The Corona pandemic has been with us for two years now and chances are it is here to stay at least for a while longer. All over the world, governments are trying to cope, trying to keep the spread of the virus under control and limiting the number of sick that need to be cared for in the hospitals, many of which are on the verge of collapse.
The obvious way of course is to put limitations on the population. Limitations on mass gatherings, limitations on theater visits, restaurants, bars, nightclubs etc. And while the discussion about these limitations is never-ending, the majority of the population accepts them and abides by them, out of fear, because of a feeling of social responsibility or simply because they (still) trust their leaders and their governments that they know best. But, like in almost every issue, there is a relatively small group of people who are not willing to be limited in their life and their lifestyle, and they will ignore the rules that have been laid down, and in some cases will organize and take to the streets to protest. Soon they are joined by (mostly minor) politicians and social organizations who mostly see an opportunity and their protests are sometimes loud and very unpleasant.
One particular unpleasant phenomenon that rapidly spread among the Anti Corona protesters, is the use of words and symbols from the Nazi era and to make comparisons between the Corona rules and the holocaust. The Yellow Star of David and the Swastika are used freely and verbal comparisons are made between the Nazi era and the Holocaust and the restrictions because of the Corona. Politicians like Georgia’s member of Congress Marjorie Taylor Greene has on several occasions made unethical comparisons and in general abused Holocaust history. Even Twitter had enough of her and deleted her account.
Why do the Holocaust and the Nazi era, feature so prominent in Corona protests? Even without going into the issue much deeper, it is obvious that the comparison lacks all basis and even is stupid, when you seriously consider what is said. And that does not take into account that many of these protesters, and definitely people like Congress woman Greene, are ignorant and probably know very little about the Second World War or the Holocaust and would not even be able to find Germany on a map of the world.
So what drives these people to use the Holocaust? The answer is simple. The protesters and populist politicians are not saying these things because they mean them or because they even understand what they are saying. But they realize, (or more likely, their press agents) that bringing up the Holocaust or the Nazi past, will invoke the maximum amount of reactions. Radio and TV stations will report immediately that a politician used the Holocaust. A demonstration will not get any coverage unless the participants wear David Stars. Mentioning the Holocaust will get their name on all News broadcasts and their face on all TV news reports. It triggers a response that is not logical and not very understandable.
The Holocaust was one of the most horrific episodes in Human history and the Jewish people suffered under the Nazi regime like no other and it is understandable that today, a Holocaust survivor, who sees on TV a person with a David star, or hears a politician say that the Corona restrictions are like the atrocities committed by the Germans against the Jews, feels hurt and afraid and will relive the most horrific memories that most of us will not even be able to imagine. But no doubt, many will also realize how ridiculous the utterances of these people are and dismiss them for the fools that they are.
Without the noise made by (Jewish) politicians and Organizations, the News organizations would quickly lose interest in these stupid utterances and politicians and demonstrators alike would lose the incentive to make them, or use the Nazi symbols.
The Israeli government claims that it increases Anti-Semitism in the world, but that is not much more than a self-serving political statement, without much basis.
Anti-Semitism is a very serious problem and indications are it is spreading and more incidents are reported every year. It needs to be curtailed with every means possible, and governments have a major role to play in this fight, as well as educators. But today the impression is often given that every event almost may have an Anti-Semitic angle, and the Israeli government and organizations like the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Austria exploit all of them. Making Anti-Semitism an issue in all instances, trivializes it and makes people less interested to hear about it. And taking a dumb politician serious when he calls the Corona restrictions coming from the Nazi-era seriously, trivializes both the Holocaust and Anti-Semitism.
Anti-Semitism must be combatted whenever and wherever it raises its ugly head, but its fighters would be wise to see whose head it is and how big.
The Corona will be here for a while longer, and most of the restrictions are intended to keep ourselves and those surrounding us safe. They may not always be the most logical steps to be taken, also because the developments in the Corona pandemic have been everything but logical so far, but if you feel the need to protest the restrictions, that is your good right (at least in a democratic country). But do it in a respectable way. And at the right moment, you will get the attention your protest deserves.
I hope you found this article interesting and I welcome any comments you may have.
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