Justifying Mass Homicide
There he is, on the stand, testifying in his defense that he doesn't hate Jews. He merely despises them. And in so doing despicably characterized them - and continues to do so - as deserving of the fate meted out to them en masse by Fascist Germany under their charismatic, Social Democratic leader, Adolph Hitler. An admirable figure of history to some, an odious mass murderer to most.David Ahenakew happens to be in the former category, finding much to admire in the Nazi ideology and the fascist determination to rid the world of its chronic problem exemplified by that stubborn race of biblical-era people, determined to keep their faith and honour their traditions. During the third of his hate-crime trials Mr. Ahenakew had no hesitation in repeating that Adolf Hitler "had his reasons".
Indeed he is purported to have. And the world is still attempting to understand why and how. "I would say I understand Hitler had his reasons, but I still don't support them", claimed Mr. Ahenakew in his testimony to the court. One can only draw the conclusion, given Mr. Ahenakew's past statements, that his conversion to non-support is fairly recent, in an attempt to stave off earned accusations of hate-mongering.
The presiding judge spurned the infamous Jew-defaming defence lawyer Doug Christie's contention that Mr. Ahenakew's apology in the wake of his hate-spumed diatribe be entered into evidence. On the basis that this was not a heartfelt, spontaneous admission of regret, since he was merely reading what had been written for him by the staff of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, vetted by a lawyer.
In an obvious attempt to stave off further accusations and divert media attention from the enormity of Mr. Ahenakew's vicious diatribe expressing his vibrant antipathy to a people beleaguered throughout history; somewhat analogous to the disturbing history of North American aboriginal populations. Absent the grand scale of the Holocaust.
After all, the man was simply misunderstood. Just because he stated that Hitler was "trying to clean up the world" by "frying" six million Jews, doesn't prove that Mr. Ahenakew approved. Merely stating the facts as he saw them, that's all. While serving with the Canadian armed forces in Germany, Mr. Ahenakew was informed that the Jews were responsible for starting the war, and he agreed.
This man was part of his country's military, at war against a murderously totalitarian government intent, as a side issue to its brutal and bloody conquest of Europe, to eradicate, extinguish, methodically cleanse the world of an entire ethnic and religious group of ancient lineage.
Mr. Ahenakew preferred to empathize, consort with and support the beliefs and actions of an culture of fanatic Jew-haters rather than recognize the enormity of the moral degradation that mass-slaughter fascism represented. A comfortable fit for him, representing as a narrative and a belief that satisfied his personal requirement to hate another traditionally vulnerable segment of society.
It was the reporter James Parker, working for the Saskatoon StarPheonix who provoked his response, he claims. Yet Mr. Parker, covering the aboriginal health conference that Mr. Ahenakew addressed, heard him address the gathering on aboriginal health issues, then divert to advising them that the Jews caused World War Two. The interview recorded by Mr. Parker audibly demonstrated the extent of Mr. Ahenakew's hate-mongering.
Which Mr. Ahenakew claimed had been forthcoming because he had been "irritated" by Mr. Parker's "arrogant attitude". Which consisted of forthrightly asking the interviewee what exactly he meant by stating that Jews started the Second World War. A reasonable enough enquiry, given the statements made in a public arena for public consumption; a statement that no one present other than the reporter had challenged.
Mr. Ahenakew's defence claims he was merely stating his personal opinion. And he was angry, and yes he does hate Jews, but had no intent to promote that hatred, to result in violent action against Jews. What else, then?
Labels: Anti-Semitism, Canada, Justice, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ Saturday, November 29, 2008
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