<p>OK, all of you CC posters who have fervently supported "the freedom of speech" rights of the Danish newspaper, I guess that clause doesn't apply when Jews are the intended target in a verbal attack right???</p>
<p>I LOVE THE HYPOCRISY. Danish newspapers can draw a caricature of the Islamic prophet Mohammed with a bomb strapped to his head without any reprecussions or even condemnation while on the other hand, if a RESPECTED WW2 British historian merely says that the events of the Holocaust may be "exaggerated" to some extent with regards to the genocide of Jews, he gets jailed for 3 years in Austria despite profusely apologizing to the European media for denying the existence of gas chambers in Auschwitz and more.</p>
<p>We clearly live in a fair world with no double standards people.:rolleyes::mad:</p>
<p>yes, we do have a double standard, but far be it from those of us who never experienced the Holocaust to deny that it happened...that takes some nerve!</p>
<p>David Irving is one of the most respected scholars in the study of World War II as he as been researching the event his whole life and has received numerous awards for his many publications.</p>
<p>There isn't any difference. Both express hate expressly without any restraint. Those cartoons were much, much more than just a "couple of editorial cartoons."</p>
<p>Either way, he hasn't necessarily DENIED that the Holocaust occurred. He merely just stated that those events may have been 'exaggerated' to some extent. Either way, jailing someone for voicing their opinions is IMO absolutely wrong.</p>
<p>i studied this case in my law class-totally different than the cartoons case. he was completely denying the blatant physical deaths of people and trivialized the death and exploitation of an entire race and alleged that the obvious EVIDENCE was fabricated-each and every picture. he also alleged that the personal accounts were LIES! he effectively trivialized the death and human violations of an entire faith and race. have you ever heard of hate crimes? they're a CRIMINAL OFFENCE-ie, that's why he was JAILED! HE BROKE THE LAW!</p>
<p>First off, FYI he was convicted and jailed in Austria, not America. Any concepts, or notions, or ideas you may have about about free sppech, are likely based on American laws, interpretations, and court opinions. Thus they are not neccessarily applicable in Austria. Unless of couse Austria is now operating under American law, which I don't think it is. </p>
<p>About David Irving, he is also so respected that he is banned from Germany, Canada, Austria, Australia, and New Zealand.</p>
<p>He is so well-respected that when he was sued, the judge said, "Irving has for his own ideological reasons persistently and deliberately misrepresented and manipulated historical evidence; that for the same reasons he has portrayed Hitler in an unwarrantedly favourable light, principally in relation to his attitude towards and responsibility for the treatment of the Jews; that he is an active Holocaust denier; that he is anti-Semitic and racist, and that he associates with right-wing extremists who promote neo-Nazism."</p>
<p>btw, sorry about all of my capitals-i'm not jewish, but racism/prejudice of any kind really bothers me and i get kind of passionate.</p>
<p>when i mentioned anti-hate legislation, i was thinking specifically of canadian laws, although i knew he was tried in austria. i assume that his conviction was based on similar laws, which was why i drew the parallel.</p>
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btw, sorry about all of my capitals-i'm not jewish, but racism/prejudice of any kind really bothers me and i get kind of passionate.
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<p>If thats the case, then you should be angry at Israel; not at some British scholar who has denied the Holocaust after decades to study in history.</p>
<p>that's a separate issue-we're talking about David Irving's conviction here-I'm clearly allowed to be upset about flagrant ant-semitism, among other things. why are you criticizing me for my sympathy for the Jewish people...?</p>
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I'm clearly allowed to be upset about flagrant ant-semitism, among other things. why are you criticizing me for my sympathy for the Jewish people
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<p>For heaven's sake, just because he denies the Holocaust doesnt mean he hates Jews. Lets get real people, the event was exaggerated.</p>
<p>I am not critisizing you for your sympathy, I just was making a point that western powers are hypocrites.</p>
<p>Aren't these different countries being dealt with? You can't penalize one country for another's actions just because they happen to be 'similar', they still aren't the same.</p>
<p>Jailing someone for denying Holocaust history is as silly as jailing the guys who don't think we landed on the moon.</p>
<p>I mean, they're both members of a special club known as the "I Live Life Ignoring the Mountains of Evidence Club," but they don't deserve prison sentences for it.</p>
<p>And 7_dust, it's nice to know that you think that the genocide of millions of Jews, Roma, and Catholics is a joke.</p>
<p>Alright Ari, as much as I disagree with some of your views, its nice to know that you're not a hypocrite. I currently respect you more than President Bush and the Austrian government.</p>