The NYT has just reported that Oprah Winfrey, accompanied by Elie Wiesel, is to visit Auschwitz - and also make the author's book "Night" [newly edited by his wife Marion] her next book-of-the-month selection.
Of itself her going to Auschwitz and recommending the book is not of great moment - save that because of Winfrey's enormous following those many ignorant about Auschwitz and the Holocaust will probably be "introduced" to it for the first time. If the book-of the-month recommendation means that people read "Night" then Winfrey has done many a service in learning something not only about history a mere 60-65 years ago but the evils of prejudice, intolerance and man's inhumanity to man simply because of their religion or ethnic background.
Of itself her going to Auschwitz and recommending the book is not of great moment - save that because of Winfrey's enormous following those many ignorant about Auschwitz and the Holocaust will probably be "introduced" to it for the first time. If the book-of the-month recommendation means that people read "Night" then Winfrey has done many a service in learning something not only about history a mere 60-65 years ago but the evils of prejudice, intolerance and man's inhumanity to man simply because of their religion or ethnic background.
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But cast your mind back to the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation and speaker after speaker, including Sharon himself, used the Holocaust to justify Israel and its action. In other words, they all implied, if you question anything we do, you're no better than the Nazis. Indeed, I felt like this when I visited Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.