The New York Times Receives Grace Never Granted to Polish Villagers

I can't find a source for this photo 

The New York Times recently published two anti-Semitic cartoons. 

Pruchnik, a small, remote village in Poland, staged a custom called "Judas beating." This custom is also carried out in Mexico, Brazil, Greece, the Philippines, and other places. 

Here's one difference in the condemnations that followed: the Pruchnik custom was used by outlets big and small to insist that Poles are essential anti-Semites. "It's in their genes," as many said. "They are Nazi scum," many said. 

I didn't see any news outlets or organizations reaching out to Pruchnik itself, to dialogue with the villagers there. "What are you thinking? What is the purpose of this event? Are you a Nazi? If we could tell you how inflammatory this custom is, would you be willing to change it?" Just the beginning of the questions one might ask. I didn't see anyone ask them. 

No. Coverage didn't exist to make the world a better place. Coverage existed to smear all Poles as essential anti-Semites and Nazi scum. If you didn't go along with that, you were ... an essential Polish anti-Semite and Nazi scum. 

The New York Times, on the other hand is a far more powerful entity than the villagers of Pruchnik can ever hope to be. And the New York Times was offered, and accepted, a chance to explain itself. It does so in Bret Stephens' April 28 column. 

It was just one editor, Stephens explains. We withdrew the cartoon. We aren't anti-Semites. The people who published the cartoon aren't anti-Semites, just ignorant of anti-Semitism. The anti-Semitism of the cartoon was "undetectable" to the editor who approved it. 

Well this sounds like hogwash to me. But at least he's trying. 

My guess is that Pruchnik villagers would say something very like what the Times is saying. "We aren't anti-Semites ... this is about Judas, not all Jews ... it's an old custom ... " And, as part of a respectful dialogue, concerned outsiders could educate those few who planned this event on why what they are doing is a bad thing, and, incidentally, an international disaster for Poland. 

The New York Times gets that chance. The Polish villagers of Pruchnik have not been given that chance. And they won't be. Because those covering this event, from the two Facebook friends whose friendship is lost, to too many outlets and organizations, didn't choose respectful dialogue with the participants in the custom -- who, it must be mentioned, were overwhelmingly *children* who could have no understanding of the implications of their action. No. Those talking about Pruchnik were not so much covering it as exploiting it, in a manner that simply furthered the stereotyping of Poles. 

Nazi Parallel to New York Times Anti-Semitic Cartoon

Researchers have combed through Nazi propaganda and found an all but exact parallel to the cartoon the New York Times ran. One internet source identifies the image thus:  "Nazi Germany’s Lustige Blätter, which in 1940 published this cartoon showing “England’s leadership is in good hands”, depicted by the “eternal Jew” leading Winston Churchill."

New York Times Publishes *Another* Anti-Semitic Cartoon

After rousing outrage by publishing an anti-Semitic cartoon, the NYT responded ...  by publishing *another* anti-Semitic cartoon. 

Clearly we should all just be focused on a tiny, remote village in Poland, because these Polish villagers, who invented anti-Semitism, are somehow controlling the NYT. 

Not. 

Source

Source

Pruchnik Mayor's Statement

I was deeply troubled by how some responded to the small gathering of "Judas beaters" in the small and remote town of Pruchnik. Too many Jewish organizations and media outlets wrote about that event as if it were definitive proof that all Poles are, as one poster wrote, "Nazi scum." 

We don't talk that way about other groups. Beating Judas has been practiced far more enthusiastically in Mexico City. I did a search of scholarly publications and found Mexico City mentioned most frequently. No one is using that fact to demonize all Mexicans as "Nazi scum." 

I lost two Facebook friends in these discussions. Both were older Jewish men. They both clung to the idea that Poles are *essentially* anti-Semitic monsters and anyone saying otherwise was simply a Nazi scum Polish anti-Semite in denial.  

Anyway. With any other group, one would have had to traveled to the event and engaged in dialogue with participants, witnesses, and town officials. 

Pruchnik has a Facebook page. The event is being discussed there. Anyone could join in that discussion. I did. 

Did any of the outlets insisting that Pruchnik proves that Poles are essential Nazi scum bother to engage in dialogue with Pruchnik residents, either in person, on the Facebook page, or via Skype or other methods? Not that I could see. 

Pruchnik's mayor has denounced the event, as well he should. Did any media outlets contact him? Again, didn't see it. 

Below please find Pruchnik Mayor Waclaw Szkola's statement, cut and pasted from his town's webpage. 

STATEMENT FROM THE MAYOR OF PRUCHNIK

In reference to the event which took place on Good Friday, called "Judgement over Judas", we would like to inform that it was neither organized, nor permitted by the local council. A small group of people prepared the event themselves without having informed any authorities.

It is a fact that in the past such an event used to take place, however, it ceased to be celebrated. In present-day reality, when Poles are attributed the responsibility for the Holocaust and collaboration with the Nazis in World War Two, events of this character may be used by the enemies of Poland as an example of alleged Polish anti-Semitism.

