I like to show Ernst as he really is - a simple, genuine and caring man - and not the "Nazi monster" that the beholden media makes him out to be and Canada spends millions trying to "prove" - among many other untrue things, that he is ". . . a security threat to Canada".
Here is Part II of Ernst Zundel's July Power letter, written in a folksy style for his supporters in many different countries, of many nationalities, who have stuck with him - some for decades:
A month later, on July 15, '99, I was returning from an extensive and tiring trip around the USA, about which I will tell you in a minute. I was one car-length away from the Canada Immigration booth at the border when my car phone rang. In Canada it is illegal to talk on the car phone while driving. There is a $500 fine for doing that while the car is moving. I wasn't driving. I stood and waited my turn. I could not resist to answer!
It was Barbara, my attorney, with a not-so-cryptic message. "Ernst," she said. "Judge Evans accepted our arguments. You do not have to pay costs to the Jewish sides or the CHRC."
I stepped on the accelerator! Rolled the window down with a feeling that can't be described! A friendly White immigration officer greeted me cheerfully. He glanced at his computer terminal - there was a fleeting expression of surprise. A crease appeared on his forehead. He looked deep into my eyes. There was a pregnant pause as we gazed at one another. Then came the familiar words:
"Anything to declare?"
I answered truthfully: "Yes." I was tempted to say: "My freedom!" Instead, I said calmly: "Some 100 to 150 year old classics by Goethe and Schiller and some other old books."
There followed a moment's hesitation on his part. Should he pull me over? Hassle me? The computer had revealed who I was; it was written in his face that he knew me. It had happened many times before when some young lout in uniform needed to throw his weight around so he could tell his girl friend at night how he, the big shot, had humiliated and intimidated Ernst Zündel.
This customs officer did not even ask to see my passport! His words were warm and friendly: "All right. Have a safe trip home!"
Wow! Was I relieved!
I pushed in a cassette of German songs which I helped belt out at great gusto as I hit the Canadian highway again! A few minutes later I pulled over into a parking area, rolled the window down, filled my lungs with the Canadian summer air and called back Barbara, that rare woman. Together, for a few minutes, we verbally celebrated on my car phone another milestone victory.
Meeting Germar Rudolf. The adventures of an activist Revisionist.
Now I need to go back a bit and tell you a little more about my trip to the United States this summer.
At the end of June, after the Jewish lawyers had thoroughly tied themselves up in knots of their own making in the Bernie Farber fiasco, I got the go-ahead from my attorneys to leave Canada. Dr. Robert Countess had called me and surprised me a few days earlier - by putting the famous Germar Rudolf on the phone, who was visiting him from Europe.
It had been almost ten years since I saw Germar in Germany. Ingrid Rimland had told me that he would be visiting the IHR and would speak there in a few days.
Because I was nailed down by court cases I could not pre-book a cheap flight. I immediately checked around - the cheapest one I could get would be $2,000 Can., and it would not arrive in California before Rudolf would be on the way back to wherever he lives in exile. What to do?
I had heard of a "cheap airline ticket" Internet service where you can "auction" your own ticket. You name your price and your destination, and they see if they can match it. A comrade located the outfit. We submitted a price - $350 round trip. This compared to the cheapest $1.780 US we could find - with one week's advance booking.
I chose Pittsburgh as a departure airport because I had legal business to take care of there. The friend who did the Internet search for me, when asked for alternate airports, typed in Port Columbus - thinking it was a suburban airport in Pittsburgh. The next morning I called in early, for I had to fly out in less than 24 hours in order to still meet Germar. At 8 a.m. a cheerful voice told me: "Congratulations! We have a ticket for you! You will leave from Columbus, Ohio..."
Boy oh boy! I was speechless for a moment! I knew the ticket was non-refundable. I had no choice! I would have to drive to Ohio!
Thus I found myself soon on the way to distant Columbus, Ohio in my old car. The oil had been checked and topped out, the tank filled to the top. Passport and visa were "in Ordnung" and the car was filled with the usual travel gear - interesting tapes, etc. - and my trusty map. I passed the border without difficulty. The hours passed; I was bright and alert, listening to tapes and thinking about my life, my work, making plans!
