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February 8, 2001
Marc Rich and the Holocaust
Suzanne Fields
Sooner or later, nearly everything in Washington comes down to crass politics. Sometimes sooner and later.
When Jimmy Carter established a presidential commission to decide whether to build a Holocaust Memorial Museum on the National Mall, he was trying to mollify American Jews who were unhappy with his Middle East policies, especially the sale of F-15 fighters to the Saudis. To his credit, President Carter also saw the museum as an important way to compel the study of the systematic destruction of the European Jews "to learn how to prevent such enormities from occurring in the future." Politics is fused with good intentions. Bill Clinton's eleventh-hour pardon of Marc Rich draws political controversy to the museum again. Rabbi Irving Greenberg, chairman of the Holocaust Museum Council, wrote to Mr. Clinton in December, urging him to offer "the opportunity for a new life to Mr. Marc Rich." Such a pardon, the rabbi said, would be a "Godlike action." How clever. What other prospect could so please a politician? But this "Godlike action," as the Wall Street Journal observes, is a trend toward politicizing the museum. There's more than one way to break down the wall between church and state.
You don't have to look far to see that Mr. Rich has been generous to both Israeli and Jewish causes, and by some accounts even spied for Israel — not exactly persuasive reasons for a pardon from an American president sworn to uphold the law, including an indictment of tax fraud. Rabbi Greenberg is entitled to his personal opinion, but his plea to the president, written on museum letterhead, was over the line. It looked like a plea from the museum. Such a mistake could lead to public skepticism of the mission of the museum.
The U.S. Memorial Holocaust Museum gets 60 percent of its budget from the U.S. government. It was, in fact, placed on the mall, close to our most precious national shrines, because it was meant to be a symbol of what couldn't happen here. It commemorates the 6 million Jews who died for the perversions of Nazi Germany, and honors through memory the hope of never again.
The National Holocaust Museum has avoided many of the current trends of museums to dumb-down history with fraudulent "relevance" and gimmicky interactive technology. It stands out in sharp contrast, for example, to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Holocaust museum in Los Angeles, that has been described as "Half Yeshiva and half Disneyland," where famine, massacre and concentration camps are juxtaposed with video presentations of drunken driving and flaming Ku Klux Klan crosses. (So far nothing about the peril of tobacco.)
It's important to all of us that the political crassness of Rabbi Greenberg not lessen the public regard for the museum. As we say in Washington, "mistakes were made." Nevertheless, the museum continues to provide a necessary educational forum. Only last week it held a memorial service for Jan Karski, who died last year. Mr. Karski was not a Jew but "a righteous gentile," a brave Pole who was one of the first messengers to deliver an eyewitness account of the Holocaust to Allied leaders during World War II. He became a witness from inside the Warsaw Ghetto, risking his life many times as he was smuggled in and out of Poland by the underground. He confirmed for London and Washington that Hitler's design to exterminate the Jews was not rumor but evil fact. His message fell on deaf ears and died in the silent mouths at both the State Department and the White House. President Roosevelt and Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter knew. Though disappointed, Jan Karski was unrelenting in his dedication to speak the truth even when nobody listened.
Karski reminds us that the courage of faith is "the courage of individual conscience," the Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, president of Georgetown University, told the museum's memorial service. He quoted Eli Wiesel: "Thanks to [Jan Karski], we know that the individual, if he so desires, is capable of having an effect on history."
We hear the words every day in Washington of those who are trying to have an effect on history. Some succeed. Many museums have begun to politicize exhibitions — drawing attention to our wrongs rather than our rights, such as the Smithsonian's aborted attempt to blame America for the war in the Pacific — but the Holocaust museum has so far stayed true to its purpose. It's a museum dedicated to a terrible time in history, celebrating the living as it honors the dead, the survivors and the American soldiers who rescued them. There are lots of godlike actions portrayed in this museum. A pardon for Mr. Rich is not one of them.Suzanne Fields is a columnist for The Washington Times.
For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.
The National Holocaust Museum has avoided many of the current trends of museums to dumb-down history with fraudulent "relevance" and gimmicky interactive technology. It stands out in sharp contrast, for example, to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Holocaust museum in Los Angeles, that has been described as "Half Yeshiva and half Disneyland," where famine, massacre and concentration camps are juxtaposed with video presentations of drunken driving and flaming Ku Klux Klan crosses. (So far nothing about the peril of tobacco.)
