RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE

"A statement of fact cannot be insolent." The miscellaneous ramblings of a surgeon/scientist on medicine, quackery, science, and pseudoscience (and anything else that interests him).

Holocaust denial

Andrew asks the right question

Post author By Orac
Post date May 11, 2006
1 Comment on Andrew asks the right question

My blog buddy Andrew has a bit of fun turning a favorite Holocaust denier question back at them. In reaction to laws against Holocaust denial in some European nations, deniers like to ask: “What kind of truth needs protection?” They were particularly loud about this during the recent trial of David Irving.

Now, Andrew notes the case of Iranian scholar Ramin Jahanbegloo, who was detained in Tehran for publishing an article critical of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust denial.

So the worm turns. The hero state of the deniers (Iran), which they have (wrongly) called a bastion of free speech, now proves (again) that political dissent will not be allowed and, apparently, that disagreeing with the President that the Holocaust actually happened is some sort of crime.

Such is the deniers’ defense of “free speech.”

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By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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