Live from the New Europe: Reporting from Lithuania

netWMD (netwmd.com) ^ | June 23, 2003 | Andrew Jaffee

[1rudeboy]

Do you know what an "Eskimo" country is? It's bad enough to be a Nazi, but an Eskimo as well? What's next, Martian?

[stevejackson]

I feel for you. Let me round out the appellations applied so far: Eskimo, Nazi, neocon, Trotskyite (Marxist-Leninist), Holocaust-denier, denier-funded-by-Nazis, etc.

I can't believe that some guy writing about a visit to Lithuania could spark such an abject outpouring of hatred towards Baltic peoples.

[1rudeboy]

What troubles me is this concept (and I give full credit to DPB101): how can someone be so vocal about Lithuanian Jews being murdered, having their property confiscated, etc., and limit his outrage to the Nazis?

There's a reason they are called crimes against humanity, because there is a greater moral-component to the atrocity, regardless of the individual criminal act. Our friend Destro would have us believe that the U.S. government, in its own self-interest, is now collaborating with it's "new" allies (now that's a laughable idea, E. Europe has been pro-U.S. practically forever) in order to sweep the Holocaust under the rug. Yet, with all his "marketing" expertise, by omission he implies that Soviet atrocities against the same Jews are not worthy of mention. Certainly there was any number of anti-Semitic Lithuanian collaborators in the Soviet régime that replaced the Nazi one. Certainly there have been any number of threads concerning the "warming" of relations between the U.S. and Russia. I would expect Destro, if he was consistent, to direct some of his "outrage" at the Russians (They're all Bolsheviks! They shipped Jews to the Gulag! The U.S. is sweeping it under the rug!). I am disappointed.

His neglect of the treatment suffered by the Jews at the hands of the Soviets suggests that Destro is still fighting the Cold War on the wrong side. More disturbing is the possibility that anti-Semitism itself doesn't trouble him very much. More important to him is to score points against what he perceives to be an "uppity" ethnic group or, gasp, those who he perceives to be "neo-conservative."

I used to think that racist attacks (and yes, I use the term deliberately) by people of Destro's ilk were primarily motivated by vengeance. I'm beginning to suspect that they are fighting a larger battle.

I need to start saving these "Lithuanians are Nazis" threads.

[1rudeboy]

Excuse me, I meant to say "Lithuanians are Eskimos" threads.

[Destro]

Trotsky's ghost wandering the White House: Bolshevik's writings influence on Bush aides

[1rudeboy]

Do tinfoil helmets provide adequate protection against mind control rays?

[1rudeboy]

Is George W. Bush an Eskimo? How about Christopher Hitchens?

[nopardons]

You tell 'em ! LOL

[1rudeboy]

Help me understand. Any thread concerning Germany is ok, but any thread concerning Lithuania must make mention of Lithuanian Nazi collaborators during WW2. And you would argue this is not hypocrisy?

[Destro]

The article in question mentioned the Nazis. By the way, nothing against Lithuania. I find THIS ARTICLE ONLY suspect. You have to understand I have some training in such "marketing". It is pro-Lithuanian but it is so to push an agenda not to praise Lithuania for being Lithuania. Sorry for the negative comments before but they I had my Irish up.

[1rudeboy]

It's a little late for an apology. If you would let me know what got your Irish up in the first place (privately or otherwise) then we can avoid this sort of a scene in the future. The fact of the matter is, you trashed this thread, you incited others to make inappropriate comments, and you pissed me off. Make no mistake, you do not need my approval to continue, but let's come up with some method to keep this from happening in the future.

[Destro]

My apology was not for the comments I posted taken in context. It was for not explaining why I found this article objectionable.

[1rudeboy]

I have no problem if you do not wish to reply. Some wounds cannot heal. I only ask that you respect my opinion.

[Destro]

PS: If I remember correctly--I posted those pics because the post at # 20--now deleted--claimed that no such atrocities happened or words to thae effect.

[Destro]

What reply? Ok fresh start. My point is that I find THIS ARTICLE ONLY not the Lithuanian people suspect. It is pro-Lithuanian but it is so to push an agenda and not to praise Lithuania for being Lithuania.

The buzzword of New Europe (as if Lithuania with its long history including being an empire is New) and the way Lithuanian history is "highlighted" to serve an agenda is telling to me.

The neocon technique which I studied in college is related very much to communist propaganda styles. They use one subject to really talk about another. For example the commies would write about aparthied South Africa and within the article they would mention the USA in passing. Those passing comments are the real meat of the article. The rest of the article serves as a set up for those "passing" statements.

[1rudeboy]

Look, it's late and I'm going to bed. I understand your concern about "propaganda," and who knows, maybe this article will be found to be CIA-inspired. But your concern about propaganda rings hollow when one considers your comments, and photographs, on this thread.

[Destro]

not CIA inspired at all-hardly. Political group inspired.

[1rudeboy]

bttt

[newgeezer]

So, what's this thread supposed to prove? Looks to me like the first one to call you a Nazi was... you.

For what it's worth -- likely no more than you paid for it -- I find it best to adopt a thick skin and ignore the ignoramuses when they spout their ignorance. (Though, all too often, I find myself re-testing the alternative.) If you'd rather tangle with them, that's your right.

It just reminds me of the saying about trying to teach a pig to sing, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." At least if you succeed in annoying the "pig," it's not a total waste. However, I'm convinced some pigs are incapable of being annoyed. When that's the case, it's truly a waste of time.

[1rudeboy]

I'm sorry that you are having trouble getting your mind around what happened on this thread. Maybe you are not a student of history, I can understand that.

But when someone comes on to a thread and calls all geezers Nazis, I would expect that, as a new one you would take offense.

If you cannot understand the above, I'm willing to drop this exercise altogether.