short notes:
will brady's ruminations
will brady's ruminations
2008-06-04
holocaust memories
The bicycle has a note on it that says "Jews must hand in their bicycles". Provided by Darrel English, who is a collector of memorabilia from the World War II era. 
One of the visitors to the exhibit, in front of a display about Oskar Schindler. This was one of the displays created by one of Mr. Little's 8th grade students.
The Final Solution [above + below] is another eight grader's project on the subject.
The Zyklon gas container label was part of MANY artifacts provided by Darrel English of North Adams.
"Gestapo" is an eighth grade student project making use of artifacts from Darrel English's collection.
"The Klansman" [also put together by one of the students] was part of a display about current day prejudice, hatred and Nazi support.
In the tiny hamlet of Clarksburg, Massachusetts a Holocaust Remembrance was held. This is put on annually by an eighth grade school teacher, Michael Little, and his 8th grade students. He has received national attention/recognition from this.
My friend and photo mentor Ian Grey took pictures of this year's one-day presentation at Clarksburg school last May 21st. Ian has consented to let me show his photos of this year's exhibit.
My friend and photo mentor Ian Grey took pictures of this year's one-day presentation at Clarksburg school last May 21st. Ian has consented to let me show his photos of this year's exhibit.
The bicycle has a note on it that says "Jews must hand in their bicycles". Provided by Darrel English, who is a collector of memorabilia from the World War II era. 
One of the visitors to the exhibit, in front of a display about Oskar Schindler. This was one of the displays created by one of Mr. Little's 8th grade students.
The Final Solution [above + below] is another eight grader's project on the subject.
The Zyklon gas container label was part of MANY artifacts provided by Darrel English of North Adams.
"Gestapo" is an eighth grade student project making use of artifacts from Darrel English's collection.
"The Klansman" [also put together by one of the students] was part of a display about current day prejudice, hatred and Nazi support. While it is generally accepted that the WWII Holocaust was about Hitler's zeal at committing genocide against the Jews. Such may be. But it is never lost on me that before the Jews were exterminated, it was people who were living in asylums as mentally ill, or with physical disabilities, who were first gassed to death; a prelude, perhaps, to gauging public acceptance to mass extinctions.
Humanity cannot forget, ever, atrocities such as the Holocaust, as well as more recent genocidal acts, be it the citizens of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge; or Slobodan Milosevic's actions against Bosnian Muslims; to the genocide in Darfur; even of the almost totally ignored mistreatment, torture and murder by neglect of countless immigrants in American containment camps.
War crimes should be unacceptable regardless of who the perpetrators may be. Tribunals to hold those so implicated accountable, while at times as jarring as the awareness of the acts themselves, must also continue to be held, whether the venue be in Nuremberg, the Hague, Pretoria, Washington, DC, Bejing or Dubai.
Humanity cannot forget, ever, atrocities such as the Holocaust, as well as more recent genocidal acts, be it the citizens of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge; or Slobodan Milosevic's actions against Bosnian Muslims; to the genocide in Darfur; even of the almost totally ignored mistreatment, torture and murder by neglect of countless immigrants in American containment camps.
War crimes should be unacceptable regardless of who the perpetrators may be. Tribunals to hold those so implicated accountable, while at times as jarring as the awareness of the acts themselves, must also continue to be held, whether the venue be in Nuremberg, the Hague, Pretoria, Washington, DC, Bejing or Dubai.
Labels: atrocities, genocide, holocaust, war crimes, world history
¶ 16:27 0 comments
2007-12-14
torture
Would you trust this man with your children? John Kiriakou [former leader of the CIA team that captured Al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah] said by using the torture technique of water boarding he got his captive to talk in less than 35 seconds.
He looks so earnest. On ABC News this week he said "Like a lot of Americans, I'm involved in this internal, intellectual battle with myself weighing the idea that waterboarding may be torture... and I struggle with it."
This isn't your average frat-boy hazing mind you. Waterboarding is a harsh interrogation technique that involves strapping down a
prisoner, covering his mouth with plastic or cloth and pouring water over his face.
The prisoner quickly begins to inhale water, causing the sensation of drowning. Of it's infamy Rear Adm. John Hutson (USN Ret.) testified before Congress recently that, “Other than, perhaps the rack and thumbscrews, water boarding is the most iconic example of torture in history. It was devised, I believe, in the Spanish inquisition. It has been repudiated for centuries.”
I have no doubt that some shall call Kiriakou a hero. Not to me. Torture, though used through human history is of questionable value in achieving fair results. How much, I venture to guess, would Mr. Kiriakou "struggle" with this if he had been subjected to waterboarding himself.
Would you trust this man with your children? John Kiriakou [former leader of the CIA team that captured Al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah] said by using the torture technique of water boarding he got his captive to talk in less than 35 seconds.He looks so earnest. On ABC News this week he said "Like a lot of Americans, I'm involved in this internal, intellectual battle with myself weighing the idea that waterboarding may be torture... and I struggle with it."
This isn't your average frat-boy hazing mind you. Waterboarding is a harsh interrogation technique that involves strapping down a prisoner, covering his mouth with plastic or cloth and pouring water over his face.
The prisoner quickly begins to inhale water, causing the sensation of drowning. Of it's infamy Rear Adm. John Hutson (USN Ret.) testified before Congress recently that, “Other than, perhaps the rack and thumbscrews, water boarding is the most iconic example of torture in history. It was devised, I believe, in the Spanish inquisition. It has been repudiated for centuries.”I have no doubt that some shall call Kiriakou a hero. Not to me. Torture, though used through human history is of questionable value in achieving fair results. How much, I venture to guess, would Mr. Kiriakou "struggle" with this if he had been subjected to waterboarding himself.
THANKS TO: Bad American / Politics as Usual for covering this subject.
Labels: atrocities, iraq quagmire, torture, waterboarding
¶ 20:17 0 comments
