Dear Editor: Mr. Wright (Now 12, “Ics coffee-smelling Time, Paula”) accuses the Canadian Jewish Congress of steadfastly refus- ing to answer the question: “If complete freedom of expression had existed in Germany from 1933 onward, could the ruthless persecution of Jews and the eventual Holocaust ever have hap- pened?” Mr. Wright poses the ques- tion rhetorically in the smug certainty that he has the answer. His argument, although superficially seductive, is sim- plistic at best and more false than true. It is, aso, an insult to the survivors whose opin- ion, oddly enough, is rarely solicited in this — matter. Instead, the survivors are,sub- jected to lectures about free- dom and democracy. The absence of treedom of speech was not the cause of the Holocaust but one of its results, The relentless repetition of lies, in which Germans and other European Christians were painted as victims of a Jewish conspiracy, gave the Nazis and their sympathizers across Europe the popular support necessary to abrogate all freedoms. Freedom of speech was y north shore news MAIL BOX Free speech lessons just one casualty of the atmos- phere of hatred which was created. A hatred so ail- encompassing that an other- wise civilized society could pursue the murder of Jews not only within the Germany but wherever the Nazi hand could reach. In such an atmosphere, freedom of speech was irrelevant. Ir was not until the German people fervently believed that they were the victims of a nefarious Jewish conspiracy thar they gave themselves licence to suspend freedom of speech and the civil rights of their Jewish citi- zens, No, Mr. Wright, lack of freedom of speech was nor the cause. of the Holocaust. Not even close. It was anti-semitism, good old-fashioned European Jew hatred. It filled the newspa- pers. Tt was beamed to the sky over the radio waves. It was shouted from loudspeakers at rallies. And freedom of speech would not have prevented the murders. ft would have been as effective as standing in front of a speeding freight train. Nor is freedom of speech the issue today, although you would very much like to pro- mote that notion. GO DEEP! Break your boundaries. borders of The Canadian Jewish Congress was not interested in entorcing censorship er in limiting treedom of speech. It sought answers to the following questions: what responsibility does a newspa- per have to tell the truth; what protection do people have from newspapers that slander them and seek to prejudice others against them by pub- ishing patent lies. You would like to pretend thar tie assuc is One of tree- dom of speech for two rea- sons. First, it gives vou the right to carry on publishing spuri- ous ideas. But’ more importantly, it allows you to pose as victims of a Jewish conspiracy. And that you do with every fine that you, Collins and Timothy (Baby Collins) Renshaw write — Jewish pres- sure groups, Jewish Hollywood control of the media, exaggerate the horrors of the war for malevolent rea- sons. You have torn a page out of Hitler’s book. I hope that answers your question. Tf you have any more queries please don’t hes- itate to ask. Ask the people who were there. Dr. Moses Milstein North Vancouver MAILBOX POLICY LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preterably twpe- written} and include your name, full address and tele- phone number. Dee to space CONSTI all letters. Published letters may be edit- ed for brevity, clarity, accura- ev, legality and taste. Submissions can be faxed to 985.2104 but still must be signed and fully addressed. 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