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Path: utzoo!watmath!watdaisy!jkpachl
From: jkpachl@watdaisy.UUCP (Jan Pachl)
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Zundel etc.
Message-ID: <7197@watdaisy.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Apr-85 12:18:09 EST
Article-I.D.: watdaisy.7197
Posted: Thu Apr 18 12:18:09 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Apr-85 23:21:22 EST
Distribution: can
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 20

I have read several recent contributions about the Zundel case
in can.politics, and I have noticed the following argument:
     Hitler was openly racist, and when he was ignored, he eventually
     succeeded in carrying out a massive genocide of Jews.
     If we ignore Zundel and co., it will lead to another similar
     tragedy.

Now I am not an expert on the conditions in Germany before WW II,
but the aforementioned argument strikes me as rather simplistic.
If we let parallels of this kind guide us, we will fight yesterday's
battles, which are irrelevant today. Racism was generally acceptable
in Germany (and in other countries, including Canada no doubt) 50 years
ago; it is not today. If racism were as respectable today as it was then,
sending Zundel to prison wouldn't make it less so.

On another topic: In connection with the suggestions relating to
"group libel" laws, will someone please enlighten me about the Canadian
libel/slander law: If my uncle kills your father, and I publicly declare
that my uncle did NOT kill your father, is that a slanderous statement
under the law?