Цитаты
Надежда - это обращение к духу, обращение к сердцу, она выходит за пределы мира непосредственного опыта и бросает якорь за горизонтом. Вацлав Гавел |
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The world didn’t learn the lessons of war
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 Member of the Public chamber of RF, director of Moscow bureau for human rights Alexander Brod and executive director of MBHR Natalya Rykova spoke at the briefing “Results and lessons of the World War II and the present” that took place on May 5 in the UN headquarters in New York.
In their speeches A. Brod and N. Rykova noted that in early 21st century the problems of combat against xenophobia, nationalism, anti-Semitism and racism aggravated in various regions of the world. These problems are urgent both for the countries with steady democratic traditions and institutions and for the countries with totalitarian past. The most misanthropic ideology that brought innumerable sufferings and millions of victims to the world – Nazism - is extracted from the sad luggage of of the 20th century. On the eve of the Victory Day it’s necessary to reflect on the fact what a tragedy the Nazi ideology became for the world, why it is alive up to now and why the attempts to rewrite the history and give equal rights to the victims and the executioners are still fashionable.
It’s most important that the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution late during the recent year on the initiative of Russia condemning the glorification of Nazism and its accomplices including former members of “Waffen SS”, as well as desecration of monuments to the fighters against fascism.
The resolution calls upon the UN member-states to take measures for stopping making heroes of Nazism and its accomplices, destroying and desecrating monuments to the fighters against Nazism; it also notes that pro-Nazi phenomena and extremist movements create a “real threat for democratic values”.
It’s hard for the war veterans as well as for all the sensible people to become reconciled with the fact that in April 2009 the Ukrainian party “Freedom” arranged installing the advertisement panels with symbols of division “Galicia” and inscription “Ukrainian division Galicia. They defended Ukraine” in the streets of Lvov. Early in May the planned installation of memorial plaque to the soldiers of division “Galicia” on May 9 – on the anniversary of victory over fascism - was announced.
Xenophobia and intolerance see no boundaries in today’s world. Thus, according to the data of report of the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published in April 2009, 37% of interrogated representatives of ethnic minorities of European Community asserted that they faced with race discrimination during the recent year. 12% of interrogated noted that they became the victims of violence due to their ethnic origin. Half of complaints about discrimination was brought by the Gypsies.
North-Africans in Italy (96%) feel discrimination motivated by racism or as immigrants most of all. They are followed by Gypsies in Hungary (90%) and North-Africans in France (88%).
Active policy of making heroes of collaborators is conducted in the Baltic countries on the state level. In Riga, starting since 1994, the parade of former legionaries of the Lettish legion who served Hitler takes place annually on March 16. The head of Simon Wiesenthal Center Efraim Zuroff noted in March 2008 speaking about the next march of this kind that “while granting honors to those who fought side-by-side with Nazis battling for the victory of the Third Reich, the Latvian authorities distort the historical events and cause damage toward the historical justice. Granting honors to veterans of Latvian SS legion many of which took part in mass slaughters of Jews of Latvia and Byelorussia, the march organizers insult millions of victims of Nazis and demonstrate their false position in the problem of Latvia’s responsibility in front of the Jewish people to the whole world again”. The officials of Latvia, though not attending these marches during recent years, visit the graves of leaders of Latvian SS legion. And though in 2009 the march of legionaries was cancelled due to mighty protests and pressure of the European structures, the solemn action with placing flowers was permitted. At the same time the anti-fascists’ activities were prohibited, several dozen people were detained and some anti-fascists from Russia, Estonia etc were not admitted to the country.
According to the data of internal intelligence service of Germany – Federal department on the constitution protection – about 31 thousand people in the country are the members of 180 ultra-right organizations. At present one-fifth of all the Germans (and almost 40% of Bavarians) feel dislike towards the foreigners, and this is less than two years ago when such people amounted to one quarter. According to interrogation conducted by Forsa institute in Germany in March 2008 by request of Stern journal, 25% of the interrogated responded “yes” to the question whether national-socialism had any positive sides.
Poland is the largest manufacturer and exporter of Nazi symbols in Europe. It’s possible to buy a complete uniform of SS officer, arm-bands with swastika and SS emblem in the markets in large Polish cities as well as via the Internet. Polish law prohibits the propaganda of Nazi ideology but not the sale of historical artifacts or their copies. Due to this circumstance, it is in Poland that neo-Nazi organizations of Europe purchase the fascist attributes in mass.
Thousands of groups confessing xenophobia based upon neo-Nazi ideology are active in EC countries. The parties exist that exploit the xenophobic rhetoric actively – NDPG in FRG, National front of J.-M. Le Pen, League of the North in Italy, British national party, National party in Czechia. Most of these parties are represented in various level parliaments (regional, national or in Euro-parliament where ultra-nationalists had their own faction of 23 deputies being mostly natives of the East-European countries).
