Elie Wiesel slams tea partiers over Holocaust signs

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/news/tea_parties/index.html?story=...

Wiesel slams tea partiers over Holocaust signs
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
By Alex Koppelman


Unfortunately, it seems that whether it's on the Internet or in real life, Godwin's Law always finds a way to prove itself again. People manage to use Nazi and Holocaust references in the most poorly considered of ways, as if they're unaware of the true horror that was the slaughter of millions of innocent people.

That sort of thing has been happening all too frequently during protests against Democratic healthcare reform plans, and one of the more shocking examples was on display at the protest on Capitol Hill Thursday: A banner that featured a picture of naked, emaciated bodies stacked in a pile, with text reading, "National Socialist Health Care: Dachau, Germany -- 1945."

Now, someone with credibility on the issue that's all too real has spoken out against these comparisons. Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and author, put out a statement through his foundation's Twitter account. It reads simply, "Elie Wiesel on the GOP Tea Party's anti-Semitism and Holocaust comparisons: 'This kind of political hatred is indecent and disgusting.'"

[Tristesse]

1. Re: Elie Wiesel Slams Tea Partiers Over Holocaust Signs

I'm glad someone brought this up. Those pics were nauseating, and I can't believe people would sink THAT LOW just to take part in mean-spirited politicking.

Too bad the Republican Party has run out of responsible grown-ups; right now, the lunatics are running the asylum.

[babylonsister]

2. Good morning, Tristesse, and welcome to DU.

I see you've been here awhile, but don't post much? Don't be a stranger!

I'm also glad someone, especially Wiesel, brought it up. More people need to be voicing their disgust.

[Tristesse]

6. Thanx so much, Babylonsister!

I really appreciate the warm welcome, been sitting here feeling sorry for myself (no good reason, just habit lol), and fretting over the state of the world--and your warm welcome totally changed my mood. So I owe you big time!! I will definitely start posting more--pretty soon you'll be begging me to shut up haha!!

And Wiesel I think is the PERFECT person to bring this subject up. That man KNOWS what a genuine Holocaust is--God bless him, he endured that hell. And, thankfully, survived it, and has fought so hard to see that those kinds of horrors never happen again. He's a true inspiration to me and I think to anyone who wants true peace and justice in our world.

And I agree--more of us should make clear just how deeply we are offended by this exploitation of a horrific tragedy for such a trivial purpose.

I kind of wonder if some of these tea partiers even HAVE a conscience!!

Anyway, I promise not to be a stranger!!!

[myrna minx]

14. We're glad you're here Tristesse.

[KharmaTrain]

3. They Are Truly Unhinged...

Being Jewish, words can't describe how offended I was at the anti-semetic nature of the teabaggers and the wingnuts and their over-the-top rhetoric. My father fought to liberate those same camps these shitstains exploited to prevent millions of Americans from the most basic element of life...affordable healthcare.

Yesterday I tuned into CSPIN during their resolution condeming the murders at Ft. Hood...all well and good until one rushpublican gets up and use the word "OUR God"...didn't take much to read between the lines as to what this fukstick meant.

My late mother grew up in an American were anti-semetism was tolerated. She had to hide the fact she was Jewish to get a job and keep it...cause she obviously didn't believe in the "right" god. I know she would be horrified at hearing this rhetoric and moreso my grandparents and the brothers and sisters who were victims of the progroms in Poland and Russia...cause they, too believed in the "wrong" god.

Yesterday someone asked were was the Jewish "outrage" about what the teabaggers were doing...trust me it's there big time. Sadly I know some of my "tribe"...likudniks (and sadly racist as well) who hate our President, but the vast majority of those of my faith were stunned and highly offended by the "religious crusade" nature of the far right.

[babylonsister]

4. I'm glad there is outrage and hope that translates to votes in future.

I do wish people would verbally condemn the GOP now, but hope they won't forget how 'acceptable' these actions and signs have been to the crazies and the leaders of the GOP. Even Cantor thought everything was A-OK until he was called on it; he then changed his tune. Too little too late imo.

