Opinion

1t1 5 Spring at

OTHER VIEWS

Keektai. ,„

T

on. In Stye.

SALE

e 20% OFF

EW SPRING
MERCHANDISE

April 6-8 • Includes small sizes

Your Valentina Stall

799 Northwestern Hwy.
Southfield, MI 48034

248.354.4560

Previous Sales Excluded

1100720

Annette & Company School of Dance

28857 Orchard Lake Road (S. of 13 Mile Rd.)
Farmington Hills, MI 48834

vv-ww.annetteandcompany.com

248-553-0305

DANCING LIKE THE STARS!

Cha Cha
Fox Trot
Rumba
Tango
Quickstep

Cultural Clashes

Samba
Jive
Paso Doble
Viennese
Waltz

Annette & Company Is Happy To Now Offer...

RED HOT BALLROOM

1 Hour Class

$66.00 for 6 weeks per person

he violent protests of
Austria (and presumable
Muslims in response
other European countries
to the publication
that have such laws) are
of the now infamous Danish
trying to make amends
cartoons of the prophet
for their complicity in
Muhammad demonstrates
the Holocaust.
the clash of cultures when it
Yes, we have had a
involves societal freedoms,
debate over the publica-
particularly freedom of the .
tion of Holocaust denial
Berl Falbaum
press, the precious right
ads, particularly in col-
Corn munity
lege newspapers. But
guaranteed by the First
Per spective
Amendment.
a distinction must be
Thus, while we in the West
made between the press
having the right to print or broadcast
can understand that Muslims would
be offended, we don't defend or con-
unseemly messages and their privilege
not to exercise that right.
done the violence. Our credo, given the
openness of our society is, that we will
Rejection of Holocaust denial ads is
not a violation of any right guaranteed
tolerate all opinions no matter how
under the Bill of Rights. Editors make
obscene, virulent or politically incor-
rect they may be.
hundreds of decisions daily on what to
So why are we so silent as a culture
print or broadcast.
that values freedom of expression at
The issue is one of judgment and,
using that measure, Muslims are abso-
the sentencing in Austria Feb. 20 of
David Irving to three years in prison
lutely correct in voicing their outrage.
for his denial of the Holocaust?
But violence in response to the car-
Irving, a British "historian," pleaded
toons is another matter.
Similarly, we ought to be outraged
guilty at his trial, conceding at his
sentencing that he was wrong when he
at Irving's long-standing anti-Semitic
diatribes. He has been a "controversial"
said there were no Nazi gas chambers
at the Auschwitz death camp.
writer of anti-Semitic views for many
But if there ever was government
years. And we should protest as loudly
suppression of expression this is it.
and forcefully as we can.
On the political front, how much
Irving was sentenced under a law that
applies to "whoever denies, grossly
more productive it would have been if
those who value civil liberties, particu-
plays down, approves or tries to excuse
the National Socialist genocide or
larly the Jewish community, won Irving
his freedom and than continually
other National Socialist crimes against
humanity in a print publication, in
portrayed him as the pariah and anti-
Semite that he is.
broadcast or other media."
Irving's opinions are repulsive, to be
And talk about sense of urgency by
the Austria government. He was arrest-
sure. They are ugly, insulting, obscene
ed in November 2004 apparently on
and anti-Semitic. They are blasphe-
mous to the memory of the six million. an outstanding warrant issued in 1989
But does he have a right to them? The
when he gave the offending speech on
the Holocaust in Austria.
answer is he surely does.
Nazis and neo-Nazis have been
Admittedly, one is uncomfortable
coming to the "defense" of someone
protected in the U.S. to express their
like Irving, particularly given the sub-
hateful views. At times, they purposely
ject involved. But the principle at stake
tried to antagonize Jews by marching
is vital to a free society.
in Jewish neighborhoods with their
At his sentencing, Irving's attorney,
ugly messages such as in the famous
Elmar
Kresbach, said he found the ver-
Skokie, Ill., incident in the late 1970s.
dict
a
"little
too stringent:' adding: "I
Jews, generally considered on the
would
say
it's
a bit of a message trial."
liberal side of the political spectrum,
Indeed
it
is,
but the message is not a
have led the way in protecting even the
basest of political views in our society.
wholesome one for societies that value
But in this case, little has been heard their civil liberties.
from any political community and the
reasons are not altogether clear. Indeed, A former political reporter, Berl Falbaum,
a Farmington Hills author and public rela-
the Simon Wiesenthal Center endorsed
tions executive, teaches journalism part
the sentencing, stating basically that
time at Wayne State University in Detroit.
while we would not accept such an
abridgement of freedom of speech,

❑

Couples & Singles Welcomed

Private Instruction Available — All Levels

Ask About Our Wedding Packages!

1100380

24

April 6 • 2006

