It's all in the eyes of the beholder! This teensy-weensy country, Austria, has found itself a media-genic man who, every now and then, at least, seems to be articulating what the citizens of Austria think - and the Lobby, worldwide, goes ballistic.
Just take a look. According to various Jewish websites, Joerg Haider's sins may be condensed and summarized as follows:
Joerg Haider
* . . . praised the Nazi army
* . . . opposed plans to compensate Austrian victims of Hitler's rule
* . . . called a Nazi concentration camp a "punishment camp"
* . . . applauded the "sound employment policies" of the Third Reich
* . . . helped created a hostile environment for Jews.
Therefore, Edgar Bronfman, President of the World Jewish Congress, swung into action and sent a five-page fundraising appeal to a friend of mine - a single woman who has trouble to manage her rent. Billionaire Bronfman told my friend - who, even as we speak, is scouting for some roommates to make ends meet - what to do with her meager resources. Addressing her by name, Mr. Bronfman, easily one of the richest men in Canada and perhaps on the entire continent, speaks to my friend as follows:
(excerpted)
The WJC needs your immediate financial support to:
*** Cut through Joerg Haider's carefully crafted public denials to expose his extremist views and radical national agenda, which pose a serious risk to the Austrian Jewish community;
*** Monitor the volatile situation in Austria and prepare for any potential threat to the security of the Jewish community there;
*** Untertake far-reaching diplomatic efforts that will urge nations to reconsider their relations with Austria, should Joerg Haider become a member of that country's government now or in the future;
*** Lobby international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Parliament to publicly condemn and thereby isolate and neutralize anti-Semitic political leaders in Austria, Switzerland and other countries; and
*** Partner with Jewish communities in Europe to launch a coordinated campaign that will help protect Jews from politically motivated violence and anti-Semitism.
This letter is signed by Edgar M. Bronfman, President.
Then there is also what seems like a xeroxed, personalized "stickie" that says: "Ms. ____ Due to the urgency of the situation in Austria, I'll personally match any contribution you make by March 9, 2000 up to $25,000."
This letter, furthermore, has a PS that tells my friend that "one Jewish shopkeer in Vienna [who] was threatened by a man who warned, "Hitler forgot you, but Haider will clear you away now."
There's more. There is a PPS that says:
"So that you will be extra generous with your gift, I will personally match any contribution you make to the World Jewish Congress at this critical time. That means your gift can literally mean twice as much to ensure the safety of world Jewry. ]
Lest my friend didn't get the message yet, there is a check-off tax-deductible donation slip that says,
YES, EDGAR! You can count on me to help the World Jewish Congress combat Austria's Joerg Haider and new ultra-nationalist political movements threatening Jewish communities across Europe.
(...) The check-off boxes give my friend the following choices to make it easier for her to decide:
$ 36 $50 $54 $100 $500 _______$ (Other)
Now compare this "crisis" in America regarding Austria to the one that's playing out in Portugal:
The whole thing is taking farcical dimensions, and all the political geniuses are starting to notice. The official plans in Portugal are now literally as follows:
1) Two days were scheduled for the reunion in Portugal; day one for working, day two for sightseeing, fun and games and general merrymaking.
2) The Austrians are sending a lady and -- Himmel und Sacrament! --she belongs to Haider, not even to the other guy who looks like a butterfly-hunting professor.
3) Although one will have to work with the fascist delegation and say good morning to the lady, one obviously cannot indulge in any merrymaking with fascists.
4) However one cannot reserve the merrymaking to the decent people and forcibly confine the lady to her hotel quarters, because this is terrible, terrible bad manners (she's a lady after all). Besides, ordinary people are starting to have a ball with all the schemes and the honorable leaders are starting to look pretty much ridiculous.
5) Therefore, it'll be day one only, for working, and no merrymaking at all for anybody, fascist or no fascist. Day two will be abolished.
6) The Portuguese thinking tax-payer (we have a few) is delighted with this and hopes more fascists will come in the future to all the big banquets and festivities, etc.
Believe it or not, the above is exactly accurate, not a caricature. I went for a taxi ride today and I'm practically lifting the good driver's remarks verbatim...
(Courtesy of ASMarques, Cyber Revisionist)
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Thought for the Day:
"Actually, we were planning a week in Austria this summer as part of a 3-week trip to Europe. Haider's rise to power is forcing us to rethink that. We may now spend all 3 weeks in Austria."
(Letter to the Zundelsite)