File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1997/marxism-international.9709, message 150


Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 09:54:46 +0100
From: James Heartfield <James-AT-heartfield.demon.co.uk>
Subject: M-I: Dissent in Nazi Germany




I find some of the ostentatious displays of outrage in this discussion
unhelpful. Generally people who are dumbfounded that anyone could have a
different view than their own only indicate the fragility of their own
views. In particular, charges of 'anti-semite' and 'racist' are ways of
shutting down the debate and blocking out unwelcome disagreement.

Hinrich objects to the way that Bob cites the evidence of collaboration
between some Jewish leaders and the Nazis. But Hinrich only hears an
implied slur against Jews, when I think Bob meant that many people
collaborate with repression when their options are limited, ergo, the
German people too may have acted out of fear of their lives. The point
of the ironic quotation marks around the word 'willing' indicate that
assent is not necessarily willed. As it happens that is not an argument
I would make myself, but it is a resonable point of view. Norman
Finkelstein says something similar and I do not think that he is guilty
of anti-semitism. In Britain the left-wing playright Jim Allen was
censored and pilloried by the liberal intelligentsia for his play
Perdition on the same subject - we should not follow their example.

Hinrich also objects to Louis point about the holocaust not being
unique, saying that no-one objected to it. Well, actually, I did object.
But whilst I don't agree with Lou I know he is not inspired by anti-
semitism. His point is simple enough: the Jews were not the only
population that has been wiped out by imperialism. Too true! Every death
is an atrocity.

Andrew accuses Louis P of being soft on anti-semitism. But that just
means that if you disagree with the thesis that the mass of German
people were responsible for the holocaust, then you are by definition an
anti-semite. I turn the argument around: support for Goldhagen's thesis
is inspired by middle class hatred of the masses. That kind of prejudice
is not susceptible to rational argument.

Hinrich quotes Goldhagen's introduction to the German edition of
Hitler's Willing Executioners to acquit G. of the charges against him.
But as everyone who has read the book knows, the introduction to the
Gmerna edition, a reation to the stinging criticism made against his
book before poublication, contradicts the substance of the book.

In the period 1933-45 the German ruling class told themselves and the
world that they were the master race. In 1997 the liberal intelligentsia
lecture the unwashed masses about their backward prejudices. Different
terminology, differnt circumstances, same elite motivation.
-- 
James Heartfield


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