I have a certain kind of analytical training about what other people are thinking. It requires me to ask questions about what he really believes, vs jump to conclusions. The short mnemonic for this is "Is it 'no', or 'know'?" That is, is it a question of him saying "no" to the truth, or is it a question that he simply doesn't know (hasn't been exposed to) the truth?
So I ask: OK, this is what he *says, but what does he believe? Is this rhetoric on his part, or does he REALLY believe this. *If he believes the Holocaust numbers aren't factual -- seemingly true from his statements -- then: A) Is he open to changing his mind if he learns other facts? B) If he IS open to changing if he learns other facts, then how do (I) (we the human race) get those facts to him? In what form? Letters? Videos? I mean, folks, I grew up in the midwest of the USA, and people would vacation there from the East coast, and be TOTALLY astonished that the whole thing wasn't still overrun with cowboys and Indians. That is: a LOT of groups have seemingly ridiculous assumptions about places and peoples not that far from where they live. Another example: I'm surrounded by people who have ridiculous stereotyped attitudes towards Muslims, Arabs , etc. (OK, a list too long to go into, sigh.) I mean, I'm looking at this like I'm watching someone watch a weight fall from a tower, and then deny gravity has been proven. From *my point of view, it is very wierd to dispute the numbers killed in the Holocaust. From his POV (point of view), it seems to be normal.
I mean, folks, I grew up in the midwest of the USA, and people would vacation there from the East coast, and be TOTALLY astonished that the whole thing wasn't still overrun with cowboys and Indians. That is: a LOT of groups have seemingly ridiculous assumptions about places and peoples not that far from where they live.
Another example: I'm surrounded by people who have ridiculous stereotyped attitudes towards Muslims, Arabs , etc. (OK, a list too long to go into, sigh.)
I mean, I'm looking at this like I'm watching someone watch a weight fall from a tower, and then deny gravity has been proven. From *my
As far as I've gotten at this point is to toss that into the gears of my brain, or the compost heap in the back of my brain, as it were. I'm astonished about it. --
Clarify/add. I personally believe that there are hate-filled Nazis, skin-heads, in both the USA (ref the Southern Poverty Law Center's lists of hate groups, hate crimes in the USA http://www.splcenter.org ). And that those groups have horrible purpose when they deny the Holocaust. I think it's good that our western Euro/USAian societies try to limit those groups' influence.
Preview (should be) my friend.
I personally believe that there are hate-filled Nazis, skin-heads, in both the USA (ref the Southern Poverty Law Center's lists of hate groups, hate crimes in the USA http://www.splcenter.org ). And that those groups have horrible purpose when they deny the Holocaust. I think it's good that our western Euro/USAian societies try to limit those groups' influence.
