Grand Valley Review

Volume 23 | Issue 1 Article 25

2001 Facing Cyberhistory and Ourselves Rob Franciosi Grand Valley State University

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Recommended Citation Franciosi, Rob (2001) "Facing Cyberhistory and Ourselves," Grand Valley Review: Vol. 23: Iss. 1, Article 25. Available at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gvr/vol23/iss1/25

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Grand Valley Review by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. by Rob Franciosi

simple of search{ away from odd, o Facing Cyberhistory and Internet continues the research sour' Holocaust "revisic Ourselves sue for teachers v

Encountering the Holocaust on the World Wide Web magine you an I the Grand Rapic just studied The [ Prologue Elie Wiesel's Nigr I delivered the following talk in February 1998 exhibition on th{ as part of a symposium hosted by the Grand Rap­ building. And be< ids Public Museum, "Social Injustice-Berlin 1936 tegrate on-line res to Grand Rapids 1998." Held in conjunction with also assign your cl the first traveling exhibition sponsored by the to research topics United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, "The of the World Wic Nazi Olympics, Berlin 1936," the meeting brought opportunities for together a range of educators and community and citizens. In activists to discuss the lessons which Nazi Ger­ cyberspace -the 1 many and the Holocaust still hold for us. Guttenberg in th{ At the time, just three years ago, the wonders knowledge. of the World Wide Web were first being loudly Students are a: proclaimed across the media, particularly for stu­ sample various w dents and teachers. Because my writing on the and then to prin1 Rob Franciosi is Associate Holocaust considers its "Americanization," the from one of them Professor of English. way our culture has engaged this history, almost The results are as soon as Mosaic (the first real browser) was their way to th{ available, I explored what the Web had to offer. Museum's resoui I still recall one my first searches using "Alta devoted to Anne . Vista": after typing "Nazi," I was sent to a site student even fom which not only celebrated Hitler's "achieve­ testimonies by H ments," but also argued that, lamentably, killing you read the follc six million Jews had not been one of them. Using "The Holocau "Holocaust," then, as my key term, I soon came glance through th upon a host of pages devoted to elaborate deni­ the following stat als of the event's very truth; indeed, I was just as Revisionist sch< likely to get hits from neo-Nazi and Holocaust siderable evide1 "revisionist" sites as from legitimate historical German progran ones. And many of the former seemed quite vi­ that numerous < sually sophisticated. chambers" are 1 Fortunately, better search engines today make six millionJewis it far less likely to be unexpectedly plunged into sible exaggeratic the world of Holocaust denial, at least when us­ Your school's ing the most popular tools. Yet all of us who presentation to fa regularly travel the Web know that even the most sites, in which she Rob Franciosi

