1 in 20 people in the UK apparently don't believe the Holocaust took place.

This was mentioned on the BBC world news channel yesterday, when they basically said that today was Holocaust Memorial Day, 1 in 20 people in the UK don't believe it happened. Then moved on to other news.

I was surprised at the scant coverage. Nor did there seem to be any programmes on the subject on that channel. However, there are several articles about the day on the BBC website, including this:

Holocaust Memorial Day: 'Shocking' levels of denial remain

Five per cent of UK adults do not believe the Holocaust took place and one in 12 believes its scale has been exaggerated, a survey has found.
And some teaching resources: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1rBJxH...morial-day-resources

That there should be so much Holocaust denial in the UK is pretty sickening, though Brexit and the rise in racist incidents should probably make it no surprise.

People - particularly younger - dont know what is real anymore. The net has made the authority of sources relative in a lot of minds. This stat is troubling, but not surprising..

Jo wrote:
1 in 20 people in the UK apparently don't believe the Holocaust took place.

Five per cent of UK adults do not believe the Holocaust took place and one in 12 believes its scale has been exaggerated, a survey has found.



"Holocaust denial" "Belief" As often presented is more like some religions at times in history saying "you believe" and accept our religion or you will die. In modern times some countries when entering -you deny the holocaust publicly so you will be denied entry.

I can even understand non-believers on the surface that fake news, rewritten history, history presented with bias, cover ups, lies and dishonesty everywhere and everyday could lead to a distrust in the accepted history account.

What I would rather see - general education, attitudes, open and sensible free speech all encouraging discussion, openness, honest questioning and where subject is of interest, concern and importance objective research is undertaken and evaluated. So the outcome would be that evidence found supports the accepted version with the legal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. Or the other side no evidence to support the accepted version (Objective assessment of Jimmy Savile stories will show the honest enquirer that what is provided does NOT support the now accepted view. My own findings amounted to the opposite in fact, that Jimmy Savile was an outstanding person in generosity and life, an example. I learnt a lot).

The holocaust does have considerable evidence to support both the events and the 6 million estimate of deaths.

From some research Stalin's attributed murders were greatly exaggerated so his case is evidence that is available under his rule and communism millions suffered and died but not to the previous levels some were advocating. So a more in between case.

David Irving who wrote "Hitler's War" is attributed as a holocaust denier and some of the recent comments he has made appear to support this view of his stance and may be some of what is influencing the "non-believers". Yet so far as I am making my way through his book he has put much evidence from varying sources that highlights the holocaust and other terrible atrocities perpetrated by the nazis and their supporters. In this particular book he is attempting to be true as possible to the original sources. So I find some of his comments contradictory to his stance as in this book. And some comments are good and challenging. The modern approach is destroying truth and openness. Respect and acceptance for others, religion and cultures is a must but it should not destroy openness and dialogue. Facts, honesty, truth dialogue, acceptance and respect have nothing to fear from discussion and opposing views. In other words we may well think someone, some group are bonkers, racist yet if they are respectful, open to dialogue and not inciting racial hatred and so on then open dialogue and sharing of views can lead to possible good solutions to difficulties faced by both sides. This is what I was looking for in the labour party over the antisemitism issue, some good standards and approaches were reached but reactions were way out of proportion and quite destructive. And i so want a party who I can support who will bring positive change. But ITK's assessment seems to date to be proving, very sadly, correct.

It is a positive thing to acknowledge the holocaust and see that we must strive to ensure we ourselves act well towards our fellows and ensure that our leaders also act well to others and not degenerate towards the direction of what happened. That means finding shelter for the homeless, fair trials, income that people can have the basics and the list of things that should happen goes on. Did it happen with the austerity approach "no" definitely a step in the wrong direction.

It hasn't been part of the national curriculum for a long time, so we shouldn't be surprised if some dont know about it, ignore it, or deny it.

honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
It hasn't been part of the national curriculum for a long time, so we shouldn't be surprised if some dont know about it, ignore it, or deny it.
It's really terrible that it isn't taught. Having said that, we weren't taught it at school either and that was years ago. Yes, the ignorance is no surprise, but this is the age of the internet (though I suppose that can work both ways).

That's a very thought-provoking post, wjlmarsh.

it still means about 95% of people still believe the Holocaust happened.

hasidic hedda wrote:
it still means about 95% of people still believe the Holocaust happened.


Not if 95% of people haven't heard of it!

Holocaust: How a US TV series changed Germany

A TV series with Meryl Streep that had Germans calling in to the TV station in tears.

It seems to be on YouTube, found by putting Holocaust 1978 into the search box.

Streep is irrelevant, and we don't need search engines!


The holocaust was the most appalling series - of cruelty, barbarism, torture, violence, paedophilia, brutality, abject dominance, indiscriminate killing and vile unimaginable atrocities.

All happened less than a century ago in the 'EU' - precipitated by the decisions of elected politicians.



Have we changed?



Still existing;the acorns:-


- our indifference to poverty, homelessness, disabilities, immigration

- our propensity to follow our status prompts, historical guidance and upbringing

- our virtual/common hatred of another point of view

- our inability to elect competent politicians/governments

- our reluctance to follow - other than - failed mainstream political parties

- our willingness to replicate the USA, whilst criticising its leader, and strong and unpopular strategies

- our smugness; isn't M&S awful now

- our boring predictability and overriding ideology;overheard on train today: Tuscany again this year, Rob?



Brexit management has shown us up as flawed mediocrities - because that's what we are...