Tuesday, October 25, 2005
So says a poem included in a collection to be distributed in schools across the UK. The poem was one of the winners of a nationwide literary competition. Completely outrageous at first, it's a bit tougher to judge without seeing the collection.
Anti-Semitic poem in children’s school book
The publication, entitled Great Minds, features the work of school children aged 11 to 18 who won a nationwide literary competition.
But one poem has generated outrage amongst Jewish groups, politicians and Holocaust charities for its anti-Semitic content.
The entry by the 14-year-old Gideon Taylor is apparently written from the viewpoint of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
It includes the lines "Jews are here, Jews are there, Jews are almost everywhere, filling up the darkest places, evil looks upon their faces."
Another part reads: "Make them take many paces for being one of the worst races, on their way to a gas chamber, where they will sleep in their manger… I'll be happy Jews have died."...
...Young Writers editor Steve Twelvetree, who also edited the book, said the poem was included as it illustrated how the writer was able to empathise with the infamous Nazi Fuehrer.
Twelvetree told the Telegraph: "From Gideon's poem and my knowledge of the National Curriculum Key Stage 3 his poem shows a good use of technical writing and he has written his poem from the perspective of Adolf Hitler.”
The editor continued: "Key Stage 3 history requires pupils to show knowledge and understanding of events and places - to show historical interpretation and to explain significance of events, people and places, all of which World War II and the Holocaust is part of.
"The poem clearly states 'I am Adolf Hitler' and it recounts a historical fact, something Young Writers and Forward Press are not willing to censor."...
Not willing to censor, but perhaps a little perspective or an explanation in a book intended for youngsters? Perhaps it's not appropriate for such a book at all. Impossible to know without the complete context.
Update: Of course it is fair to wonder if such a thing would be tolerated, regardless of context, directed at any other ethnic group. The article states that this was the only piece published without name, indicating it was probably the only controversial entry. More vicarious living, this time through the words of a child?
I don't get it? The EJP is the only paper that posted this incredible story?
Even al Guardian would be opposed and outraged by this? I mean they do after all love to pat themselves on the back for being "opposed to the right wing fascists and Nazis" from the start?
Did Geras or Samizdata post this?
Powerline, LGF Drudge?
This is disgusting and juicy enough for Drudge to post. He wouldn't damage his his PC Cred's despite being Jewish if he posted this?
I don't know about anyone else. I haven't surfed much of anywhere today. I saw it on some one of the email lists I'm subscribed to.
*British School bans pigs stories*
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2818809.stm
A West Yorkshire head teacher has banned books containing stories about pigs from the classroom in case they offend Muslim children.
The literature has been removed from classes for under-sevens at Park Road Junior Infant and Nursery School in Batley.
Books about pigs will still be in the school library
NO COMMENT NECESSARY BY ME.. BUT A GREAT TIDBIT TO ADD TO YOUR POST.
Charles just posted this and I asked him for a hat tip to you and me in the comments. I posted it a few times there as noted here.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=17997#c0064
Also, see my post on it here with an extra tidbit in the summary.
http://dailyscorecard.blogspot.com/2005/10/murder-of-jews-to-be-praised-in.html
No doubt this kid will be seen as a hero by jihadists who will quote him as clear voice of sense in British young. It is rather bad they would have published something like this cause I am guessing if say a child were to write a story from the perspective of Israeli soldier killing a terrorist they would no doubt not allow it.