Opinion
No mercy for Demjanjuk
Noah Klieger
Published: 30.11.09, 20:08
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. After what they have done they should be pursued by humanity
Eitan ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (11.30.09)
all the way to their graves... and beyond!!! There is no reason on earth to deprive these beings from being brought to justice, anywhere, anyplace!!!
2. I think that many in Israel
Dave   (11.30.09)
would like to solve the "Haredi Problem" by similar means.
3. Demjanjuk & absolution
Christian ,   Sweden   (11.30.09)
Should age and bad health condition absolve a Nazi killer of guilt over his crimes? Certainly not! But this is the wrong question to ask! Instead you should ask if legal proceedings against a person at the age of 89 and in bad health condition does not run the risk of turning the proceedings into a farce and in that way demean the memory of the victims?
4. No mercy for Demjanjuk
Rachel ,   Australia   (11.30.09)
"Should a man suspected of mass murder be forgiven just because he sometimes requires the use of a wheelchair?" - HELL NO! I agree 100% with what Noah Klieger has written. It does not matter that Demjanjuk may have been just 'a guard' during WWII, we all have the G-d given ability to choose between what is right and what is wrong.
5. He was Soviet who worked with Nazis to stay alive
Bloodyscot ,   Dallas, Texas   (12.01.09)
He was prisoner of war in the camp before agreeing to work as guard, he may be alive today because of this. Some Jews agreed to help the Nazis in order to live a few move days or weeks. There is no proof that he killed anyone just that he was a guard for 6 months and it is known that some guards help kill prisoners. He was Ukrainian citizen and POW at the time and the crime happen in Poland so why is he in a German court?
6. #3 He's in good health
Logic ,   Israel   (12.01.09)
An undercover cameraman caught him out on a Sunday morning shopping stroll with his wife after pretending he couldn't get out of bed without help. Obviously, the judge allowed his extradition.
7. To Christian in Sweden
blonde shiksa   (12.01.09)
You raise a good point, but I disagree with you nonetheless. After all, failure to pursue legal proceedings against Demjanjuk because of his age and infirmity would demean the memory of the victims even more. I doubt very much the trial will become a farce. It will be pathetic indeed to see an old man stand trial, but even more pathetic are the deeds he committed. The silenced voices of the victims scream out for justice.
8. Farce it is this the third time they try him
teflon moslem ,   kufa iraq   (12.01.09)
It seem like an obsession with him i donot know i watch his trail while i was in the USA its mockery who ever want to try him want to send message we are there well every body know you are there but arrogance is a double edge sword ayh?
9. To: Christian at No. 3
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.01.09)
I respect and appreciate your thoughts. That said, in answer to your question, I suppose we would have to ask the shades of the innocent men, women and children who were ushered into the gas chamber by this excuse for a human being. Since we cannot very well do that, we must do the best we can to honor their memory -- he at least gets a trial. His victims did not. Putting Demjanjuk on trial -- no matter what is age -- does not demeaning the memory of his victims. It honors them. What greater honor than to announce loudly and proudly that they have not been forgotten?
10. To: No. 5
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.01.09)
German courts do have jurisdiction over war crimes trials for Nazis, no matter where their crimes were committed. Tell me something -- if your life were at stake, would that be enough for you to usher thousands of innocent men, women and children into a gas chamber? Or would you refuse, no matter what the consequences? His United States citizenship is gone for good -- he lied on his application for entry -- being a Nazi or a Nazi collaborator is (and continues to be) an automatic refusal for entry. I also know that thirty-odd years in the United States appear to have changed Demjanjuk. There was plenty of testimony on his behalf from Jews in Cleveland -- the elderly woman whose walk he shoveled after every snowfall; the rabbi who acknowledged that following vandalization of his synagogue with Nazi symbols, Demjanjuk organized a paint crew to remove the offending symbols. Perhaps he has atoned. But he is not on trial for the man he may (or may not) have become; he is on trial for the crimes he committed. There is no statute of limitations on mass murder, sir. No shortage of repentant murderers on death row in Huntsville, either. But that doesn't absolve them of the crimes which they have committed, and for which they are executed, does it?
11. # 2
Israel Forever ,   Israel   (12.01.09)
Not really, sicko.
12. # 5
Birdi ,   Israel   (12.01.09)
Because Jewish survivors of the camps where he was, recognized him. Thats why he is in court today.
13. he was young and stupid.
Jack ,   NY   (12.01.09)
now, he's old. let's forgive him?
14. #9
Galut ,   selah   (12.01.09)
quote : What greater honor than to announce loudly and proudly that they have not been forgotten? ------------------------ What greater honor in my mind would be that of erasing the undertow of hate and bitterness in this world that mulitplies itself thru those that hold it in thier hearts.... those of the holocaust would definatly approve ....as for me and my house my prayer will be to that end....
15. To: No. 13
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.01.09)
Jack, a lot of people have been young and stupid at one or another point in their lives. Not all parlay that stupidity into mass murder. I daresay most do not. Let's not forgive him. Let's find justice for his victims.
