Holocaust Denial on the Internet: Fostering Communities of Hate

by Michelle . · 2009-06-15 12:00:00 UTC
Topics:

In an op-ed in the Washington Post last week, following the horrific shooting at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Michael Gerson wrote far more eloquently than I ever have about the links between anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial, and violence. In particular, he noted how the internet has given new life to anti-Semitic hate speech. In reference to comments left on a previous article on Holocaust denial, Gerson writes:

"Of course, these are the views of a small, self-selected group of the unbalanced -- hundreds out of millions. But the Internet allows these obsessions to gather in fetid pools, as James W. von Brunn (a prolific Web author) knew and exploited. The Internet has helped to create communities of malice."

While the open-ended and open-source quality of the internet can be a wonderful thing, it also allows hate speech to flourish, provided an outlet and forum for connection for those who espouse extreme view, whereas they otherwise might be somewhat isolated. I've noticed the same thing on my own posts on Holocaust denial --- without fail, the comments sections become either anti-Semitic rants (which I delete without sympathy, despite a variety of threats levied against me), or extended whines about free speech, as if those who promote hatred are somehow oppressed. No other subject gains as much attention on my blog as my posts about Holocaust denial.

But as I've written before, Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism --- and Holocaust denial is, in my view, fundamentally anti-Semitic --- are not mere issues of free speech. Gerson writes:

"But these ideas are not harmless, because they can inspire an angry, obsessed bigot who sets out on a June morning to kill Jews -- and murders an African American man who had a wife and young son."

Von Brunn's attack on the Holocaust Museum shows just how dangerous hate speech can be.

[Photo from Reuters: Forensic personnel inspects bullet holes in the glass entry doors at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, June 11, 2009.]

Michelle . has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Health and Human Rights - Four Things to Consider
NEXT STORY:
Campaign about Apple Factories in China Gains Wide and Diverse Support

COMMENTS (9)

    Comment Policy

    · All fields are required to comment.

    [X]

    Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the campaign on Change.org. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments which, as determined solely in our discretion: (1) are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; (2) include content solely intended to personally attack the campaign creator, (3) are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them; and/or (4) violate our terms of service and/or privacy policy. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion. Please also be advised that: (A) we do not actively curate and/or monitor in any manner whatsoever the comments made on the Change.org platform, and (B) the creator of each campaign on Change.org may remove any comment at her/his/its discretion.