I arrived outside Columbus at 4:30 am. I slept a little in the car. Then I parked it and was soon in possession of my electronic Internet ticket! Within a short while I was airborne and asleep! Ain't modern civilization great?! I hope Y2K does not ruin it for long.
I arrived refreshed in California, met by dear friends, and soon sat in the offices of the IHR among familiar faces: Mark Weber, Greg Raven, Germar Rudolf, Russ Granata, Ingrid Rimland. They all were there, each doing their part in our struggle in their own way, and we sat around the great conference table at IHR Headquarters and had ourselves one heck of an interesting, animated and highly unusual conversation. I don't think that there was another conversation even remotely similar, in all of America that day!
We talked about all kinds of things. It was soul-satisfying fellowship. At times, our talk was punctuated by uproarious laughter, good humor, outrageously politically incorrect thoughts and statements - in short, it was fun and very interesting, and also very important and at times profound and serious. I think every participant went away re-invigorated and uplifted, spirits soaring, determined to move forward with our work on many fronts!
That evening, Germar was going to speak in one of the finest hotels I have ever been in. Chandeliers, marble, deep carpets, the works! How different compared to how so many of us work - in cubby holes, among so many boxes that we can barely move, with outdated computer equipment and, in many cases, small children underfoot! This was an elegant setting - and not an ARA punk or a JDL hoodlum in sight!
Mark Weber introduced Germar and, charming and considerate the way only Mark Weber can be, he allowed me to speak for a few minutes to update people on our trials and tribulations with the Canadian Holocaust Enforcer crowd. Many old friends and acquaintances were in the audience. Greg Raven, helpful as always in his unobtrusive efficiency, was there to help me with the video problems. He also manned the extensive book table, with the help of a lovely new lady friend.
The lecture by Germar Rudolf was interesting. He spoke in English, a language he speaks surprisingly well. I was particularly struck by the fact that he not only talked about the dry facts of "Holocaust gas chamber chemistry" but that, instead, he relativized the Holocaust and touched on motives, relationships, explained how and gave reasons why the Holocaust was used the way it was etc.
Germar has matured tremendously in the last 10 years. I believe that if he can remain free, he will play an ever more important role in Revisionist circles, especially in the German language areas of the world.
Based on what I heard that evening, I asked if he would be willing to do an interview the next day about himself and his discoveries, his life in exile etc. He said he would see if it could be arranged.
Russ Granata had invited a whole bunch of Revisionists to his house for a garden party the next day. I asked if I could come early with Ingrid Rimland to meet Germar Rudolf privately. Germar Rudolf consented to an interview, which turned into an intensely, highly interesting affair. All present were soon under this exceptional young scholar's spell. This video will be a classic and milestone in Revisionism.
Soon, other friends arrived. Russ and his lovely German wife made all of them welcome with a warm, typically European-American hospitality. There were many bright people there - from writers to researchers, engineers, musicians, teachers and scholars. Mark Weber's wife, Priscilla, even brought their two very lovely and well-behaved children. I felt privileged to have had a chance to meet all these wonderful people. The food and wine, the punch and surroundings added to the atmosphere. The Granata home sports a beautiful view of the azure blue Pacific Ocean in the distance, a magnificent setting. The Granatas were gracious and unobtrusive hosts. There was no tension or disagreement - only warmth and intellectual fellowship. It was a wonderful afternoon and evening. We hated to leave!
We celebrated the 4th of July with other American friends and fellow Revisionists. As a bonus I met a man of importance to our movement "who made my day" by showing up unexpectedly. All kinds of plans were hatched about how to drive the cause forward. Here, too, the hosts were wonderful and generous people.
I had to go to conduct some more interviews for the Voice of Freedom TV show, and Ingrid Rimland introduced me to some new interview subjects. We spent hours "vetting" one prospect. In the end, we postponed the interview pending some more background checks and research. Then we hit the road again to meet more friends and supporters - all of whom received us with kindness and generosity.
