Raul Hilberg died last week at age 81. He is most known for being the most thorough documentarian of the workings of the German bureaucracy responsible for the Jewish Holocaust of WW2. See wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raul_Hilberg
There, also, is a link to a Democracy Now interview where he defends Norman Finkelstein, another major historian who was recently denied tenure at Depaul University due to a campaign by a pro-Israel gang of Right Wingers.
Also of note is the New York Times article about his death. That can be read on the Marxism list http://www.marxmail.org/msg29415.html Too bad that the bureaucracy of that newspaper has actively supported the many American-government-made genocides around the world. In fact, part of the American Holocaust industry, the New York Times, is writing about the documentarian of the crimes of the German Holocaust industry. Ironic and sad, is it not?
Some people (when paid) will say or do anything to distract attention from the current atrocities. I used to have a book of magic tricks when I was a kid. Success in magic depends largely on getting people to look at away from where the “trick” is happening, if only for a brief moment. Then they marvel and say “WOW!” and clap their hands. The magician is loved and respected by all because of his cleverness and ability to entertain.
The media magicians, similarly, seek to entertain and impress their audience with a clever choice of subject and detailed analysis at which to marvel. Meanwhile there is a “trick” happening right under our noses – genocide.
It’s the same kind of thing the American educational system is doing these days. They teach about the lives of African slaves and the treatment of Native American tribes. I suspect the hope is that if children read about these things, they won’t think about why there is such a large percentage of blacks in prison today or why much of the current generation of natives are stuck on reservations with few opportunities.
If one of these should happen to rise above the conditions forced upon them and then speak out against the oppressor, as happened in the case of Colorado University professor, Ward Churchill, they are investigated and scrutinized until evidence is uncovered (or conjured up) to warrant justification for terminating them from whatever position they’ve earned.
I should talk…I haven’t done anything to help the disenfranchised masses this week – have you?
Then again, if living below the poverty line qualifies me, perhaps I, white as I am, am one of the disenfranchised myself.
Comment by Brian — August 9, 2007 @ 2:12 am
Well, just what have I done this week to help the disenfranchised masses? I kept my mind intact and didn’t become mindless, for one thing.
Whether or not I am part of the disenfranchised masses or not?, at least I have tried to keep myself from being part of the mindless masses. That takes some work these days but I hope I got it done. In fact, Brian, I didn’t eat at McDonalds even once last week! Alright!
Comment by alienatedamerican — August 9, 2007 @ 4:41 pm