He’s ridiculed Holocaust education efforts and hate crimes–so, I shouldn’t be surprised that Finkelstein has found humor in the recent theft and vandalism of Auschwitz’s “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign.
A sampling of the headlines he posted on his website:
Israel demands $10 billion in Holocaust compensation from Poland for theft of Auschwitz sign — “It was made of solid oak,” Israeli official explains.
Climatologists reconvene in emergency session at Copenhagen; Delegates to discuss effects of disappearance of Auschwitz sign on polar ice cap and carbon emissions; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon expresses “concern” after Israel threatens to nuke Amazon rainforest if sign isn’t returned.
After unsuccessful commando raid that left 26,000 civilians dead Israel threatens to nuke Burundi unless it releases sign.
And to think, there are people who don’t take him seriously as an historian.
In related news, a documentary of the former professor recently premiered: “American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein.” According to a review posted at Znet: “Finkelstein comes across as a meticulous scholar and complex individual, unwilling to modify his arguments to make them more palatable to those who disagree with him. As the film closes he gives the documentary its title by arguing the world ‘”is a radically unfair place and it requires a radical change.’”
Please, tell me this man is not being marketed as the new face of American radicalism. Emma Goldman and Abbie Hoffman are spinning in their graves.
What is it with people feeling the need to make jokes about the Holocaust? It’s not a question of whether one should be *allowed* to, more a question of why anyone would want to?
i am shoked. first of all its not funny. its disgasting act of vandalism. the second thing is-being that ‘cini’ (sarcastic) he probably tries to be popular in the cheapest way i can only imagne. coz there is no other explanation of such sence of humor.
It’s clear that what Finkelstein needs more than anything else is a good therapist, as he’s obviously got Holocaust on the brain. It isn’t uncommon with second generationers; I know, I am one myself. Of course, his psychological issues as a second generationer are different than most and have led him to betray his own people and now to mock the very event his parents went through and that causes him so much psychological grief. Which makes him, basically, an as*hole who needs a really good therapist.
Finkelstein is a very sick little puppy who really deserves our compassion.
For those of us who shudder with discomfort when beholding any exhibitionist demean himself so utterly, he (along with his shtick) should be ignored.
Here are two of Norm Finkelstein’s past attempts to win a spot on “The Daily Show”, reflecting the same sort of “humour”:
Following the bulldozer attack in Jerusalem in 2008, which had left 3 dead and 50 injured, his funny bone tickled by so much hilarity, the ever witty Norm posted this sly comment on his website, a real knee slapper.
“Times Exclusive: Deranged Arab in bulldozer attacks NY Times’ Isabel Kershner at her pedicure. Reporting live from the scene still in her curlers and with her beautician at her side, Kershner gives a minute by minute account of the horrifying moment when the bulldozer crashed through the pedicure’s windowfront crushing the nail on her little toe. “My friends in the Catskills just won’t believe it,” she said. “A smashed toenail. How can Israelis live with so much anxiety?”
His previous attempt at satire:
“In a move that shocked his AIPAC audience but which his supporters called “brave,” Barack Obama dropped his drawers to prove that he was Jewish. John McCain immediately issued a statement alleging that he was circumcised first. (The Republican candidate is 71.) Basing himself on extensive fieldwork, Daniel Pipes, a McCain supporter and noted authority on Muslim culture, observes that “looks can be deceiving — Muslims are also circumcised.” (Pipes’ new book is “Turkish Bath Terror Network.”) Speaking for the Democratic party, Nancy Pelosi promises to investigate the “particulars” of their candidate. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton announced that although as a feminist she opposed circumcision, she would make an exception if it would get her the nomination. “Speaking as her husband,” Bill Clinton said, “I couldn’t care less, but if this is what it takes, heck, I’ll slice off a piece too.” Crackers from Hope refused comment.”
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Coarseness and anger are not funny. NF exhibits no sense of humour, no wit, no self-examination. A satire has to contain that seed of self-denigration. This wannabe “satirist” comes through looking remarkably like Savonarolla, or Ahmadinejad…
A picture of who Finkelstein really is, was captured on film a few years ago by a former American news anchor turned documentarian. The documentary, the name of which I have forgotten, was a look at the revival of the “Protocols” myth that surrounded the 9/11 truthers.
Finky’s understanding of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism was taken from his impressions of his mother, a survivor, who in Finky’s mind at least, minimized the Holocaust by saying if there was one, then who were all these people claiming to be survivors. That the Nazis only managed to kill roughly 50% of the Jews of Germany, Poland and other European countries apparently didn’t amount to anything special.
As odious as Finkelstein is, I always had the sense that he was genuinely mentally ill. I don’t mean that as a cheap joke. I really think he might be bipolar and surely he has almost no EQ.
A study in Israel showed that children of couples who were both camp survivors had a very high incidence of emotional and mental illness. Children of couples where only one parent was a camp survivor were also more prone to such illnesses, but to a far lesser extent.
Finkelstein is obviously a very sick person, suffering himself the sufferings of his parents. We can all sympathise, even as we recognize the satanic takeover of his consciousness.
I saw the film in Chicago and really liked it. I think it is deeply humanistic
documentary that shows how the Holocaust has messed up so many children of holocaust survivors. While his core ideas about justice and the suffering of the Palestinians are not so controversial his delivery is obviously a problem and the film shows that well.