For dozen of years inhabitants of Pruchnik lived in harmony with the Jewish community, not infrequently hiding the Jews from the Nazis during World War Two, and our territory witnessed numerous acts of courage, devotion and heroism against the Holocaust.

I would like to express my sincere regret for this incident. Engaging children in this type of an event was downright pathetic and highly irresponsible. I perceive this as a deliberate act of provocation by certain groups of people, who - no one knows why - are not concerned with a good name of our town and our country.

I declare that all the possible actions will be taken to assure that such events will not take place in the future.

The Mayor of Pruchnik
Wacław Szkoła

You can also read the statement in English and Polish here

Another Crazy American Anti-Semite: Owen Benjamin

I have seen, shared, and liked at least one Owen Benjamin YouTube video. He, I think, wrote a song titled "How They Rule Ya" about Tommy Robinson's incarceration. 

And that's all I knew about Owen Benjamin. 

Now I know that he's been in movies and on other popular YouTube stars' channels. 

Today I was idly scrolling through my Facebook feed and I found out that he's a crazy anti-Semite. 

Article from Algemeiner here. Excerpt:

***

As the comedian, who goes by the name of Owen Benjamin, rants about the evil, hate-worthy Jews who are responsible for all the problems of the world, his supporters make comments on YouTube’s live chat stream that vilify and demonize Jews. They type things like “With Jews You Lose,” “Jews became their own god,” “The bible is a jew scam,” “MUZZIES ARE PWNS OF JEWS,” and “BOLSHEVIK JEWS ZIONIST JEWS SAME CONTROL FREAKS.”

As far as what to do with the Jews, one commenter exhorted his fellows to “SODOMIZE THE JEWS INTO SUBMISSION.” Another barely literate commenter who probably had too much to drink typed, “may all jews asa be murdered, if nescessary, all of them, so nobody thinks anymore they are the h=cosen people anymore.” The typos are bad, but the message is clear. This guy wants Jews murdered en masse, just as they were in Pittsburgh last year.

Up until a few weeks ago, YouTube made money from allowing this type of rhetoric — which clearly violates the company’s terms of service — to be broadcast on its servers.

*** 

I went to YouTube and watched one of the anti-Semitic videos. It was very disturbing. Even more disturbing were the comments under the video. Comparable to the comments, above. 

This guy is comfortable, child of college professors, tall, handsome, successful, happily married, has a huge following ... and somehow he is convinced that Jews are a menace to him. 

Clearly anti-Semitism is not a problem merely in tiny Polish villages. 

Excellent Article about the Rise of Anti-Semitic Speech in Polish Politics

An excellent article about the rise of anti-Semitic speech in Polish politics. Factors in the Pruchnik incident. In fact I came across this link on the Facebook page for Pruchnik. 

I know this blog is in English and so most readers are English speakers, but this article is worth reading, even if you have to read it in "Google translate" format. 

By the way, this article is a good example of how to criticize racist behavior. It does *not* say that "All Poles are anti-Semites and Pruchnik is just proof of that," and it also does not dehumanize the Pruchnik participants, most of whom, it behooves critics to remember, were children. It does not accuse Poles of being *essential" anti-Semites. It does not equate Poles or Catholics or peasants with Nazis and the Holocaust. 

It says what needs to be said. 

Opening paragraphs: 

"After 1989, forces using anti-Semitic language remained marginal in Polish politics. In the presidential election, open anti-Semitic candidates were able to collect 100,000 signatures required for the start - Leszek Bubel in 1995, Bohdan Pawłowski in 2000, Grzegorz Braun in 2015 - but they were usually in marginal places. Never in the Polish parliament has there been a significant political force with an openly anti-Semitic program - if such politicians were involved in it, then they remained on the margins. In the last four years, however, something begins to change in a very disturbing direction. 

Anti-Semitic language is more and more pronounced in the mainstream of public debate. It appears in the statements of politicians who have chances for seats and sit in the parliament - including in the benches of the ruling party. It penetrates into the main right-wing mainstream media. It spills on social media. Again someone released a genie of Polish anti-Semitism from the bottle."

"Greedy Scabs. A Brood of Vipers" by Jakub Majmurek in TVN24 Magazine 

New York Times International Publishes Anti-Semitic Cartoon: WTH?

A cartoon response Source

From Dominic Green in The Spectator 

"Easter worshippers who opened Thursday’s copy of the International Edition of the New York Times were treated to a cartoon to warm the cockles of white supremacists, Islamists and lovers of ‘Edelweiss’ everywhere. The cartoon, apparently by a Portuguese artist named Antonio Espresso, depicted a blind Donald Trump, resplendent in the kippah he wears at all times except when the cameras are near, being led by Benjamin Netanyahu in the form of a sausage dog, wearing the Star of David dog collar that all sausage dogs wear.


Some people published something, and now all those over-sensitive Jews are blaming the entire New York Times for it."

Read complete article here