the Holocaust in no way implies that I agree with him. However, I certainly agree with his right to say what he has to say. Based on the veracity of his arguments, intelligent individuals will themselves be able to consider him a genius or an idiot.
The "Holocaust Denial" laws are a travesty of justice and have no place in a free society.
Rico AB.
While I agree with what you say, I also see why countries like Austria and Germany have such laws.
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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden
people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."
-Noam Chomsky
A self sanctioning citizenry has little need for laws to “control” mind crimes, critical thought investigations should be encouraged using law to silence investigation(s) is the first step in thought control.
I find it interesting the “Cartoon Caper” set off a spate of exchanges and this topic comes across as taboo, which kinda leads to begging the question from Dr C’s post:
While I agree with what you say, I also see why countries like Austria and Germany have such laws.
How do you see why Austria and Germany have such laws?
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People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
Alexei Sayle
Because they were culpable in the death of millions of people. The numbers don't matter, but to allow dilution of the accepted facts may over time lead to the denial that those events ever happened. It's an event that must remain pure in it's evilness, for the phrase 'Never Again' to have meaning.
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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden
Rico AB.
I didn't say I agreed with their laws, I said I understood their laws.
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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden
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Dave Ruston
An interesting view and in my eyes at least there are some glaring flaws.
Because the numbers of deaths in the camps have been taken as fact is in no way proof the numbers are fact, plus the very idea that diminished figures would lead to denial of Jewish deaths specifically would negate facts of concentration camps existence is a logical fallacy: a non sequitor
For the event to remain “pure in its evilness” investigation into the cui bono aspect needs further attention.
The phrase “Never Again” is one of those cutesy linguistic memes designed to divert attention from the matter of a world war following on the heels of a world depression, follow the money. More accurately “Backtrack the money!”
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People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
Alexei Sayle
and the United States where books by Wilhelm Reich where burned in the 1950s<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-49,GGLG:en&q=wilhelm+Reich+books+burnt&spell=1">http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-49,GGLG:en&q=wilhelm+Reich+books+burnt&spell=1</a><br />
<p>---<br>People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs. <br />
Alexei Sayle
Russia,China,Cambodia,Natives,Iraq,Palestine,Vietnam,Laos,India,
etc.,etc.,etc.,etc.,
Hell what about Indonesia?
Guatemala?
Cherokees?
Ukraine?
Alexei Sayle
Alexei Sayle
Its hypocritical bull!!