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I do find it odd however that the Pope - a former Hitler Youth and German Army Member - would rehabilitate a holocaust denying Bishop who doesn't believe there were gas chambers. That seems odd.
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I comment on it only because yesterday was the 65th anniversary of the Russians liberating Auschwitz. And the holocaust has become a cliche (and launching pad for a host of movies - some good some terrible) more than a memory. But we do kind of need to remember and keep on guard.
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Just in terms of Jews (not to mention much smaller numbers of gypsies, homosexuals and political prisoners) 6,000,000 were gassed to death. How many is that?
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It is like gassing the population of Mankato MN. And then again. And then again. For 180 times!
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It is like gassing the population of Missoula MT 105 times.
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It is like herding together the entire state of Wyoming and killing each and every one of them. Then stacking their bodies like firewood. And then doing it again, 11 more times.
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That is a lot of dead people. And a lot for a Bishop to deny. It is a lot for anyone to deny. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also denies the holocaust - but we think he is a kook and denounce him. Well he is a kook - so we are right there.
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Oh well, like I said, not my table. But if the Pope wants to be known as more than ex-Hitler Youth, this isn't a good way to go about it.