Quick Update, The Resolution Condemning Holocaust Denying

Hey folks,

Just a quick update. The Washington Post is reporting today,

U.N. Approves Resolution Condemning Holocaust Denying

The United Nations General Assembly today approved a resolution, drafted by the United States and co-sponsored by 103 countries, that condemns denials of the Holocaust.

The resolution came six weeks after a conference in Tehran, organized by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, questioned whether six million Jews were exterminated during World War II.

Ahmadinejad and the conference were not mentioned in the resolution, which "condemns without any reservation any denial of the Holocaust" and "urges all member states unreservedly to reject any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end."

The conference, which drew 67 Holocaust skeptics and deniers from 30 nations, including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, was widely denounced.

STOP!!!! David Duke is an Idiot. How anyone would ever take this guy seriously is beyond me. But you know, I have to say this. Someone said to me, in essence, {Pete’s Paraphrase} "I have no problem with a day of remembrance. However, is this not an attempt to legislate morals?"

You know folks, I have to admit, I NEVER thought of it until that moment. They’re right. Having a day to remember what had happened, even a, which I’m still calling for, National Holiday, is indeed different and separate from attempting to outlaw, "Free Speech."

According to the Post,

A statement from U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's office said the resolution "reflects the prevailing view of the international community. The Secretary-General reiterates his conviction that the denial of historical facts such as the Holocaust is unacceptable."

I can appreciate that, but hindrance to free speech should be also. When we start going down a road where we start outlawing what people say, no matter how insane, offensive, or wrong it may be, we open a very dangerous Pandoras Box. We start saying that Little Hitler cannot say that the Holocaust is a "myth," because it is offensive. Then before you know it, someone could find you talking about Jesus offensive. Then, all of a sudden, it’s illegal to do so.

One of the other reasons I believe in "Free Speech" is the fact that this way, we will know what they actually believe, how looney they are, and what they are planning. Like Israel's U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman says,

"While the nations of the world gather here to affirm the historicity of the Holocaust with the intent of never again allowing genocide, a member of this assembly is acquiring the capabilities to carry out its own," Gillerman said, according to Reuters. "The president of Iran is in fact saying, 'There really was no Holocaust, but just in case, we shall finish the job."

We would not know there is a new Hitler rising, if we did not allow him to tell us. So I’m not so sure that a resolution condemning the speech about it is a good thing. But we must NEVER forget what happened. If we do, we are at risk to repeat it. Like sitting back and ignoring Little Hitler. At least we know now, I’m not the only one watching him. So is the President, the UN, and a lot of other folks.
Peter