tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240636.post6415556369141669210..comments2024-03-21T17:13:34.747-07:00Comments on On the Contrary: Finkelstein: Opponents of Israeli occupation are "cultic" and not pragmaticMichael Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09485741729327325322noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240636.post-3737923426046052332012-03-19T20:37:51.598-07:002012-03-19T20:37:51.598-07:00I never said or even implied that Dr. Finkelstein ...I never said or even implied that Dr. Finkelstein was "obligated" to engage in such a debate.<br /><br />Furthermore, although it was not expressly stated, I assumed he would have taken the side in a debate, if there ever was one, not on the side of debunking the conventionally accepted version of the holocaust, but rather of more or less supporting such version since I was of the impression that he does support the conventional or shall we say "official" version (more or less) of the holocaust.<br /><br />I hope that clarifies my position. Knowing your background to some degree, I assume from your answer that Dr. Finkelstein has not engaged in any such public debate as regards the extent of that which is commonly referred to as the Holocaust, claimed or otherwise. Having said what I've said, I wonder why not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240636.post-38431331225211695212012-03-19T08:45:19.310-07:002012-03-19T08:45:19.310-07:00Dear James
Why would Dr. Finkelstein be obligated...Dear James<br /><br />Why would Dr. Finkelstein be obligated to engage in a debate on the “claimed Jewish holocaust by the 3rd Reich?”<br /> <br />He is already stigmatized as an alleged "self-hating, neo-Nazi Judaic" for the work he has done on the political and commercial exploitation by the Zionists and the “Holocaust' Lobby" of the suffering of Judaic people during World War II. Should he burden himself in public with additional “heresies” which will add to a further curtailment of his influence and the audiences willing to take him seriously?<br /><br />Should anyone volunteer for such martyrdom? I believe that airing in public doubts about the existence of homicidal gas chambers in Auschwitz takes a special charism. These doubts are not something that can be used as a litmus test of a person’s authenticity as a truth-teller, because we need to have some leaders and thinkers who can have some voice in the mass media. At least some of us have to choose our battles and be pragmatic.<br /><br />Finally, I object to your sloppy use of the crude phrase “claimed Jewish holocaust.” This is exactly how the rabbis hope you will speak in a public forum. You are employing a Newspeak word that has no clear denotation but does have a broadly branded connotation. To many people, whether or not Judaics were gassed in “chambers” in Auschwitz, the fact that tens of thousands — or hundreds of thousands -- of innocent Judaic persons were murdered by the Nazis does indeed constitute a “holocaust.”<br /> <br />Using phrases like “claimed Jewish holocaust” at the very least connotes a sense that Judaics were not at all brutally repressed and victimized during World War II. <br /><br />As I have been saying for 30 years, be more precise in what you are questioning concerning the vast history of WWII and do not fall into the trap of using the very Orwellian Newspeak trap intentionally prepared for you.Michael Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09485741729327325322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240636.post-14778644917920140782012-03-19T08:03:10.955-07:002012-03-19T08:03:10.955-07:00Excellent commentary Mr. Hoffman. Your questions ...Excellent commentary Mr. Hoffman. Your questions definitely deserve a clear forthright answer.<br /><br />As an aside, I would be curious to know whether Norman Finkelstein has ever entered into a public debate on the question of the claimed Jewish holocaust by the 3rd Reich and if not why not. If he has I'd be most interested in seeing the transcript of same.<br /><br />James PhillipsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com