By
Cathy Sherman
August 16, 2014
NewsWithViews.com
Millions of world citizens - when learning of the Holocaust - come away from their exposure to the brutality in shock. “How could men commit these atrocities on innocent men, women and children?” they ask. Such disbelief and shock is understandable. Though mankind has often committed genocides in various places and for various reasons, the recent scar of the Holocaust touches us in a very deep way.
There is a misconception that because we live in the twenty-first century, we are civilized. In the US especially, where technology has brought so many improvements to the lifestyle, citizens believe people also have progressed above barbarism. In the free world of the west, revenge no longer rules.
Such good people are often heard - in writing and in speeches – stating that the Holocaust will never happen again. It used to be that such statements were encouraging and provided a sense of security, as the promise conveys a sense that yes, we’ve reached a time in which we are so civilized, so plugged in, so aware of what’s happening all over the world, that we really intend not to let this happen again.
But that was a few years ago. Jews were accepted in the US and in many parts of the world to which they escaped after the war. Actually, Jews weren’t so welcomed on many borders, as even the USA who promises “give me your poor” turned Jewish refugees away, contributing to the deaths of hundreds. Nevertheless, in many pockets, anti-Semitism quieted down and Jews have adapted happily to their exile from Israel.
So superficially, “Never again” still seems to provide some peace. However the world has turned some corners in the last twenty years and it’s time to ask ourselves if “Never again” needs a closer look. After all we shouldn’t make promises we’re not willing to keep, even to ourselves.
Today we live in what should be the most civilized time of all, because we feel that civilization is a concept that only marches forward but doesn’t slip back. There are many movements in today’s world, however, that prove the fallacy of that concept.
The clash of civilizations is rocking the boat, and civilized societies are not remaining unaffected. There is not a continent today that is totally peaceful, where wars and strife among peoples are not threatening civilized life. Africa’s instability is now spilling over to the Middle East, which already had its fill of turmoil.
Migrations are occurring in which masses of unhappy people, some refugees and some not, are moving into formerly stable societies. Open societies such as the US, who have had quiet borders in the past, now have to wall them up, as illegal immigrants by the millions have crossed into them.
With the increased instability resulting in many countries from the changes and stresses piling on, can we complacently keep stating “Never again”? How do we guarantee this? Sure, if we’re just confident we’ll never let another Hitler rise to power anywhere, we may feel we’re safe from violating our promise. But what if we’re distracted, blinded to this potential by the hundreds of things which occupy us at present?
We need to open our eyes. Indeed, writers have pointed out patterns that occurred prior to Hitler that are occurring in the world today. The Muslims in the Middle East learned from a Nazi mufti - Haj Amin al-Husseini, - who was helping them do Hitler’s work in Israel where Hitler couldn’t reach. They continue this program today, shouting out again and again how they’re going to “wipe Israel off the map”, “chase the Jews into the sea”, and so on.
It’s easy to turn aside and ascribe such ranting to crazy fanatics who are ignored. But how do we know they are ignored? Where’s the proof? That proof hasn’t been given yet, but millions of people still ignore the threats made against the Jews today, who’ve been working hard trying to rebuild the communities destroyed by Hitler.
The current war between Israel and Hamas is just another segment in the Arab program to wipe out Israel. The last operation, Pillar of Cloud in 2012, and the previous one, Cast Lead, are all segments of the same battle. The lull between just gave Hamas time to import and build more weapons and tunnels.
We now know that these tunnels held weapons and revealed plans to mount a surprise invasion of Israel on this coming celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Had three Yeshiva boys not been abducted by Hamas operatives, Israel may never have discovered this plan, and thousands of innocent Israeli civilians would have been killed. This is a clear demonstration of just how close we are to another Holocaust.
Even with all of this, the media strives to assume equivalency between Hamas and Israel. How does a world-defined terrorist organization suddenly become legitimate after it goes against Israel? Israel is a highly ranked contributor of medical and technological innovations, especially relative to its size. Yet world leaders give it no moral high ground next to a terror organization.
We need to wake up. The threats are on the horizon, the raving fanatics are inciting millions, and it’s now politically incorrect to anger them further. So appeasement has become the policy. Didn’t we try this with Hitler? How did that work out for the Jews and other minorities wiped out by Hitler?
Indeed, there are trends which are eerily similar to events leading up to the Holocaust. Riots today in some cities are reminiscent of Krystallnacht in Germany. There is a slide toward less freedom of speech in America and an administration that obviously disdains Jews and Israelis. Jews are again blamed for just about any negative trend, especially the financial crises hitting many nations. Survivors have noted similarities between Hitler’s rise and Obama’s presidency, coupled with similar social trends.
Now the leaders of the formerly most Jew-friendly nation are threatening Israel. John Kerry repeatedly comes to Israel to apply pressure to capitulate to the PA, even to the extent of threatening another intifada against Israeli citizens if they don’t make even more concessions. But, mentioning a need for Israel to make concessions - when addressing Abbas and being rebuffed - is accepted quietly, even after Hamas started this latest war. Where are the threats to the PA-Hamas, who’ve yet to offer one concession for peace? Meanwhile the demands for more concessions increase on the part of Abbas-Hamas.
