Italian newspaper provokes outrage by giving away copies of Adolf Hitler's manifesto Mein Kampf

[hobbits_friend]

Editors of Il Giornale said it was part of efforts to help people understand the Holocaust

An Italian newspaper has provoked outrage by giving away copies of Adolf Hitler’s manifesto Mein Kampf for free.

Il Giornale, a right-wing daily based in Milan, was handing out the book to whoever purchased the newspaper and first instalment of William Shirer

Comments

[hudebnik]

I dunno. I have a hard time with banning any book, no matter how much damage it caused in the past. If you don't understand where the Nazis came from, you won't recognize them when they come back. Seriously, given the emotions triggered by the word "Nazi" today, can you imagine anyone reading Mein Kampf without looking for "what's wrong with it?"

In high school I found a copy of The Blue Book of the John Birch Society at a garage sale for a quarter, picked it up, and read it on alternate days with The Communist Manifesto, to try to figure out what they were both trying to say and how.

I think that's a better approach: read the controversial stuff, and read the opposition to it, and read the history surrounding it, observe the rhetorical tricks on all sides, and decide for yourself. Assuming, of course, that you have some experience in critical reading.

[natyanayaki]

I think that's a better approach too, thank you for sharing.

[eveofrevolution]

[spiritoftherain]

I think I have less of a problem with this than with the other right wing movement denying the Holocaust happened...

[shanrina]

I'm not pro-book banning (and definitely don't think the book should be banned), but unless there's been a huge rash of Holocaust denial in Italy ecently (I'm not as familiar with their politics so maybe there has been?), I'm suspicious of this sudden mission to help Italians understand the Holocaust now. And lbr, some people will probably read it and agree with it.

[natyanayaki]

I don't know if there has been a wave of Holocaust denial, but there has been an increase of antisemitic attacks in Europe (and it has been increasing in the US over the last decade).

[soleiltropiques]

Well said and I agree with you both.

Given the source, it's really suspicious.

[shanrina]

ty, I knew there were increases in France, but I wasn't sure about Italy.

Although if they really want people to "understand" the Holocaust, why not give them The Diary of Anne Frank or one of Elie Wiesel's books?

[tabaqui]

It *is* good to learn, understand, and remember why people did the awful things they did, historically. Banning this book, or any other, isn't a good idea. Not sure why they suddenly felt the need to hand *this* book out, but.....

No banning, please.