simple of searches is often only a click or two sorship as an indication of reli­ away from odd, often disturbing content. As the ability-.edu for educational or Internet continues to grow, becoming for students research material,.gov for gov­ the research source of first resort, the matter of ernment resources, .com for a Holocaust "revisionism" remains a persistent is­ commercial site. You quickly sue for teachers who engage this history. look at the name of this one: "Student Revisionists' Resource Wide Web magine you are a teacher of ninth-graders in Site," and then the web address, I the Grand Rapids public schools. Your class has "www.wsu.edu," or Washing­ just studied The Diary of Anne Frank, or perhaps ton State University. Elie Wiesel's Night; they have been through the in February 1998 exhibition on the Nazi Olympics in this very he opportunities the Web by the Grand Rap­ building. And because your school strives to in­ T poses for those who wish to lStice-Berlin 1936 tegrate on-line resources into its curriculum, you learn about the Holocaust are n conjunction with also assign your class to use the World Wide Web indeed impressive, as I shall in­ sponsored by the to research topics on the Holocaust. The growth dicate, but just as my rial Museum, "The of the World Wide Web presents new learning hypothetical teacher must face te meeting brought opportunities for scholars, teachers, students, cyberspace's black holes, so too s and community and citizens. Indeed, some have declared must even the most casual of s which Nazi Ger­ cyberspace -the most important change since surfers. Search the word "Ho­ hold for us. Guttenberg in the way we acquire and process locaust" or "Nazism" and you :; ago, the wonders knowledge. will no doubt find much valu­ js3 ~ first being loudly Students are asked to use search engines, to able information. Unfortunately, )articularly for stu­ sample various web sites, to evaluate those sites, you are just as likely to encoun­ my writing on the and then to print an interesting article or two ter a shadow world of Holocaust ericanization," the from one of them. denial, appropriation, and mis­ this history, almost The results are impressive: many have found information, of anti-Semitism, real browser) was their way to the U. S. Holocaust Memorial racism, of apocalyptic fantasy. ~Web had to offer. Museum's resources, others have located sites To boldly go into cyberspace is Lrches using "Alta devoted to Anne Frank herself, one enterprising not without its dangers, espe­ was sent to a site student even found an on-line archive of video cially for the young or the Hitler's "achieve­ testimonies by Holocaust survivors. And then uninformed. And that more and lamentably, killing you read the following title: more students from elementary one of them. Using "The Holocaust: Let's Hear Both Sides," a school to college are relying on term, I soon came glance through the first two paragraphs yielding it as their primary research l to elaborate deni- the following statement: source should give us all pause. 1deed, I was just as Revisionist scholars have ... presented con­ First the good news. With a razi and Holocaust siderable evidence to show that there was no little guidance, one can easily ~gitimate historical German program to exterminate Europe's Jews, access materials that would have ~r seemed quite vi- that numerous claims of mass killings in "gas been unimaginable even five chambers" are false, and that the estimate of years ago. Take the exhibition ~ngines today make six million Jewish wartime dead is an irrespon­ which is located on this floor. I :tedly plunged into sible exaggeration. visited it long before it got to at least when us- 1, Your school's librarian had already done a Grand Rapids, not by traveling Yet all of us who presentation to faculty on how to evaluate web to Washington's Holocaust Mu­ v that even the most sites, in which she particularly emphasized span- seum (though I've done that), Rob Franciosi

but via the Internet connection in my office. Much ment," with "lin of the printed text and many of the photographs pressly referred were available to me. I could even print them. you can search i The Holocaust Memorial Museum's site is per­ evidence from haps the standard by which such web pages record. should be measured, not only for the range of Then there's materials it contains-everything from teacher's U.S. Holocaust l\1 guides to transcripts of recent public lectures held "revisionism" be at the museum-but for its authoritativeness. tion and on itE There are others, however, without the fund­ confronts, and a ing or imprimatur of the museum which provide deniers. information far beyond anything you will find And there is < at USHMM.org. The Cybrary of the Holocaust, as they are not li for example, presents an impressive array of sub­ anytime soon. C< jects and links, as does a site maintained by ined ninth-grac Professor Alan Filreis, of the University of Penn­ Revisionist Resm sylvania, who created it as a resource for a University. In m< courses he teaches on "Literature of the Holo­ site is typical of caust." Holocaust denie1 Advances in video technology have naturally sources," for exa found a place in sites devoted to the Holocaust. "Institute for !­ The Anne Frank Center site, for example, which Deborah Lipstac is aimed at that public school audience, provides that typify a sell a photo scrapbook of the Frank family and prom­ academic gatheri ises soon a virtual tour of the Secret Annex. of Historical Revi£ Perhaps one of the most impressive Holocaust to the home pag sites on the Web is that of the Fortunoff Video engineering pro: Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. A Yale Uni­ book The Hoax of versity collection of over 3,700 videotaped dard reference in interviews with witnesses and survivors of the The academic Holocaust, the archive offers audio-visual selec­ visionist" effo tions on-line. In some respects, this is only the development, an beginning for the availability of such testimony counter. By locat on the Web, as Steven Spielberg's massive and western Univers well-funded "Survivors of the Shoah Visual His­ authors achieve tory Foundation" which aspires to digitally they have also bE encode "more than 100,000 hours of tape" for the larger issue multimedia use. only further obsc In a medium which tends to overemphasize Yet look benea the visual, though, and is becoming more and ability and you "" more like television, one site deserves particular Just as a person's notice. Yale University's "Avalon Project," pro­ individual, the ou duced by the law school, assembles "digital usually expose tl documents relevant to the fields of Law, History, sider the descript Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Govern- under the "Revisi Islam-Extremely Rob Franciosi

