“Let me say from the outset; I'm with Bishop Richard Williamson on this. There was no holocaust, (or Holocaust, as my computer software insists) and six million Jews were not murdered by the Third Reich. These two statements of mine are irrefutable truths, yet their utterance could get me thrown in the slammer in half the countries of the EU”. So opined one Kevin Myers in an Irish Independent column back in 2009.
Kevin Myers - Holocaust denial welcome at the Murdoch press
Yes, it could get him thrown in the slammer, but, on the bright side, Holocaust denial could also get him a platform in the Murdoch press to peddle a not unrelated line in hate speech. This is despite Myers having a most unfortunate track record, one which included dropping the Irish Times in the mire when he described the children of single parents as “bastards” as recently as 2005. He later apologised. But only after causing significant grief.
And for any followers of The Prophet who might feel left out, Myers also has form on that front, asserting last year - in the Murdoch Sunday Times - “I defend my right to express doubts freely about Islam … Most Muslim societies are either a tyranny or racked by violence”. Myers is clearly an equal opportunity bigot.
So it was that Myers waded into the aftermath of revelations about what the BBC pays its “top talent”, which was initially merely patronising: “Sorry, ladies [!] - equal pay has to be earned” read the headline, with the obligatory Beeb bashing sub-heading “The row over presenters’ salaries sums up the dysfunctional BBC”. But there was no dysfunction in the Murdoch press, oh no. And then he went in with both feet.
“Presenters in the BBC - Claudia Winkelman and Vanessa Feltz, with whose, no doubt, sterling work I am tragically unacquainted - are Jewish. Good for them. Jews are not generally noted for their insistence on selling their talent for the lowest possible price, which is the most useful measure there is of inveterate, lost-with-all-hands stupidity. I wonder, who are their agents? If they’re the same ones who negotiated the pay for the women on the lower scales, then maybe the latter have found their true value”.
And there you have it - nailed-on anti-Semitism, laced with sneering misogyny. The only imponderable is how the piece got past the Sunday Times’ sub-editors and editors. Either there weren’t any - which, for what is still claimed to be a paper of record, in inexcusable - or it was waved through by them, which is arguably far worse.
Moreover, anti-Semitism from the Murdoch mafiosi is not a new thing: Rupert Murdoch got himself into all sorts of trouble not so long ago when his Twitter attempt to snark at the New York Times - “Why is Jewish owned press so consistently anti-Israel in every crisis?” - even forced an apology from The Great Man. The gaffe was doubly clumsy: Arthur Sulzberger, at whom it was aimed, was raised as an Episcopalian Christian.
The Murdoch tendency to anti-Semitism all too often gets a free pass. It should not have, and must never do in future. And firing Kevin Myers would be a positive start.
9 comments:
I notice Myers's piece has now been removed from Times' site
Looks like the editor of the Times still doesn't have a problem with the article's relentlessly misogynistic tone.
It beggars belief that in the year 2017 there still exists Holocaust denial.
This, after first hand witness testimony, publication of Nazi policy documents, filmed evidence, contemporary reportage (when there still existed some honourable journalists), the Nuremberg tribunals, and all the failed efforts of neo-Nazi loonies like David Irving.
I couldn't give a shit if Winkelman and Feltz are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant or Cargo Cult. Or if they do or don't drive a hard bargain when negotiating a contract. All of that is their personal business.
What DOES (or SHOULD) matter is whether we have a reasonably fair and decent society. Which, patently, we don't - proof of which can be seen on any of Murdoch's and Rothermere's far right propaganda toilet rolls. Myers is merely the latest piece of crackpot shit thereon.
All of it brings us closer each day to a one party ur-fascist state, a suitable lapdog for the far right maniacs who control the USA, and who have an increasing grip on Britain.
Time is fast running out. A new war in the East, anyone? And will it be with EurAsia or EastAsia? And who will be this month's Goldstein?
Sunday Times & Irish Sunday Times editors have now apologized, but how did it get in to print in the first place? And no, let's NOT forget the vile misogyny!
@Anonymous: I am afraid you are very deeply mistaken, as David Irving is the 'historians historian', and he most certainly only speaks about historical truths and only from primary sources. You should read more.
Anonymous 12:16 30/07/17
Can't disagree with a single word or sentiment.
The key question being "And who will be this month's Goldstein?"
Because the answer to that question depends on which part of a decreasing linear and increasing 3D political landscape one chooses to look at.
The different formations of what are referred to as "the right" will certainly have their own choices which will certainly not all match. Just as those who travel under the banner of "the left" (some with more or less credibility than others) will have their own Goldstein figures.
Right now, for example, on this site the choice is quite complex, involving not only obvious and deserving figures like Farage and Trump but also, for some reason, Assange. And those who don't make the cut who don't get mentioned are just as relevant when trying to figure out what is going on and who is really who in this context.
Like the Clinton's and the Clinton Democrats for example who must be breathing great sighs of relief that so many self styled alternative sites of "the left" are more than willing to ape the antics and approaches of sites like the one run by BA Hull (failed) -which deservedly gets put in its place by Zelo Street - in deliberately burying their anti democratic gerrymandering of the Democratic Convention last year by constantly focusing on a non story about where the information of the Clinton's criminal activities came from rather than the criminal activities themselves.
It is a pity that Zelo Street is so obsessed with going along with the right wing neo con US Deep State flow on this story as it undermines its own alternative left credentials and credibility. There is sufficient material to justify Trump being a Goldstein figure without putting oneself in the same terrain of the crazies like the Goldman Sachs backed Clinton's and their handlers in the US neo-con establishment who are intent on continuing the almost 2 century old Great Game of annexing the resources of the Eurasian landmass and who have made it clear they are quite prepared to start a Nuclear Holocaust to achieve it.
Its time this site got its shit together on this specific issue as it is pissing away credibility by continuing to be a dupe of the hydra headed right whose real target is not Trump but Russia, China and the rest of Eurasia.
A different Anonymous
Not a clue what that the verbose drivel in teh 4th comment is on about.
That's your problem. Deal with it rather than expecting others to provide a Janet and John for you.
A different Anonymous.
@7. It's the contractual obligation comment by renowned political thinker and back seat of the bus mutterer Alan Clifford, he who once claimed that the Great British Bake Off was part of 'their' effort to keep us all subdued, man. Just be glad he didn't blame it all on 'cockney spiv barrow boys', whatever that means.
Every now and again he'll start a comment with "I couldn't care less about X BUT..." And then launch into his standard rant. I love those.
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