General Chat

Ginny, You are right!!anyone who denies that this happened must have those leanings. Bob, Do you mean Noah?? I can not see any similarities between an act of God(if you believe it,I dont) and the extermination of millions in the name of supremecy!!

The sad thing is that by locking him up they might well have created a martyr for the Neo - Nazi movement.

In my opinion Irving is a self publicist. I read an interview at the weekend with his twin brother who stated that as a children their street was bombed and a 6 year old Irving got into trouble by running through the rubble shouting 'Heil Hitler!'. He also caused controversy by requesting Mein Kampf as his school leaving book. I have spent time at Yad Vashem the Holocaust Museum in Israel and if anybody wishes to see examples of man's inhumanity to man they should take a look at the lampshades made from victim's skin, the cushions stuffed with human hair and china made from the ground bones of those poor people.

I agree it was a stupid thing to do, although last night he did say that he isn't denying that all those people were killed just as to the fact its called the Holocaust. If that makes much sense. Well thats the gist I got from it. But then if my grandads right I'm probably being narrow minded and don't have a clue. Sx

If we are talking about extermination, of races here : Excuse me, I am led to believe that the first holocaust was ' The Flood'' ?

Smyrna wasn't the first 'ethnic cleansing'. It's been going on throughout history. Another example - in 1915, the Turkish army rounded up ethnic Armenians and slaughtered many thousands of them. Re WWII, it wasn't only Jews who were rounded up and interned in extermination camps. Gypsies were also a prime target, as was anyone mentally disabled. The Nazis also treated many thousands of Russian POWs appallingly - starving them, leaving them without shelter in freezing conditions and shooting them wholesale. This was all done because Nazi doctrine dictated that these people were all sub-human and to be regarded as animals. Anyone who denies those war crimes, however well-educated in other respects, is a fool. People in positions of authority have a moral duty to uphold truth, and if they don't they should have the sense to realised that there will be repercussions. That man knew he was breaking the law in that country, and the fact that he happens to be a British citizen should make no difference whatever to any sentence he receives for being a lawbreaker. Excusing what he did is just giving him, and anyone else, a 'licence' to carry on with his attempts to influence others by maintaining a position of importance and giving lectures on a subject he clearly knows very little about. A dangerous practice in a world which is working towards racial harmony and integration. CB >|<

I have not been to any 'memorial' to the Holocaust. I must accept that what has been written or filmed,is true. however. I know that this is going to raise a few eyebrows, another event that was filmed and recorded 'Live' is being doubted, that being, Did they really go to the moon? speculation says it was faked. I havent been to the moon, Either, but I do believe that they DID go there.

Don't know Peter does that work both ways? that statement to me is a 'neither or'. But would that justify the fact that all those ship's that night on 13/9/1922 had to stand by and watch people dying, and weren't allowed to help? my grandfather included, as these are his photo's I am going by. Kim

Was it not Voltaire who said ' I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it' ? Peter

Our government should be equally tough on neo nazis. len

I will leave it at that. History can mean something to some and another to others. Holocaust's obviously mean different years to different people. Kim

He has been jailed for having a different viewpoint? Even though now he admits it was misguided. I think countries like Austria have these laws to try to ease their conscience from the second world war! Dave

Sorry as this will probably bring this thread to an end. But was it ok for the 1st real holocaust then? Smyrna 13/9/1922 When Bristish, Russian & American ships had to stand by and watch people being slaughtered, burnt and drowned? Because those goverments said 'Don't interviene' due to 'Ethnic cleansing'???? Who was punished for that??? KIm

Didn't we defeat Hitler to protect freedoms like freedom of speech and expression? How can anyone believe this is right? If I wish to think the earth is flat am I to be locked up? Only accepting views that agree with yours and punishing dissent is the exact OPPOSITE of freedom. It's all the more embarrassing when the west is standing up for free expression regarding the Islamic cartoons. Is it okay to upset muslims and not Jews? Bob

Perhaps a more suitable punishment would be for him to visit some of the concentration/extermination camp sites and hear testimony from the survivors - and from the ex-guards. nell

He was convicted in Austria, where Holocaust Denial is a criminal offence. It's quite a touchy subject there and in Germany, understandably, and the laws are there to make sure the Nazis don't rise to power again. In fact, most countries where Jews were rounded up and killed have criminalized denial, partly because anti-Semitism and Neo-Nazism never really went away and are on the increase. Irving would be free if he had stuck to spouting rubbish in this country. He knew Holocaust Denial was a crime in Austria but he went ahead with his lecture. It's not that harsh a sentence considering what he could have got (a decade or more). Funny how he has had a sudden change of heart after oozing Hitler-glorification for twenty years.

It is a crime in several countries to deny the truth of the holocaust.

Personaly I think he is very stupid to believe that the holocaust did not occur, but to get three years. Does that mean that anyone who believes the Bible litrally and not in the theory of evolution(or visa versa) should be jailed as well. Spud

I agree he was stupid to say that but surely there must be more to it to warrant a prison sentence? No free speech there then. Ann glos

This man is surpose to be educated!! And to try and deny something that is 100% proven is stupidity! You can believe what you like, if its not proven!!