Goodness gracious.
If the Wiesenthal Center is trying to make a point - with TAXPAYER MONEY - a little good taste WOULD be appreciated.
Marc Rich has done nothing to make Jews or anyone else proud. Why would the Holocaust museum have anything to do with wanting a pardon for him? How crass is it when by throwing ill-gotten gains around (Israel) you can buy respect from a religious leader?
A good person doesn't donate only to ingraciate himself to a country for haven from the consequences of his criminality.
A good person doesn't donate only to ingraciate himself to a country for haven from the consequences of his criminality.
AMEN, Yaelle! Sic 'em!
I am no fan of these Holocaust museums. What purpose is served by having an entire building devoted to a grissly chapter in Europe's history?
Heh. What are the chances that FDR will be in those museums?
Pretty damned slim, I'd say.
On another note...the (secular) Jews in America keep plugging "NEVER FORGET", but considering the fact that a majority of those who created these museums are gung-ho for gun control, I'd say they themselves have forgotten already!
My last post reminds me, ma'am...last Mother's Day the Million Moms staged their little parade of wannabe victims, and on OUR side across the street was a Jewish man who held a sign in favor of gun rights staying "NEVER FORGET". I spoke with this man and pointed across the street, stating, "Look at them. Many of them are Jewish, or supporters of Feinstein and Boxer, promoters of gun control. They have forgotten already!"
Will you be with us on Mother's Day this year? I would love to see you!
Religious Jews like Dennis Prager and Michael Medved are actually somewhat disturbed by the Holocaust obsession.
Look, only a sicko denies that the Holocaust happened, and only a sicko won't acknowledge it was among the worst things to ever have happened in human history. But that doesn't mean we dwell on it until the end of time.
Marc Rich has done nothing to make Jews or anyone else proud.
If I have to pick a Jewish criminal I much prefer Meyer Lansky.
There's a nice movie about him with Richard Dreyfuss in it. Saw it a few weeks ago.
It's out on video.....I think the title is "Lansky"
there have been many holocausts courtesy of russia, china, burma and so on - to honor one over the others is what is bad - why is man so violent -and nothing has been done to stop the massacre - klinton has treated russia and china like old friends and neither one can be trusted - and to use american money to build and maintain just because of one holocaust is not right - if you are going to build one - it should cover all the holocausts that have happened to remind people of how cruel man really is.
" The U.S. Memorial Holocaust Museum gets 60 percent of its budget from the U.S. government."
Every other thing I've ever read on the subject says that while the land was donated by the government at no cost all other expenses are payed by the Jews. Since the Museaum makes no mention of the 5 million non-Jews killed in the SS camps or the 3+ million killed in German POW camps I think this is relevant. If it's our money, the Museaum should talk about all the people killed, not just the Jews.
"there have been many holocausts courtesy of russia, china, burma and so on "
The problem is that people are too chickensh*it to admit the Jews are richer than the rest of us. There is credible research(based on tax returns) which shows that German Jews were 100% richer than German Christians. If people would just admit the Jews are richer the holocaust would not seem unique compared to the:Armenians, Tutsi, Ibo, and all the commie massacres.
The Jewish holocaust is not the only mass genocide but should and will be remembered. The others you mention should honor their dead too if they like....no law against it. There are many Armenians in the USA and many Ukrainians. They can do their own memorials can they not?
and your point is.........
"They can do their own memorials can they not?"
Yes they can. And they can pay for them on their own. Can you?
"and your point is........."
That every attempt to eliminate a group involved victims who were richer than the perpetrators. And you point is........ That it's fair for Jews to be 50% of Clintons appointees......... That it's fair for Jewish Pulitzer Prize winner David Halberstam to say America needs a "white tax"........ That it's fair for Jews to form an alliance with Blacks founded on the mutual belief that white wealth is illegitamate.....That it's fair for Jews to profit from demonizing the success of whites.....
Some of your points are valid but your overall take is nutty/pathological. Don't think for a second that I'm blind to where you are coming from. You really think I haven't heard this stuff before?