min my office. Much ment," with "links to supporting documents ex­ interests lie with the propagation y of the photographs pressly referred to in the body of the text." Here of the holocaust story." A click tld even print them. you can search the depositions, transcripts, and on the mouse and we enter a [useum' s site is per­ evidence from the complete Nuremberg trial path far more sinister than the ch such web pages record. glowing Information Superhigh­ nly for the range of Then there's the Nizkor Project. Unlike the way our president talks so much thing from teacher's U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which ignores about. Lt public lectures held "revisionism" both within its permanent exhibi­ We learn that "around authoritativeness. tion and on its web site, Nizkor monitors, 1,000,000 Iraquis have been ~r, without the fund­ confronts, and answers the claims of Holocaust killed as a result of the Zionist­ seum which provide deniers. orchestrated "Gulf War" ... y-thing you will find And there is an urgent need to answer them, "because the Jewish ideology, ry of the Holocaust, as they are not likely to disappear from the Web i.e. the Old Testament, the To­ )ressive array of sub­ anytime soon. Consider the site which my imag­ rah, demands a terrible revenge site maintained by ined ninth-grader came upon, the "Student -the total annihilation-of ~ University of Penn­ Revisionist Resources" page at Washington State those who dare to oppose the as a resource for a University. In many respects the material on this plans of the Jews." A section ~rature of the Holo- site is typical of that put forth by mainstream entitled "Quotes" offers a selec­ Holocaust deniers. The links to "Revisionist Re­ tion of "What famous men have ology have naturally sources," for example, inevitably send us to the said about the Jews." The "Re­ :ed to the Holocaust. "Institute for Historical Review," which as visionism" subsection contains , for example, which Deborah Lipstadt notes, engages "in activities links spread over nearly three Iss )1 audience, provides that typify a scholarly institution," sponsoring pages. And for those interested Lnk family and prom­ academic gatherings and publishing the Journal in the truth of the world Zionist £ the Secret Annex. of Historical Review, while another link sends us conspiracy, there is an electronic npressive Holocaust to the home page of Arthur Butz, an electrical text of The Protocols of the Elders the Fortunoff Video engineering professor at Northwestern whose of Zion. Most disturbing, though, monies. A Yale Uni­ book The Hoax of the Twentieth Century is a stan­ is a section entitled "Jewish Rac­ r 3,700 videotaped dard reference in nearly all revisionist arguments. ism towards Blacks," where a md survivors of the The academic patina which covers these "re­ section on "Jews and the Black ·s audio-visual selec­ visionist" efforts is a most disturbing Holocaust" claims that the en­ ects, this is only the development, and perhaps the most difficult to tire Western slave trade was run ty of such testimony counter. By locating their Web pages at North­ by Jews, that Jews owned the ~lberg' s massive and western University or Washington State, these majority of slaves in the Ameri­ he Shoah Visual His­ authors achieve a measure of legitimacy. That can South, that ... well, you get aspires to digitally they have also been able to attach themselves to the idea. ) hours of tape" for the larger issue of free speech on the Internet With each link one gets caught only further obscures their purpose. tight in a web of hatred and is to overemphasize Yet look beneath the mask of scholarly respect­ paranoia, wild exaggerations becoming more and ability and you will soon find the face of hatred. and outright lies. If you have the e deserves particular Just as a person's friends reveal much about that stomach for it, the links will \.val on Project," pro- individual, the outside links on a given Web page eventually take you to such assembles "digital usually expose the agenda of its authors. Con­ places as the "Christian Separat­ elds of Law, History, sider the description of the following link listed ist Church Society," which lists )macy and Govern- under the "Revisionist Resources" menu: "Radio an "Anti-Christ Watch" and Islam-Extremely useful, explains where Zionist asks: "What will it take and how Rob Franciosi

