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).

History Holocaust Holocaust denial

The David Irving bet

With the impending release of David Irving, my mind turned to wondering about what he’ll do when he gets out. His finances are a ruin. He’s ticked off his fellow Holocaust deniers by saying that there were indeed homicidal gas chambers at Auschwitz. This discussion led to a question, which led to some prognosticating by me and others on a discussion board:

When will Irving show up in the U.S. to give speeches before far right wing groups to try to replenish his depleted bank account? Current favorites range from around two weeks after his release to around a month after his release. What do you think? Either way, the depressing thought is that he’ll almost certainly be fouling the U.S. with his presence sometime in early 2007.

While you’re at it, there are two other questions:

1. How long before Irving recants his statement that there were homicidal gas chambers at Auschwitz, claiming “duress” or something like that? (My prediction: Shortly after he sets foot in the U.K. again, in the first interview he gives.)

2. How long before Irving blames “the Jews” for his imprisonment in Austria? (My prediction: Again, in his first interview after he sets foot in the U.K.)

ADDENDUM: It looks as though I was right about #1. We’ll see how long it takes #2 to come about.

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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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