16. To: No. 14
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.01.09)
I guess he never ushered any members of your family into the gas chamber. To the extent I have been able to determine, none of my family died in Sobibor, either. But a lot of my family were murdered in other extermination camps. I would want justice for them. I think that those who did lose family and loved ones in Sobibor would want an equal measure of justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. The evils that the Nazis perpetrated should not be swept under the carpet or forgiven. Time does NOT heal all wounds. Nor should it.
17. 16. To: No. 14
Galut ,   Selah   (12.01.09)
no sarah....my families loss was in the Battan death march ....he died of desintary in thier death camp.... I to would like justice...and know if they escape it here ....They will face the eternal judge....with eternal punishment. hate and bitterness hurts the one holding it ...more than the one bitterness is against....for many folks it weakens thier immune systems. as we watch the drama in the mid east much of that conflict is driven by hate and bitterness ...and when there is a lull in the fighting we see hate and bitterness festering and being nurtured underneath on both sides...(the undertow) it is to this that I direct my prayers to the Lord...that it be eliminated from the earth...and Yes that will involve forgiveness..... If and when that is achieved will be certianly approved by those died in the death camps...
18. To: No. 17
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.01.09)
My condolences. The Bataan death march was truly a horrific event. Despicable though it was, it did, however, involve soldiers, not civilians. General Masaharu Homma, who ordered and coordinated the march, was tried for war crimes, convicted and hanged in Manila in 1946. Don't the thousands of innocent civilians pushed into the Sobibor gas chamber by Demjanjuk deserve at least as much justice? I am glad that you find comfort in an eternal judge and an eternal punishment. That tells me that you are not Jewish, as Jews do not. Jews are obligated to find forgiveness from the person they have wronged (done in the week between Rosh Ha'Shana and Yom Kippur). Obviously, a murderer can never find forgiveness because he has taken the life of the only person who can forgive his transgression. (That is also why confession is such an alien concept to Jews -- what right does a third party indifferent have to absolve someone of their wrongdoing?) Anyway -- no one alive has the power to forgive Demjanjuk. He is responsible for their murders -- we must muddle along in this lifetime to find justice for them. I'm not prepared to speak to what the millions of Jews who were massacred in the death camps would or would not approve. I don't think you can claim such a right, either.
19. The ugly gaping mouth is a symbol...
rob ,   Orangevale USA   (12.01.09)
of all the horror during that period of world madness. Usually I sit here and read Sarah's post and think she's off her rocker.(at least). Now, even though I want this murderer tried and executed if found guilty, I see the futility of the 'justice' system. Sarah, I am sorry for the tragedy that's unfolded in your life, and understand how deeply you want revenge. It's ok, I understand revenge. What makes me sick, is that the world is so concerned for this faker and his ugly gaping mouth. True justice would be to fill it with a grenade and pull the pin.
20. To: No. 19
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.01.09)
For the record, I am not "off [my] rocker." I can claim excellent knowledge of Middle Eastern history and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Please do not mistake a passion for truth and for justice with anything else. The lies and half-truths that have been propagated by those in the pro-Arab (oh, let's call it what it is -- anti-Israel and anti-Jewish) camp offend me to my core. I document pretty much everything I have to say. If you read my posts as you claim, you should know that. Anyone can hate with no reason -- that does not take much effort and requires absolutely no intellect. There is also a hatred which arises out of injustice and people's willingness to believe lies and half-truths -- but the hatred is for the injustice and the lies and half-truths. My son was killed in a suicide bombing attack. If I were about hatred, I'd have gone postal long ago.
21. Sarah B
Galut ,   Selah   (12.01.09)
I hope we can share the goal of bringing an end to Hate and Bitterness... as this world could use a restbit from it...I understand that is a tall order in this mixed up world...but I feel is a worthy goal.... :)
22. To: Galut
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.01.09)
Bitterness is alright. It is a form of remembering. The trick is to channel it appropriately. I do agree that the world could use a respite from hate. I wish you well.
23. not guilty
Alios Spear ,   bonn Germany   (12.01.09)
24. Demjanjuk
Marilyn ,   USA   (12.02.09)
Some people's feelings tell them he's guilty, in my case they are telling me that something's wrong. Like for example when I read that OSI got in trouble for "the reckless disregard for the truth" in regards to him. It's like whoa, people should really be stopping to think about this.
25. Demjanjuk is innocent
Justice for All ,   everywhere USA   (12.07.09)
This whole trial is a travesty of Justice. This is nothing but a show trial and a witch hunt of a innocent man. I, as an American Citizen, am appauled that the American Goverment stripped an American citizen and deported him when there is no evidence of what he is accused of. One of the principles that his country was built upon is that a person is innocent until proven guilty. It's more than obvious that our goverment doesn't remember why and on what principles our founding fathers created this once great country. Tine for our goverment to go back to history class.
26. No mercy?
Mike ,   USA   (12.07.09)
No one seems to care if he's guilty or not. No one seems to care that there is no evidence. No one seems to care that certain info was withheld by the OSI on purpose. What if he is completely innocent? This is nothing more than a public lynching. There is no evidence to the contrary. Shame on all of you!
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