long will it be before white men but which waits out there for unsuspecting trav­ wake up and understand that elers through cyberspace. Holocaust-: they are the targets of genocide and the all-too-true reality of the Epilogue Note: All Web de real 20th century Holocaust?" Recently the sponsors of www.hatewatch.org Or you may land on the" Al­ decided to go off-line. David Goldman, creator The Cybrary of i pha" site which claims the of the site, writes that hate groups have done We have literc fourteen most important words "an extremely poor job of using the Internet to we have helped today are "We Must Secure The increase their membership," that they "have ut­ caust. It is their Existence Of Our Race And A terly failed to gain widespread acceptance" for Web Sites about 1 Future For White Children." their beliefs among American users. For most related informat Traveling through the luna­ Internet travelers, the dark, hate-filled corners the Web: "As tim tic fringe of cyberspace is, in of cyberspace remain on the far periphery. While discussion groups some ways, a tainting experi­ the service that hatewatch.org and other sites ries and to educat ence. Yet whenever I think to have performed has been admirable, their expo­ is stunningly effe dismiss such hatred and insan­ sure of ties between hate groups and Holocaust http: I I remerr ity, a voice within says, "This is denial has done little to stem the electronic flow the way the Jews of Germany of such material. "Holocaust deniers' thousands United States H viewed the Nazis in 1933." How­ of pages of propaganda on the Web," writes one The Holocausi ever much I want to ignore the monitoring group, "presented as academic fact human nature an "Waco Holocaust Memorial or in the guise of free and open 'debate,' take tions or governn Museum Site," I can't forget the particular advantage of many Web users' diffi­ Education at the images of the federal building in culty distinguishing between reputable and Museum has a Oklahoma City, or that Timothy disreputable Web sites." A press release by the doing so, pose sc Me Veigh often read The Spotlight, Anti-Defamation League pointed to the grow­ selves as human a newspaper published by Insti­ ing tendency of German neo-Nazi groups to use use by teachers, tute for Historical Review American sites to host Holocaust denial infor­ http:/ /www.L founder, Willis Carta. And mation (publishing such information is illegal in when I realize that the web of Germany), noting as well the trend of extremist Simon Wiesentl Holocaust denial is so tightly groups in the United States to use Holocaust de­ A comprehens interwoven among American nial as a wedge issue for their larger agendas. text files, and te hate groups, I remind myself of "When Timothy McVeigh bombed the Federal http: I lmotlc the words from the Book of Office building in Oklahoma City in 1995," Rabbi Isaiah which are chiseled into Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Cen­ Yad Vashem the stone at the U.S. Holocaust ter noted in 1999, "there was exactly one hate Yad Vashem's Museum, "You are my wit­ site on the Web. Today there are over 2000." And erations so that t nesses." of course the World Wide Web itself continues Its principal miss1 This symposium, this travel­ to grow at an exponential rate, all during a pe­ Holocaust, collec ing exhibition, and I hope this riod in the United States of unprecedented caust, the colleci paper will remind us that as the economic expansion. How might this new com­ research and edu new millennium dawns we must munications tool be used during a period of http:/ /www.y be ever vigilant against the persistent economic stagnation or even crisis? As "night" which not only con­ our lives become more and more enmeshed in sumed Anne Frank and the Web, it is a question we should all ponder. destroyed Elie Wiesel's family, Rob Franciosi unsuspecting trav- Holocaust-Related Web Sites

