I think there is something wrong with european brains in that they process information wrong and act on their conspiracy theories to the detriment of all. I also believe they are extremely anti-semetic, so fk 'em.

Anyway, 1989? Don't they have a statute of limitations over there?

Or let's me Leftists and get together, drink expensive wine, hold hands, and sing kumbaya.

Europe has been a mystery to me in its treatment of free speech; it will allow vulgarity on TV, where small children can see it, but will outlaw an adult's right to own subversive political materials, or to speak subversively about certain governments.

I think a distinction needs to be made between thought "crimes"-which have been codifed into Holocaust denial and "hate" speech laws such as those on the books in EU states and Central/Eastern European nations-and genuine criminal activity, which a number of these people have engaged in during their dubious "academic" careers.

The former are deplorable-even if they were designed with the best of intentions-and should be repealed forthwith. On the other hand, I chafe whenever one of these anti-Semitic Stormf***ks-or their slightly more sophisticated, pseudo-scholarly counterparts among Holocaust revisionists-attempts to conflate these two very different aspects of law in order to turn their contemptible, Nazi apologist idols into free speech martyrs.

Even if you believe that an idiot like Zundel shouldn't be prosecuted for his despicable beliefs in Germany-and I'm in full agreement that he should not-I don't think that validates his willful misrepresentation to Canadian authorities, or his disingenuous attempt to exploit their thoroughly flawed political asylum system.

Likewise, just as I believe that crackpot and self-hating Jew Norman Finklestein should be allowed to spew his bilious, revisionist idiocy in the public square whenever he chooses to do so, I do not think that our nation's still generous protection of freedom of expression entitles him to life-time tenure at a liberal arts university, in spite of his distinct lack of scholarly credentials.

That being said, I think the best argument against these anti-speech laws is that they are so routinely abused by the growing Islamist political apparatus within EUrabia, which has managed to exploit them in order to further their own nefarious goals.

That's one of the reasons that Orianna Fallaci is living here, instead of her native Italia.

This is all a very circuitous way of saying that I agree with, Karol.

Very astute analysis.

:)

-good times, Gerard.

I don't know if Irving should be imprisoned, but he should be called on his bullshit, which people DO believe. Don't kid yourself that the holocaust is received wisdom, I watched a BBC documentary (called "Who do you think you are?") in which the Comedian and Novelist Stephen Fry traced his family back into Vienna and Hungary. He went to the village where his (Jewish) family came from (only one jew left now thanks to the camps). A man approached him with the perfectly amiable opinion that 'the jews always looked after themselves' i.e. they were smart enough to escape, as they had money, etc to do so. Fry was quite appalled (as was I).
I think all bs should be called. The Political systems in many countries are ruined by innuendo , distortion and plain lies; those who can afford the higher volumes of bs should not win the day because voters choose the lesser of two evils.
btw Austria has one of the most right wing governments in Europe.

The original e mail was thus..

"Saw this - no use for your site as it fly's against your (and especially your readers) pre conception of Europe as a bastion of anti semitism ( - ;

Me - I think it is dumb, just as I think the two BBC journalists were dumb taking the vile BNP to court. What the BNP (and Irving) say is vile, but why give them even more publicity and imprison them for their views. An interesting one."

Glad it had the desired effect of bringing some priceless ill informed dogmatic flids out. Pity that I can't be fucked arguing any more. Have nice day.

Urbane, not sure what you're mad about, it sounds like we agree.

Really I could care less about anti-semites anywhere. There are plenty here and plenty in Europe(it's just that Europe has precentage-wise more muslims and for the last 60 years they have the most jew haters), as long as they keep their hands to them selves get your hate on. True free speech is protecting unpopular speech. You hold back and take the verbal abuse, you sneer but dont act. However at the 1st sign of physical aggression whether it be a push in an arguement or a a desecration of a synagogue you stomp their anti-semite asses into pulp. By the way urbane mcmeercat is a damn funny name, I didnt know that there were meercats in Britain.

Hey, I am never mad at you. That is twice in a couple of weeks we have agreed then - thought that your first big post about the cartoon fiasco was good.
There were only a couple posts up when I replied - it looked set for a barrage of anti European nonsense.
Thought you were a bit liberal with the interpretation of my e mail though (-;

I have the link about the BNP thing too. Hate what they say most of the time, but they have a right to say it.
Have a good weekend.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4672792.stm