Many are finally realizing that the Two-State Solution in Israel is impossible. If it ever was achieved, if Kerry and Obama, and former presidents as well, get their way - Heaven forbid - it would bring on another Holocaust. Arab missile launchers and tunnels would be close to every part of Israel. There are many discussions already written proving how unsustainable and disastrous such a state within Israel’s center would be.
Yet even before Operation Protective Shield is ended by a ceasefire lasting more than four hours, Israel is hearing the suggestions to meet with Abbas again. This, shockingly after Hamas united with the PA. It’s as if the US, UN and EU leaders have forgotten that Hamas and the PA united into one government. Does the union between a terror organization and a “moderate” militant organization result in a bigger terrorist organization, or a bigger moderate militant organization? To Israelis, there is no difference. After all, the difference between the two organizations is a rocket from Hamas, or Molotov cocktails thrown at our cars, knife attacks in our homes at night, or tractors that smash buses. The difference is only in the details.
But all this has just been about Israel vs the PA-Hamas. The comments elicited by a recent NWV pro-Israel editorial are an indication of the many anti-Semites in the world. Here are a few comments:
“The wrath of God will come upon Israel and I hope it comes soon.”
“It is clear that Zionists intend to rid the land of all Palestinians. Israel's butchery against the defenseless civilians of Gaza is turning the world against both Israel and the USA.”
“…most Zionists have LESS JEWISH DNA THAN PALESTINIANS!!! … They adopted Judaism as the best vehicle to acquire world domination. Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Bilderbergers, Council of Rome, Tri-Lateral Commission, Kissinger, etc “
“It just rips me to find that the gullible still see the Jews as Israel when God, Himself Put His Israel into captivity and obliterated its name. The damned Jews are parasites and were never a part of the Hebrew Nation, Israel.”
“Israel is one of the most racist nations in the world. Talmudic Judaism is racial supremacism on steroids. In fact the racism of the Judaism makes the Klu Klux Klan look like the Southern Baptist Convention. In fact most Jews in Israel are not even descendants of Abraham.”
These are just a few examples of the many such statements appearing all over the internet and in speeches and writing of anti-Semites all over the world. Such unsubstantiated claims fuel the many and increasing riots and protests against Israel and Jews throughout Europe and even in the US.
Other statements directly threaten another holocaust. “The Real Zionist Holocaust is Predicted in the Hadiths! The Hour [resurrection] will not take place until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, and the tree will say:’Oh, Muslim, servant of God, there is a Jew behind me, kill him!’ THE PROMISED Holocaust,” stated a graphic posted on the ISIS Conquests’s Twitter account.
These are not just individuals ranting in a vacuum. Editorials report more European media and individuals making threats and voicing hatred against “the Zionists”. In fact, the very term Zionist is being used more, and it only means one thing these days – hatred of Jews. It’s not just Muslims or Jihadists, either, but citizens everywhere are getting into the attacking and chanting.
Richard L. Cravatts wrote, “The fact that so many demonstrators feel comfortable with openly supporting a terrorist group with the single purpose of murdering Jews, that they publicly proclaim that ’We are all Hamas now’, indicates quite dramatically how prevalent, and acceptable, genocidal Jew-hatred has become, both in the streets and on campuses in America and Europe.“
It could be that the current fighting with Hamas has stirred the latent hatred up. One Israeli writer, Aharon Lapidot, wrote, “Operation Protective Edge has released the ancient European anti-Semitic genie from the bottle, after it was stuffed deep inside following the Holocaust. Blatantly racist remarks that no one would have dared utter a decade or two ago have all of a sudden become legitimate. In Europe, it has become fashionable again to call for sending the Jews to the ovens. There is no problem saying, shouting, writing or typing this sentiment.”
We cannot blame the current war for the BDS movement. Calls to divest from investments in Israeli companies in Judea and Samaria, coupled with boycotting goods from those parts of Israel, were growing before this year. It started as a ploy by Palestinian Arabs and took on a life of its own.
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The BDS movement, the freer anti-Semitic chants in Europe, the equivalency given Hamas with Israel, and direct threats against Jews and their right to life are painting an ominous sign.
Writing in The Tower magazine, Benjamin Kerstein calls this new holocaust “the Global Pogrom”. His lengthy piece details the attacks on Jews in France and elsewhere against synagogues – Jews are targets in many cities.
Are all these red flags to be ignored, or should Jews prepare for the worst? Can we honestly say “Never again”? If we continue to turn a blind eye to the pressures the US and Europe are exerting on Israel, we certainly cannot say this in honesty. We are lying to ourselves and the Jewish people.
It just might be that the empty hypocritical promise “Never again” turns out to mean, “Until the next pogrom.”
� 2014 Cathy Sherman - All Rights Reserved
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Cathy Sherman is a freelance writer with a major interest in natural health. She wrote many articles on healthy living. An interest in the fascinating subject of water inspired her to write her recently published children’s book, Drew Drop and the Water Cycle.
After moving to Israel, she realized the need to clarify some of the incorrect and misunderstood narratives surrounding Israel and its conflict with Arab neighbors.
E-Mail: shermaneutics2@yahoo.com
