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Title: Finkelstein and The Progressive: Fallout from a Smear
Source:
CounterPunch
URL Source: http://counterpunch.com/halle06162007.html
Published: Jun 16, 2007
Author: JOHN HALLE
Post Date: 2007-06-18 17:24:37 by aristeides
Keywords: None
Views: 159
Comments: 9
Finkelstein and The Progressive Fallout from a Smear By JOHN HALLE For those of us in the academy, among the most important stories of the week was a successful smear campaign waged by Alan Dershowitz and the Zionist lobby resulting in noted scholar and author Norman Finkelstein being denied tenure at DePaul University. The distinguished historian Raul Hilberg spoke for many in admitting to “a sinking feeling about the damage this will do to academic freedom.” One might think that this story would be a natural for inclusion in “McCarthyism Watch”, a regular weekly feature on the Progressive Magazine website presided over by Progressive editor Matt Rothschild. It won’t be. That’s because of the minor but not insignificant role which Rothschild and Progressive columnist Ruth Conniff played in fueling the witch hunt. A year ago, Finkelstein’s name came up on a Madison talk show where Conniff was appearing as a guest. Conniff shocked many listeners by describing Finkelstein as “a Holocaust denier” and a “celebrity in a certain, a pretty ugly anti-semitic group in the country.” Finkelstein protested demanding a retraction from Conniff’s editor, fearing that a respected publication’s denigration of his character could influence his upcoming tenure decision. Rothschild responded by reasserting the correctness of Conniff’s charges, citing in support canards circulated by Finkelstein’s chief antagonist, Dershowitz. Since the DePaul administration’s deliberations were conducted in secret, it is not known whether Finkelstein’s fears materialized. It is not unreasonable to assume that Conniff’s slanders and Rothschild’s defense of them sent a clear signal that Finkelstein was fair game who could not count on the support even on the left fringes of the mainstream. And indeed, there was one organ of progressive opinion which was silent on the Finkelstein case this week. Rothschild is fond of citing Martin Niemoller’s adage of what happens when we don’t speak up when they come for others. Like too many liberals, both now and in the Weimar Republic, one can always count on Rothschild and the Progressive for a howl of outrage. Except when it matters. John Halle is Director of Studies in Music Theory and Practice at Bard College. He can be reached at: halle@bard.edu
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#1. To: All (#0)
David Ray Griffin complains about Rothschild and The Progressive falling for the government line on 9/11. But then he also complains about Counterpunch doing the same thing.
To reason, indeed, he was not in the habit of attending. His mode of arguing, if it is to be so called, was one not uncommon among dull and stubborn persons, who are accustomed to be surrounded by their inferiors. He asserted a proposition; and, as often as wiser people ventured respectfully to show that it was erroneous, he asserted it again, in exactly the same words, and conceived that, by doing so, he at once disposed of all objections. - Macaulay, "History of England," Vol. 1, Chapter 6, on James II.
That's perfect. Just questioning anything about the Holocaust or deviating in any way from the officially indoctrinated account earns one the title of "Holocaust denier".
Finkelstein has never denied the reality of the Holocaust. He occasionally mentions that his parents were in the Nazis' death camps (although they managed to survive.)
To reason, indeed, he was not in the habit of attending. His mode of arguing, if it is to be so called, was one not uncommon among dull and stubborn persons, who are accustomed to be surrounded by their inferiors. He asserted a proposition; and, as often as wiser people ventured respectfully to show that it was erroneous, he asserted it again, in exactly the same words, and conceived that, by doing so, he at once disposed of all objections. - Macaulay, "History of England," Vol. 1, Chapter 6, on James II.
Thanks.
To reason, indeed, he was not in the habit of attending. His mode of arguing, if it is to be so called, was one not uncommon among dull and stubborn persons, who are accustomed to be surrounded by their inferiors. He asserted a proposition; and, as often as wiser people ventured respectfully to show that it was erroneous, he asserted it again, in exactly the same words, and conceived that, by doing so, he at once disposed of all objections. - Macaulay, "History of England," Vol. 1, Chapter 6, on James II.
Self-hating Jews. Clearly Hilberg and Finkelstein hate themselves, unlike Dershowitz, who is notably in love with himself.
Right, yet he is not immune from such a label.
My point was that it would be absurd for somebody with a history like Finkelstein's -- one which he admits having -- to deny the reality of the Holocaust. Obviously, he does not deny its reality.
To reason, indeed, he was not in the habit of attending. His mode of arguing, if it is to be so called, was one not uncommon among dull and stubborn persons, who are accustomed to be surrounded by their inferiors. He asserted a proposition; and, as often as wiser people ventured respectfully to show that it was erroneous, he asserted it again, in exactly the same words, and conceived that, by doing so, he at once disposed of all objections. - Macaulay, "History of England," Vol. 1, Chapter 6, on James II.
Yes, I got your point. He has not fallen in line as he should, he dared to criticize the way the Holocaust is being exploited. Therefore, for no logical reason at all, he has been given that label and lost his job. Dissent of any kind will not be tolerated. http://www.serendipity.li/more/finkel.html The BBC wrote on their website: Norman Finkelstein Jewish American historian Norman Finkelstein argues in his explosive new book, "The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering" that Holocaust remembrance has been exploited by the Jewish establishment. In his book he contends that a greater threat to the memory of the Holocaust than Holocaust deniers is what he calls 'The Holocaust Industry'. He accuses those who exploit the Holocaust of telling lies and of naked greed. He argues that the ruthless industrialisation of the Holocaust has encouraged the rebirth of anti-semitism in Europe and the United States. The son of survivors of the Warsaw ghetto and concentration camps, he says, "I do care about the memory of my family's persecution. The current campaign of the Holocaust industry to extort money from Europe in the name of "needy Holocaust victims" has shrunk the moral stature of their martyrdom to that of a Monte Carlo casino."
#2. To: aristeides (#0)
And indeed, there was one organ of progressive opinion which was silent on the Finkelstein case this week. Rothschild is fond of citing Martin Niemoller’s adage of what happens when we don’t speak up when they come for others.
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." ~George Washington
Ron Paul for President
#3. To: robin (#2)
#4. To: aristeides (#0)
Worth browsing.
#5. To: swarthyguy (#4)
#6. To: aristeides (#0)
noted scholar and author Norman Finkelstein being denied tenure at DePaul University. The distinguished historian Raul Hilberg spoke for many in admitting to “a sinking feeling about the damage this will do to academic freedom.”
#7. To: aristeides (#3)
(Edited)
Finkelstein has never denied the reality of the Holocaust. He occasionally mentions that his parents were in the Nazis' death camps (although they managed to survive.)
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." ~George Washington
Ron Paul for President
#8. To: robin (#7)
#9. To: aristeides (#8)
(Edited)
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." ~George Washington
Ron Paul for President
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