Bush goes to Bitburg

I am sure that every American who goes to Poland probably goes to Auschwitz. Few Americans can probably name another site that is worth visiting in Poland (beyond the city names.) I should not be surprised that Bush would go there to. But, like everything else he does, Bush is using the visit to gain legitimacy for his policies. "I would not let this happen," is the subtext of his visit.

Why should I complain? Bush was engaged in a congratulatory visit to Poland in order to thank that nation for sending troops into Iraq. As I said in early posts, Poland was not one of the nations of the coalition that was looking for a handout (even France promised more should WMD be put into use.) What I find insensitive is that Bush's visit coincides with a major emerging debate as to the role of Poles in the Holocaust. Poles have portrayed themselves as victims. Yes, Poles who resisted were executed by the Nazis. But Poles were not the victims of the Holocaust that they claim. Their insensitivity has been symbolized by the errection of crucifixes in Auschwitz; Jews cannot pray in the presence of "idols", meaning that they cannot properly memorialize their relatives who died at Auschwitz. However, Polish involvement in the Holocaust was deep. Like Germans, Poles profitted from the disposesion of Jews. When they returned from the camps, the Jews were attacked by Poles in pogroms. This was the major cause of the exodus from Europe to Palestine. Furthermore, Poles were repsonsible for violence against Jews ON THEIR OWN. A recent book, Neighbors, explores how a Polish town, of its own volition, attacked and murdered its Jews.

Polish history is rife with this kind of denial. This book is causing a major stir as older generations have been unwilling to confront their complicity.

Bush, on the other hand, ought to learn the lessons of the Holocaust first before he uses it to gain moral authority. The cry "never again" has no clear cut meaning, but Bush would not be willing to accept its most general meanings: an ongoing examination of racial issues as a means of achieving civil justice; examination of how democratic institutions are perverted throught overbearring executive authority; how the right of all humans (including foreigners, even those who are criminals) must be respect and protected.