soc.history.war.world-war-ii

On Feb 25, 5:49 pm, narrled...@hotmail.com wrote:

> > There is no such thing as a "Holocaust industry", anymore than there
> > is a "Bolshevik Industry" or a "Facist Industry" or "Anglo Saxon
> > Industry" or a "WW II industry.

> No such thing as a WWII Industry? People make money manufacturing
> costumes and equipment for grown-ups to play soldier with; the Hitler
> Channel recycles footage from old, low-quality documentaries for new
> documentaries that are often even worse;

Sorry, when I think of the word "industry", I think of the steel
industry, the entertainment industry, the fast food industry. The
things you describe are a much smaller economic activity. I do not
think of small activites as "industries", e.g. the sale of Girl Scout
cookies is not an "industry".

There are many historical sites for which one pays an admission to
visit. But I do not call them an "industry", even if some of them are
operated for profit.


> politicians use the "lessons
> of Munich" or the "lessons of Pearl Harbor" in situations that bear no
> resemblance to those episodes, and I'm expected to believe there's no
> WWII Industry?

That is most certainly not "industry" but rather history and lessons
we can learn from it as applied to current events. It is a matter of
opinion whether or not a specific historical event applies to a
specific current situation. Often they defnitely do. There are some
very nasty people running countries out there.

Harry Truman was a great student of history including that of war and
politics going all the way back to ancient Rome. This was invaluable
in his stewardship of the country.


> > To suggest a remembrance of a very critical historical event is an
> > "industry" is very odd.

> Remembrance is one thing; commercialization, trivialization, and using
> tragedies and crimes of the past for current gain are another.

I stand by my statement, claiming the "Holocaust is an industry" is a
troubling statement.

Claiming someone is using the Holocaust solely "for current gain" as
opposed to historical allegory is a very serious charge and would
require ample substantiation.

It is a fact that the Holocaust occured--the deliberate torture and
murder with the intent to destroy the Jewish people. Sadly, it is
also a fact that there are elements out there who are happy it occured
and would be happy to see it happen again. Given that history, along
with pogroms and viscious discrimination world wide during the 1930s
and 1940s, it is quite understandable that a fair amount of wariness
and defensiveness exist. (As it is understandable not to wish to
repeat the mistakes of Pearl Harbor and Munich as well.)