Note: All Web descriptions are quoted from the sites themselves. vw .hatewatch.org Goldman, creator The Cybrary of the Holocaust ~roups have done We have literally taught thousands worldwide about the Holocaust. Even better, ing the Internet to we have helped teachers who lack materials and funding for teaching the Holo­ hat they "have ut­ caust. It is their efforts which are so important. This cyte links to over 100 other td acceptance" for Web Sites about the Holocaust, providing guidance through the chaos of Holocaust n users. For most related information. Or as CNET noted when picking this site one of the Best on hate-filled corners the Web: "As time passes, memory can fade. The Cybrary of the Holocaust uses art, ,r periphery. While discussion groups, photos, poems, and a wealth of facts to preserve powerful memo­ rg and other sites ries and to educate scholars and newcomers alike about the Holocaust .... The Cybrary 1irable, their expo- is stunningly effective in its service to memory." (2/26/97) 1ps and Holocaust http: I /remember.org/index.html the electronic flow ieniers' thousands United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Education Resources ~Web," writes one The Holocaust has challenged us to confront some of the darkest aspects of i as academic fact human nature and contemplate the capacity and willingness of a society's institu­ pen 'debate,' take tions or governments to protect the innocent and vulnerable. The Division of Is r Web users' diffi­ Education at the United States Holocaust Memorial 7 ~n reputable and Museum has a twofold mission: to teach the history of the Holocaust and, in ress release by the doing so, pose some of the most difficult questions that can be raised about our­ nted to the grow­ selves as human beings. This website contains a variety of resources designed for '-Jazi groups to use use by teachers, students and all who want to learn about this history. :aust denial infor­ http:/ /www.ushmm.org/education/ mation is illegal in trend of extremist Simon Wiesenthal Center: Museum of Tolerance Multi-Media Learning Center use Holocaust de­ A comprehensive resource on the Holocaust and World War II, with over 3,000 ir larger agendas. text files, and tens of thousands of photos. mbed the Federal http: I I motte. wiesenthal. org I index. htm l :ity in 1995," Rabbi n Wiesenthal Cen­ Yad Vashem ;; exactly one hate Yad Vashem's task is to perpetuate the legacy of the Holocaust to future gen­ re over 2000." And erations so that the world never forgets the horrors and cruelty of the Holocaust. eb itself continues Its principal missions are commemoration and documentation of the events of the e, all during a pe­ Holocaust, collection, examination, and publication of testimonies to the Holo­ ,f unprecedented caust, the collection and memorialization of the names of Holocaust victims, and ght this new com­ research and education. uring a period of http: I /www.yadvashem.org. il l or even crisis? As nore enmeshed in hould all ponder. Rob Franciosi

Anti-Defamation League Committee for 0 Holocaust Denial: An On-Line Guide The aim of thi~ Holocaust denial, which its propagandists misrepresent as "historical revision­ historical event, v ism," has become one of the most important vehicles for contemporary cal events (thus al anti-Semitism. It is the invention of a collection of long-time anti-Semites and stories and war cr apologists for Hitler. monstrosity of th http:/ /www.adl.org/poisoning_web/holocaust_denial.html foundly vulgar, ar their violence and Nizkor Project even recognize it In contrast to our ideological opponents, the Nizkor Project has a completely we're not Jews ('A open and visible agenda. To monitor the falsehoods, half-truths, and misinforma­ were or were not. tion distributed via the Internet and other media by individuals and organizations liberty has the po that are fascist (including Nazi or neo-Nazi), racist, antisemitic, and/or that dis­ intellectual freedc honestly and/ or flagrantly reject established historical fact about the Nazi Holocaust; http: I lwww.e< to refute or otherwise reply to those falsehoods, half-truths, and misinformation, with the aim of ensuring that they and their proponents remain firmly in the mar­ European Found~ gin; to encourage, assist, and engage in such refutation by sponsoring and organizing It is the goal o collaborative research and writing efforts of both amateurs and experts around the cally investigate t world, including but not limited to historians, war-crimes prosecutors, lawyers, limitations impose and witnesses, and/or to distribute such refutation; It is also the F ss[ http: I lwww. nizkor.org discrimination, es1 be done within th1 historical researct It is also the Fa Holocaust Denial Web Sites of the 20th centur the subject gener. Note: All Web descriptions are quoted from the sites themselves. http:/ /www.vt

Arthur R. Butz: Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Institute for His1 Northwestem University, Evanston, Illinois, USA The IHR offers r Birkenau, Treblink as well as inform I am the author of the book The Hoax of the Twentieth Century (1976), a work of Churchill, WWII, F "Holocaust revisionism". This Web site exists for the purpose of expressing views http: I lwww. ih that are outside the purview of my role as an Electrical Engineering faculty mem­ ber. The material will be continually updated and revised, but will always have an Jew Watch emphasis on Holocaust revisionism.A second aim is to present, from time to time, material likely to be appreciated only by advanced students of Holocaust revision­ Keeping a Clos~ ism. Such is the case with my Vergasungskeller note. A third aim is to present news Watch is a Not-For items of particular interest to Holocaust revisionists. http: I /www.je http: I /pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/ -abutz/ Greg Raven's Rev This collectior Greg Raven. Pleas time" project, an Historical Review 1 Rob Franciosi

Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust (Bradley Smithl The aim of this site is to promote intellectual freedom with regard to this one 1istorical revision­ historical event, which in turn will promote intellectual freedom toward all histori­ >r contemporary cal events (thus all other issues). We have chosen to concentrate on the gas chamber anti-Semites and stories and war crimes trials because they are emblematic of the allegedly unique monstrosity of the Germans before and during World War II. We believe it pro­ foundly vulgar, and emasculating, to spend half a century condemning others for their violence and brutality when we have not yet learned to condemn our own, or even recognize it. We want to help civilize Americans. We're not Germans and we're not Jews (well, some of us are) and we are not focused on how naughty they has a completely were or were not. We're focused on American culture, on the American ideal that , and misinforma­ liberty has the power to wash a people clean and that there is no liberty without and organizations intellectual freedom. , and/or that dis­ http: I /www.codoh.com/ he Nazi Holocaust; d misinformation, European Foundation for Free Historical Research firmly in the mar­ ·ing and organizing It is the goal of the Foundation Vrij Historisch Onderzoek, V.H.O., to scientifi­ ~xperts around the cally investigate historical events, particularly those of the 20th century, without ;ecutors, lawyers, limitations imposed by dogmas or axioms. It is also the Foundation's goal to defend human rights and to combat racial I discrimination, especially when it is directed against the German people. This shall Sg be done within the widest possible framework and particularly by means of proper historical research into the events of the 20th century in Europe. It is also the Foundation's goal to correct unjust reporting or accounts of events of the 20th century. It is also the Foundation's goal to further public debate about the subject generally described as 'Holocaust'. http: I lwww. vho.org/index. html

~r Engineering Institute for Historical Review The IHR offers revisionist perspectives about the Holocaust (including Auschwitz, Birkenau, Treblinka, Dachau, Majdanek, Sobibor, Chelmno, and Nazi gas chambers), as well as information about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Pearl Harbor, Winston { (1976), a work of Churchill, WWII, Fred A Leuchter Jr., Stalinism and other topics. f expressing views http: I lwww. ihr.org ·ring faculty mem­ rill always have an Jew Watch rom time to time, Keeping a Close Watch on Jewish Communities & Organizations Worldwide Jew lolocaust revision­ Watch is a Not-For-Profit Library for private study, scholarship, or research. is to present news http:/ /www.jewwatch.com/

Greg Raven's Revisionist Site This collection of files is provided for the enjoyment and edification of all by Greg Raven. Please read the copyright notice. This Web site is my personal "spare time" project, and is not supported, sponsored, or financed by the Institute for Historical Review or any other group or individual. Rob Franciosi

If you are interested in the revisionist viewpoint on history, you've come to the right place. (If not, see the caveat below.) There's lots of information here about Auschwitz, Birkenau, Treblinka, Dachau, Nazi gas chambers, the Holocaust in gen­ Rid in~ eral, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Pearl Harbor, and WWII. "" http:/ /www.corax.org/revisionism/index.html ne of the Revisionism.com O dark, loo1 Revisionists object to the terminology, "The Holocaust," which by implication heart-breakin1 suggests it was unique, monumental, over-arching, perhaps even the central his­ Ethan Coen is : torical event of our century if not epoch. In fact there have been many holocausts ers have in flat: over the centuries, a good portion of them in our own Twentieth century. The Coens are ad' Jewish Holocaust is merely one of them, and not even one of the more vicious "hommage" (J ones. "h": what the From the point of view of the world as a whole it is far from the greatest or most sion), and beh terrible, Hollywood to the contrary notwithstanding. A marked improvement in set of other m both accuracy and objectivity can be achieved if the term "Jewish Holocaust" is contours are d substituted for the term "The Holocaust." prodding this 1 http: I /www.revisionism.com/index2.html derstands beca important, the~ ies-indeed, it go I such a masterp from Dashiell I­ Key) except as and genre dep is the real nam Their favori oldest-the qu familiar Holly and the episod so special is tht acters have to ordinariness­ neyed sentimt banal domestic to the utterly f point here: tht passion drivinl talgia. Some moments com{ ally desirable n din of the mos Arizona, for e" Nicolas Cage ~ baby they havE Frances McDo