[KharmaTrain]

5. President Obama Took 80% Of The Jewish Vote..

IMHO Cantor is a self-hating Jew...so is anyone who supports the exploitation of the holocoust for their political agenda. Even if Cantor "changed his tune" he damn well knows that his coven is a haven for anti-semites. When you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas...

[Tristesse]

8. Anti-Semitism is a horrible blight on Christianity, I'm afraid...

KharmaTrain, I am so sorry that you and your family have been made to suffer for being Jewish. It's just so STUPID!!! I am a Christian and I have the greatest respect for your great faith. I honor the wonderful prophets and leaders I learned about thru the Bible--people like Moses and Abraham, Deborah, Joseph, King David, so many wonderful people I can't begin to list them all! You have every reason in the world to take pride in your history. And never should anyone forget that without Judaism, neither Christianity nor Islam would even exist!!

And after all--Jesus WAS A JEW!!! How can so-called "Christians" *forget* that so conveniently?! He was a devout and observant Jew, and for sure He would be HORRIFIED to see His people treated so horribly. And no matter what some ignorant bigot says--we both worship the same God! I know of course that Judaism doesn't see Jesus as divine, and I respect that--Judaism has an admirable fidelity to monotheism --but the Creator God we worship is the same!

I offer you and your family my heartfelt apologies for those so-called "Christians" who have abused you, committed atrocities against the Jewish people, and in the end, actually tried to commit the ultimate act of mass murder, the "Final Solution". UGH!!! I am so very very sorry. Please know that many Christians feel nothing but love and respect for our Jewish friends and neighbors.

Sorry if I sound intense, but this is a real sore point with me. Anti-Semitism is just so wrong in so many ways and it makes me mad, and unfortunately when I get mad I tend to run on at the mouth, lol!

Don't worry--God is much more "yours" than He is the God of the hate-mongering tea-baggers--I don't care HOW many crosses they're wearing!!!

[KharmaTrain]

11. Welcome To DU

Thank you for your thoughtful post. Honestly, I don't feel I've ever suffered...no self pity on this end at all. I've spent my life seeing various forms of anti-semetism...much of it very subtle and, sadly, ingrained in too many. My grandparents came to this country 100 years ago to escape systemic discrimination of not only people of my faith but many others as well. Much of it bred on ignorance and used by those who use division to gain power. This is the lesson all should keep in mind.

Bottom line is we're all Americans...one's faith or skin color or sex or sexual orientation shouldn't matter in a nation that was founded upon "all men are created equal". Seems the teabaggers and the religious right like to ignore that basic tenet of our founding fathers.

But then we're seeing some on the religious right who want to rewrite the bible to suit their political agenda...striking out the concepts of compassion and tolerance. My hope is this over-the-top hatred not only of Jews but of Hispanics, Blacks and Arab-Americans that is at the core of the "modern" rushpublican party is denounced and there's a backlash next year in the voting booth.

Cheers...

[Orangeone]

15. So why does Elie Wiesel hang out with John Hagee? NT

[Mari333]

17. thats a gooood question

Hagee and his evangelical nutbars want to send money to Israel thats why. Only they are wolves in sheeps clothing, they also want to convert all the Jewish people to christianity. why any self respecting jew would even go NEAR someone like Hagee is a good question.

[izquierdista]

7. That train's never late

You can count on it from the right-wing. Analysis courtesy of Chris Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZQLwDkM84 starts at about 4:00.

[Tristesse]

9. LOL!

Yep--that train's right on time, as usual.

[Skidmore]

10. These hateful people don't care about criticism.

I would wager that they are largely white supremacists or KKK who have found a political party to give them legitimacy.

[AndyA]

12. Completely disgraceful and totally inappropriate.

It is very obvious that there are no caring, responsible, ethical, honest, adults in the Republican Party today.

And we wonder why everything is so screwed up. These people have a say in what happens in our lives.

Terrifying.

[DavidDvorkin]

13. Will they now attack Wiesel?

Or do they realize that that would be a step too far?

For that matter, were those pictures finally a step too far? I guess that depends on the news media, which so far have been silent.

[spanone]

16. good