Monday, February 26, 2018
Algemeiner: Jews Should Boycott Poland Economically
Zev Friedman, writing in Algemeiner, recommends that Jews not spend one zloty in Poland. He recommends other destinations.
13 comments:
Bieganski the Blog exists to further explore the themes of the book Bieganski the Brute Polak Stereotype, Its Role in Polish-Jewish Relations and American Popular Culture.
These themes include the false and damaging stereotype of Poles as brutes who are uniquely hateful and responsible for atrocity, and this stereotype's use in distorting WW II history and all accounts of atrocity.
This blog welcomes comments from readers that address those themes. Off-topic and anti-Semitic posts are likely to be deleted.
Your comment is more likely to be posted if:
Your comment includes a real first and last name.
Your comment uses Standard English spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Your comment uses I-statements rather than You-statements.
Your comment states a position based on facts, rather than on ad hominem material.
Your comment includes readily verifiable factual material, rather than speculation that veers wildly away from established facts.
T'he full meaning of your comment is clear to the comment moderator the first time he or she glances over it.
You comment is less likely to be posted if:
You do not include a first and last name.
Your comment is not in Standard English, with enough errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar to make the comment's meaning difficult to discern.
Your comment includes ad hominem statements, or You-statements.
You have previously posted, or attempted to post, in an inappropriate manner.
You keep repeating the same things over and over and over again.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Another visceral protest resulting from a misreading of the law. According to Mr. Friedman, it “outlaws anyone from speaking out about the collaboration of Poles in the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust.” He then contradicts himself by reciting the law, which says it outlaws anyone who publicly accuses “the Polish nation, or the Polish state, of being responsible or complicit in the Nazi crimes committed by the third German Reich...”
ReplyDelete“Many believe that the major killing camps were specifically located in Poland — because it was fertile ground for antisemitism, and it was thought that the murder of Jews would be readily accepted there.” Unsurprisingly, we see the same damning assertions parroted as historical fact, typically employing deceptive generalizations and the passive voice.
“Poland alleges that Poles were not involved in the persecution and killing of Jews during World War II.” To the contrary, Polish leadership and academia have often confirmed the opposite.
I have made a couple of comments on the link - politely of course - for all the good it will do.
ReplyDeleteWhat is eye-opening in the furore about this new law, this outpouring of hatred and contempt, is how young some of the participants are.
It does make me extra grateful for my parents, who, whatever their scars from WW2, did their best not to pass them on.
I wrote a poem about it - well it was actually about growing up a child of the post war baby boom years - food still rationed, bomb sites to play on, the feeling of hope, that we were going to build a brave new world, and how we don't learn anything from our past. But it does include the point about not passing hatred down the generations. I wrote it many years ago, in my poetry writing days.
Grown-ups?
by me
Grown-ups had made us
bombsites to play on
Wasn't that grand?
They'd sown the sea
with fireworks
to explode on the sand.
Us kids played at war
But who were the Baddies?
Now no-one was sure
Was it the Germans?
The big boys said "No.
Baddies were Russians"
But how did they know?
"Don't call people enemies!"
Daddy said it with passion
We didn't go shopping
We went for our rations.
Clinic juice was orange
Treacly and free
We Journeyed Into Space
on the wireless
There was no TV
Daddy went to work
six days of seven
To Silverdale, Jordanthorpe
Planning new Eden.
We always found mummy
at home, in the kitchen.
Then farewell Coles Corner
Au revoir trams
Goodbye bomb site,
Hello building site
The brave new world began.
Grown-ups soon made us
landmines to play on
Sunk into sand
Finely adjusted
for leg or small hand
Us kids played at war
But who were the Baddies?
Now no-one was sure.
I have to say I never thought back then that us Poles/Polonians would turn out to be the baddies of WW2!
Sue, Thanks much -- I really enjoyed it.
DeleteThanks Gene! Appreciated.
DeleteFriedman’s article contains the usual distortions of the historical record and anti-Polonism. I submitted a comment that was written in the same spirit, but it was removed after 5 minutes, “The Poles and the Mufti created the Final Solution; Hitler and the Germans wanted to save the Jews, that’s why they invaded Poland; the Jewish Councils compiled lists of Jews (all poor) to be saved; the Jewish police (the only police force in history made up of Jewish lawyers) smuggled them across the border; the French transported them across the Atlantic on Greek ships, where they were welcomed with open arms by the Americans and Canadians. The Jewish organizations and the Rothschilds financed the whole operation. The Swedish sold metal to the Germans because they needed it to save Jews. And the British and Americans bombed the infrastructure near the Polish death camps to stop the transports. Jews should definitely boycott Poland and Palestine and take their tourist dollars to Germany, Austria, and the other countries to show their gratitude.”
ReplyDeleteApparently, the following comment submitted by “Rabbimfriedman” was more consistent with Algemeiner’s content submission guidelines and thus it’s still there, “I suggest we start here in USA to boycott Poles! Why is it Boro Park Chasdish landlords rent out to Pollack stores fronts? The Pollacks are used as construction workers, maids and care workers by heimsh yidden?? Then do not visit Poland. Polish War criminals should be prosecuted! NO ISRAELI DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH POLAND!!!!”
Yes, like your comment! I think my comments have been removed. They were polite of course, but clearly not on-message. I wonder where all this is going?
ReplyDeleteI have read Friedman's article.
ReplyDeleteSo Jews would not come to Poland any more? I am tempted to say, "Good riddance."
Jan Peczkis I do not share your opinion on this matter.
DeleteIn my opinion the most ridiculous part of that article was comparing German-occupied Poland with German-allied Bulgaria.
DeleteRabbi Friedman should focus on talmudic study and leave history to historians. Real historians, not frauds like one Jan T. Gross.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteAnother article on Polish-Jewish relations. Just to maintain the balance.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/How-Israel-the-Diaspora-and-Poland-can-overcome-Holocaust-debate-543804
Does anyone know whether there is a similar level of resentment between Jews towards Lithuanians, Latvians and Ukrainians as towards Poles? And if not, why there is not, given some representatives of those nations were also involved in the extermination.
ReplyDeletePlease read the book Bieganski.
DeleteThat sounds fine and dandy. I'll do them one better. Permanently sever diplomatic ties between Israel and Poland. Say yes to dignity.
ReplyDeleteChris Helinsky