The Holocaust deniers are also active including many famous public persons. The leader of the French ultra-right J.-M. Le Pen stated early in May 2008 and in March 2009 that “gas chambers were just a small part of history of the World War II”. Polish deputy of the Euro-parliament Macierz Gerticz published a brochure “European civilization during the war” in 2008 that collected some anti-Semitic stereotypes.
According to the interrogation conducted by Opinion Research Corp in USA by request of TV company CNN in December 2006, 49% of black-skinned and 18% of white-skinned people consider the problem of both “black” and “white racism” “most serious” in the country.
Economic crisis and election of the president Barack Obama led to activation of the groups of white racists, neo-Nazis etc. Their discontent caused the intention of new administration to make radical steps toward restriction of weapon sale, expansion of social programs for minorities etc.
In Russia, first of all in large urban centers, extremism manifestations, growth of racist and other violence motivated by inter-group hatred and increase of aggressiveness in everyday xenophobia manifestations take place. Radical nationalism dividing the Russians basing upon ethnicity and hampering establishement of all-Russian identity, is a serious threat. Affected by such slogans and other factors, the extremists resort to violence towards ethnic minorities, migrants and foreign citizens. This led to numerous cases of beating of hundreds and killing of dozens people. Appearing of neo-fascist ideology and activity of profascist groups, dissemination of fascist symbols and literature, propaganda of extremism and hatred including that via the Internet, are inadmissible for the country that made the decisive contribution into defeat of fascism in the World War II. Language of hostility and groups of hatred are available mostly among the young people though these are the grown-ups who are the ideologiats and organizers, including politicians and intellectuals.
There is an opinion that the economic growth itself may lead to solution of social-political and even ideological problems. This opinion is erroneuos. Experience of such countries as USA, England, France, Germany visually confirms that neither high level of economy development nor high share of middle class in the country population save from flashes of xenophobia, nationalistic and racist moods capable to cause serious crises under certain conditions.
Political culture of people, strength or weakness of democratic traditions – these are the factors playing the supreme role in the struggle against xenophobia, nationalism and racism. Level of xenophobic moods is especially high in the countries of former socialist camp including those which already joined the European Community. This is not by accident that in Ukraine, Baltic countries (and also, though to smaller extent, in Germany and Italy) the xenophobic and nationalistic moods notably affect the political life, are available in ideology of some political parties and are sometimes exaggerated by politicians of high rank and representatives of ruling elite.
Actions of the state authority are of greatest (and in the countries with weaker civil society – determinant) importance in combat against xenophobia, nationalism and racism. In this concern the measures are of great interest taken in the Europeam Community countries towards those involved into instigation to terrorism on the Internet (April 2008) as well as the “Hate Crime Prevetion Act” adopted in USA in 1999. And the actions of some politicians in Ukraine, Baltic countries are the example of what is absolutely inadmissible. It’s possible to connive at xenophobia and nationalistic moods under no circumstances.
“Decision of the city council of Ternopol to install the memorial plaque in honor of SS members from division “Galicia” is blasphemous as well as some other actions of Ukrainian authorities for propaganda of Nazism, deputy permanent representative of Russia in UN Ilya Rogachev stated. It is well-known that Ukrainian SS members eliminated Soviet soldiers, partisans in France and Yugoslavia, peaceful inhabitants in Poland, suppressed anti-fascist uprisings in Slovakia and executed Jews and Communists in Ukraine”.
He also noted that “open glorification of SS members and soldiers of OUN-UPA – Ukrainian insurgent army - that sallied its name due to crimes towards those who fought within anti-Hitler coalition, announcement of well-known Nazi Roman Shukhevich the hero of Ukraine, destruction and desecration of monuments to Soviet warriors – these are links of a chain for rewriting of the World War II history, implanting of frankly profascist ideology into the conscience of current and future generations”.
Chairman of board of directors of the American forum of WCRJ Mikhail Nemirovsky announced the address of the WCRJ president, chairman of the commission of the Federation Council on the problems of civil society institutions development Boris Shpigel: “The generation of real heroes who conquered the pest of fascism in the World War II is leaving before our very eyes. Our mission is maybe less loud but most important – to bring the non-perverted truth how the mankind defeated fascism to future generations. There must be no half-truth or half-tints here. Attempts to revise the past, present the accomplices of Nazism as fighters for freedom should be condemned unambiguously”.
During the briefing the president of the American Association of the World War II invalids and veterans Leonid Rosenberg spoke who handed-in the memorable sign of the Association for active public activity to A. Brod.
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