Shouldn't there be laws that prohibit holocaust suvivors from writing and selling fake holocaust memoirs?

Question

In Canada and in many parts of Europe, there are laws which severely penalize independent researchers from publishing the findings from their investigations into certain aspects of WW2.

Well shouldn't there be the same kind of laws which penalize holocaust promoters who knowingly attempt to deceive the public for monetary gain by publishing fake holocaust memoirs that purport to be legitimate historical accounts?

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/oprah-duped-by-holocaust-memoir-hoax/6dj8a10

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5409220.ece

Answer 1

This is a very interesting premise that you propose and I assume that when you say "independent researchers" you are referring to "Holocaust revisionists."



While I am not very well versed on the claims of holocaust revisionists, but I do champion free speech.



Since there appears that is no such thing as real free speech in Europe and Canada, it only seems fair that people who purposely try to scam the public by selling fake Holocaust memoirs should be held accountable by the same standards as Holocaust deniers/revisionists.

Answer 2

Your question is rhetorical and I am sure you don't need an answer from this forum. There are numerous books written about genocide and holocaust and alone from a purely statistical point of view, there is an easily determined ratio of reports, dramatic and horrific tales included which have been fabricated (faked) or re-written for effect. Now the perpetrators always defend this that it is just the principle what is so important (especially if financial gain is at stake), but for a concerned, objective and honest (!) historian this is not a very happy or satisfactory answer. (It is quite interesting that the uneducated and often feeble-minded public very willingly accepted the sinister propaganda that any distortion from an official party line and "internationally accepted facts" is by definition holocaust revision or even denial).



It is certain for me that over time there will be more historic and accurate facts compiled or published, even when history of that time in some countries is not a matter of historians but became a matter of law, defended by aggressive lawyers and bloodthirsty prosecutors deputizing for all the real and alleged (and usurped) victims.



My family lost a punishing number of members as innocent victims of Serbian, Czech, Polish and Russian concentration camps. And there is no organization and law which continuously and tirelessly promotes the memory of this holocaust.

Answer 3

>"In Canada and in many parts of Europe, there are laws which severely penalize independent researchers from publishing the findings from their investigations into certain aspects of WW2."



How's that? You'll have to elaborate a little more on this.



>"Well shouldn't there be the same kind of laws which penalize holocaust promoters who knowingly attempt to deceive the public for monetary gain by publishing fake holocaust memoirs that purport to be legitimate historical accounts?"



I don't really get the connection between this and the statement about "publishing findings of their investigations"!



Rather than disclosing his story as "historical fiction" he allowed the publicity of his story to continue! Other than he admitted that this story was not true, how would people know for sure one way or another? The links you included had very little information. It was mentioned that another survivor thought that this scenario would be unlikely. Was this expert asked before or after this disclosure came to light? It mentioned although his story was contrived he was interred there as a boy (and obviously survived).



>"Shouldn't there be laws that prohibit holocaust survivors from writing and selling fake holocaust memoirs?"



IMHO it's one thing for someone to makeup physical internment (presence) in the camps and another if they were actually there and decide to recall something differently after many years. In another decade, almost all the survivors will be gone. Other than this story being marketed as a historical fact does not diminish that it's an inspiring ("feel good") story. How does this specific story diminish the fact that the Holocaust was real?



You know, there's enough laws on the books already! The thing I see here is civil, perhaps a breach of contract. If we were to try to prosecute something like this, we would run into some issues with regard to the 1st Amendment.



Because you and for that matter I, were spared being in those camps, who are we to judgment this man who actually was there and survived. He was a victim among many many many victims. He has already paid his dues many times over, as a child.



If we were to extend your premise to those who harbored/protected Nazis (I am just referring to specifically the US) after the war, then this guy is no where near the top of the list! We have seen our own politicians "lie" far worse than this guy. He didn't kill anyone or order their deaths. The biggest hoax of the 21st century, so far, was our invasion of the Middle East. I guess there's degrees of lying. Who should we go after for the "genocide" of our economy?



There's nothing that needs defending about the Holocaust, is was a fact. One other factoid about that time, we, the US and our Allies knew it was going on and did not stop it! We were complicit in that we blocked a significant amount of immigration from Europe when this was happening. As a result these people were deported, loaded on to the trains.



Just remember, we have to choose our battles wisely because there are still some rocks that have not yet been turned over about some crimes that were committed by all sides during that time, including some by survivors (in the camps).



What could we possibly do this individual that wasn't done to him as a child during that horrible time?

Answer 4

Didn't millions of British, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Indians, Soth Africans, Poles, Free French and other soldiers, sailors and airmen fight a war to protect that freedom? Perhaps Canada and many parts of Europe have forgotten that small detail



Yes, frauds and fakes should be punished for publishing lies - more to the point, they should be exposed. But then shouldn't Holocaust deniers be similarly treated - their stories fly in the face of all internationally accepted figures and reports.



What you have described is deception and there are existing laws in every country to deal with that. I am afraid that what you are proposing is nothing less than total censorship. And who will be the censors? You might as well ban independent research - just in case any of the researchers are frauds.



No, your way removes a long established principle of law - benefit of the doubt. Just in passing, do you have any specific examples?

Answer 5

The answer is quite simple:



For those who endured the Holocaust, who came out of the camps as the walking shadows, emaciated, shattered, clinging to life by threads, life in the death camps had been life in Hell. Having seen death piled about them, they carry huge emotional wounds. For them, to hear the Holocaust denied is to be thrown back into the Hell of Dachau, Auschwitz, Belsen-Bergen. The suffering they go through when faced with that is truly terrible, and given the frailty of their conditions, they have no real internal protection. For them, a special measure of protection is in order.



Those who are upset by inflated Holocaust accounts may be upset. but they suffer no comparable pain and horror. If there are indeed false accounts, these accounts and the persons responsible can be dealt with through regular legal channels.