If Jews ran the Clinton administration then Israel would not have been pressured to give land for peace. If Jews ran the world then Israel would be free of problems from the Arabs.
Will you be with us on Mother's Day this year? I would love to see you!
Sounds good, girl! I would love to, depending on what the family (incl. Mom!) will be up to.
So invite Mom along! (or is she not so inclined? LOL!!)
A lady on our side had a little message on her pasteboard last year - "Hi, Mom! I'm defending the Constitution!"
I hope we get LOTS of people from JPFO there this year - it is one of the finest Jewish organizations in America! They understand that the primary goal of those who would dominate and crush America is to disarm us first. I look forward to working with them!
One of the worst Jewish organizations is ADL. Packed full of secularist socialists, they continually try to lay a massive guilt trip on America regarding the Jewish faith they themselves abhor and reject (but they'll take the victim mantle for browbeating purposes) whilst keeping their mouths shut about the mass murder by Communism of tens of millions of people of all faiths.
This is the type of "Jew" Marc "the Momser" Rich is - a traitor to America and to his faith.
Couldn't agree with you more, Mercuria, dear. Marc the Momzer -- ROFL! And the ADL is a guilt-trip joke indeed.
Re the Mom's day FReep -- I am not sure. We usually get together with the whole brood, and even though Mom is the only other conservative in my family, she probably wants to relax with her progeny around her. We'll see when May rolls around.
Understood!
Still, you're fortunate. I'm not sure what MY mom would say if she knew what I was doing on Mother's Day...hehehe.
"Some of your points are valid"
If you can find a single valid point in that rant I wish you would clue me in.
Were 50% of Clinton's appointees Jewish? A President appoints thousands of people. Was even his senior staff anywhere near half Jewish? Oh and by the way let's start referring to the Gentile Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Are you in an alliance with blacks who believe wealth is illegitimate? The ranter certainly implies as much. He didn't write all Jews but Dennisw. Same goes for demonizing succesful whites.
All this $$ from the tax payers of America while Bob Dole has to go around the country pleading for donations from Americans for a memorial to the American soldiers who died in WW11. Go figure.
bttt
If Jews ran the world then Israel would be free of problems from the Arabs.
uh oh !! Seems I heard those words before by some little guy in Germany that wore a funny little mustache. Only difference is, he was for Germany. Hmmmm, very interesting.
And your response has what relationship to Dennisw's point?
What purpose is served by having an entire building devoted to a grissly chapter in Europe's history?
Why do people wear the symbol of a man being tortured to death on a cross? Why do grieving friends and relatives place roadside memorials to accident victims? Why does MADD exist? Why are the Pyramids at Giza so protected? Why is there a memorial at The USS Arizona? Why is the sky blue? Where did sadism get its name?
There are just some things that history and human feeling can't resist. It is a great shame there isn't a WWII Memorial, but I can understand that there can't ever be a memorial so profoundly magnificent enough to do our heroes justice. Whatever ends up being the WWII Memorial is going to have to be akin to a prayer, for G-d surely was with the least of us then and made us the very best we ever were. In life and in death. Reverence beyond our ability to convey.
All this $$ from the tax payers of America while Bob Dole has to go around the country pleading for donations from Americans for a memorial to the American soldiers who died in WW11. Go figure.
Shameful!
And your response has what relationship to Dennisw's point?
If you have to ask that question, then there is something wrong here, very wrong.
If Jews ran the world then Israel would be free of problems from the Arabs.
uh oh !! Seems I heard those words before by some little guy in Germany that
wore a funny little mustache. Only difference is, he was for Germany. Hmmmm,
very interesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What this means is "if Jews really ran the world then Israel would be free of problems from the Arabs."
>>If Jews ran the Clinton administration then Israel would not have been pressured to give land for peace.<<
Nope,not true. The Jews who backed Bubba are the ones who put personal profit ahead of Israel. They are,in fact,fascist Jews who want a one-world government because it would be easier and cheaper for the to buy influence and control than having to deal with each individual country. One government to deal with and no import/export taxes is the dream of most international businessmen.
>>If Jews ran the world then Israel would be free of problems from the Arabs.<<
See the above.Rich is a influencial Jew,and he was helping the Arabs sell oil and buy weapons.