I had hoped to pick up the remainder of books, audio tapes and video tapes of an old German supporter who had died some time ago. It looked for a while as if the wife maybe had had a change of heart, after she had already promised me that I could have these items. We were already on the way back towards Los Angeles when suddenly the car phone rang. The widow said curtly: "Come and get the material; we want to be rid of that stuff; the sooner the better!" I was a little taken aback by the tone and the words because her late husband had poured his heart into Revisionism. However, I promised to turn around immediately. I promptly got off the Freeway, wheeled around and headed north again. A few hours later I retraced my steps, so to speak, the car loaded to the brim with Revisionist books and tapes. Slowly my books destroyed in the arson are being replaced!
Soon it was time to go East. Canada kept calling. I had a business to run. I had more interviews to make in the East. Off I took again - into the wild blue yonder!
I touched down near midnight in Columbus. My old Chrysler had been baking in the sun for the last few weeks. I wondered: would it start? Anxiously I turned the key. A few sputters of protest - and the powerful motor sprang into action, with the air conditioner blowing cold air in my face. Luck again! I paid my stiff parking fee and headed into the night towards Wheeling and Pittsburgh. I drove till I was too tired to go on, pulled over in a rest area among those huge monster trucks, adjusted my car seat - and slept like a baby!
The sun and the birds woke me up. I washed up in the rest area washrooms next to the truckers and drove towards my first interview with a "Revisionist" who believes in the gas chambers - a man called Charles Provan, a father of nine, whom I find very interesting. We taped some good shows.
Next, I went on to meet some schoolteacher friends - a very nice and interesting couple. The next morning I visited yet one more lawyer. Then I went on to see a lady book dealer who overwhelmed me with a generous gift of two boxes of rare, beautiful books by Goethe and Schiller, published in the United States as far back as 1850, printed in German, as well as other treasures! In her home I met some more interesting young Americans, full of vigor and highly intelligent, with a healthy outlook, the grandsons of my book dealer friend. I was moved by the comportment of these young men. Clean-cut, intelligent, industrious - no dope heads, boozers and smokers! What a pleasure that was!
One more time I had to hit the road and head North for my last interview near Syracuse, New York. It took me almost 9 hours, and I was beat when I got there. Still, we sat up for a while and talked.
We did a long and very interesting interview the next day on "Nazism, the Occult and Satanism" - topics which are ever more frequently written about these days and bandied about on Trash TV. That seems to be the next smear strategy to be unleashed on people like Revisionists! We will broadcast these our pre-emptory programs in the fall.
Time was once again running out. I had to go home quickly. Soon, I cruised along the New York Throughway at 70 miles an hour, singing and whistling to my favorite tunes, as I often do when alone in my car. I passed Rochester. Niagara Falls came up. The border loomed large - and as I said at the beginning of this letter, I passed it without a hitch, to be greeted by Judge Evans's "gift" that I would not have to underwrite the tormenting antics of my own Jewish detractors. Two hours later I was home - tired but happy and fulfilled, grateful for all the new experiences and for the warmth and kindnesses extended to me on this trip.
Ingrid Rimland told me that she was moved by the genuine kindness and overwhelming respect shown to me and her in these meetings. I had noticed the same - I am moved by so much admiration. One German Revisionist, a hard-nosed, self-made business man, told me in the presence of his wife and Ingrid that he considered me one of the most courageous Germans of this generation. I blushed until I was cherry red in my face!
I thank each and every one for their help, their support, their love and kindness. I thank all of you, my supporters! I will try to continue to be deserving of your respect and your support. Needless to say, I prefer my present role - in spite of the bombs, fires, jailings and court cases! Without you I would be a simple artist, painting pretty pictures that rich people, many of them Jews, would buy from me, as they did in the 1960's and 1970s. while evil would reign - unopposed!
I am thinking of you!
Ernst Zündel
Thought for the Day:
"Bluebirds like to be together, eagles hang out with eagles, sparrows stick with sparrows, buzzards go with buzzards. They're all birds, but they go with their own."
(Muhammad Ali, boxing champion and Black Muslim)
Back to Table of Contents of the Aug. 1999 ZGrams