Wiesenthal and Zenophobia
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:07 pm
Folks,
In his book and memoir ‘Justice not Vengeance’ (1) Simon Wiesenthal writes of the always contemporary dangers of zenophobia. He speaks of the “stirring up of hatred”.
' The principle ingredient of such agitation continues to be hatred of foreigners: wherever Neo- fascists appear, whether in England, France, Austria or the USA - they call on the majority to resist 'swamping by foreigners’. Swamping by coloured people from the British colonies, swamping by coloured people from France’s former colonies, swamping by Yugoslav or Turkish guest workers, swamping by Mexicans or Puerto Ricans. True the Jews are not mentioned at the top of the list in these pamphlets - but two thousand years have proved that they are always the first to be done to death’. (1) p 417.
I would not presume to add comment to Wiesenthal’s words here, just to agree with him with all the humility and empathy I can muster. What else is there for us to say?
Alex.
(1) Justice not Vengeance, Simon Wiesenthal, Mandarin, 1990.
In his book and memoir ‘Justice not Vengeance’ (1) Simon Wiesenthal writes of the always contemporary dangers of zenophobia. He speaks of the “stirring up of hatred”.
' The principle ingredient of such agitation continues to be hatred of foreigners: wherever Neo- fascists appear, whether in England, France, Austria or the USA - they call on the majority to resist 'swamping by foreigners’. Swamping by coloured people from the British colonies, swamping by coloured people from France’s former colonies, swamping by Yugoslav or Turkish guest workers, swamping by Mexicans or Puerto Ricans. True the Jews are not mentioned at the top of the list in these pamphlets - but two thousand years have proved that they are always the first to be done to death’. (1) p 417.
I would not presume to add comment to Wiesenthal’s words here, just to agree with him with all the humility and empathy I can muster. What else is there for us to say?
Alex.
(1) Justice not Vengeance, Simon Wiesenthal, Mandarin, 1990.