Are you trying to say that Bill Clinton is tangled up in Jews?
At any rate I don't care what your enemies say piggy.
You're a beautiful human being.....and don't ever change.
I am shocked at your comments and have alerted the ADL, the Mossad and the Jews for Jesus to keep tabs on both of you.
Replacement Theology is a lie all Moslems and sadly many Christians believe. The
lie is that they have replaced the Jews because God has rejected them. They
don't know God's great love for His people Israel. This arrogance has blinded
the majority of this worlds leaders as they oppose what God is doing in our day
related to Israel.
The world today is in deep darkness.
They do not know or believe God's Word, especially where it speaks of God's plan
related to Israel in our day.

The blind leading the blind such as piggy
You don't have to love us. We'll just make sure you respect and fear us. Meanwhile be sure to keep your pimp hand strong 'cause piggy that's all you got left at this point.
ZOG Ministry of Information.
>>Are you trying to say that Bill Clinton is tangled up in Jews?<<
Boy,is Bob Dillon gonna be pissed at YOU! I'm gonna tell,I'm gonna tell!
Come to think of it,that might have acutally been what he was singing (if you call that signing).
Are you testifying or speaking in tongues?
The latter it seems to me.
Speaking of Bob Dylan I'll bet you never knew that Robbie Robertson is half Jewish (father) and half Canadian Indian (mother).
IOW Robbie could own a casino and run a casino.
I have had the very moving experience of visiting Yad Vashem (Israel's holocaust museum) as well as Aushwitz (the Nazi death camp in Poland). I am not especially interested in visiting a museum in the United States dedicated to the holocaust, however.
More on the righteous Marc Rich:
"Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert confirmed to The
Jerusalem Post last night that he had written to Clinton
urging him to pardon Rich. 'I wrote to Clinton because
Rich was a great friend of Jerusalem who donated $20
million to the city over the past 18 years,' Olmert said."
Jerusalem Post article on Rich pardon
If the Wiesenthal Center is trying to make a point - with TAXPAYER MONEY - a little good taste WOULD be appreciated.
Here's the clincher. Simon Wiesenthal has them pay him $250,000 per year just for the use of his name!
>>I'll bet you never knew that Robbie Robertson is half Jewish (father) and half Canadian Indian (mother).<<
Yeah,I did know that.
>>IOW Robbie could own a casino and run a casino.<<
With his money,he could buy his own casino outright.When you consider the direction his career has taken since he quit "The Band",this might be a good career move for him.
Cripes, I can't believe this coming from an enlightened Hebrew such as yourself. Religious you ain't.
I'm religious enough. And like most anti Jewish folk you are quite enthralled by the tribe, what we do and how we do it.
Still believe Dick Cheney is a alien space lizard?
Check out www.davidicke.com yerself and find out yourself. Your guess is good as mine... actually mine is better
Hmm, mebbe you're one a da Boardmasters yikes
I am more interested in knowing what the Master of the Universe is up to and the laws he has given us all, even the undeserving such as you.
What is this? A convention of the few anti Semites left here?
What happened to your punch line "There's no business like shoa business"
I believe that a Jew first coined that term. Maybe you could find a source for that. Is the purge not yet complete?
I don't know who requested JimRob to delete so many posters. It wasn't me. Jim now has a lot of things he doesn't want to see here and I guess it's his show to run.
I have only pushed the abuse button once. Was a few months ago for "anti war republican".
BTW>>> Ashley Montague was Jewish
Did you know that Bo Bo Belinsky is Jewish?
That every attempt to eliminate a group involved victims who were richer than the perpetrators.Quick someone tell the Native Americans this....
No! Next you're going to tell me Tony Curtis is Jewish.
>>Did you know that Bo Bo Belinsky is Jewish?<<
I don't even know who he/she is. A musician?
Hey,I do have a friend who was born in Japan of Japanese parents,adopted at age 7 and raised in Poland. He learned English as a 3rd language when he came to the US as a teen.Weirdest damn accent you ever heard in your life. His nickname is "Bo". Does he count for extra credit?
>>No! Next you're going to tell me Tony Curtis is Jewish.<<
But Bruce Springstein ain't. Is this thread turning into a Adam Sandler song?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
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