Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/07

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Homicide and photography
From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2000 16:18:39 -0500
References: <9DC5E2ABE65BD54CA9088DA3194461D6025343CC@BBY1EXM01>

Paul, if you happen to be crazy enough to go back through these interminable posts, you'll see that I specifically pointed out Stalin, among others. I agree with you that at various times various societies have engaged in attempts to wipe out various minority groups. However...1.) Hitler's Jewish genocide was an integral part of his plan to "rule the world." 2.) Far too often people - I'm not pointing fingers at any individual here- point to other genocides or murderous excesses to suggest that somehow there was nothing special about the murder of the Jews.
Well, there was something special. It was the mid-20th Century culmination of a world-wide persecution that has been on going since Christianity spread to the European continent. And it continues today.

B. D.

Paul Chefurka wrote:

> But it _has_ happened everywhere.  That's not defending the little corporal, it's just saying that a shred of evil lurks in us all.  I must admit I despair a bit when I hear people vilify Hitler while at the same time turning a blind eye toward Stalin and the Turks (for instance).  Genocide and oppression must be condemned wherever it is recognized.  One of the first steps toward that, for me, has been realizing that evil doesn't occur in special places at special times to special people, but always, everywhere to everyone (to greater or lesser degrees).
>
> That's one of the reasons I look at Natchwey's work, as much as it upsets me to do so.  The understanding that the Final Solution was not an isolated and treated disease, but is alive in the world today strikes me a very valuable.
>
> Paul Chefurka
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: B. D. Colen [mailto:bdcolen@earthlink.net]
> >Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 2:59 PM
> >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> >Subject: Re: [Leica] Homicide and photography
> >
> >
> >Certainly, persecution of anyone, or any people, is utterly
> >inexcusable and equally appalling. But if you have to ask "why
> >as a Jew," there is really no point in answering. But the old
> >saw of what happened in National Socialist Germany can happen
> >anywhere is perhaps - over the course of the past 55 years -
> >THE most tired rationalization behind which defenders of
> >Hitler's behavior hide.
> >
> >B. D.
> >

In reply to: Message from Paul Chefurka <Paul_Chefurka@pmc-sierra.com> (RE: [Leica] Homicide and photography)