a bit more on Austria(sure smells like this is a part of the cause):
Analysis: Hypocrisy Over Haider: The Brouhaha Over Austria
Rabbi Dr. Morton H. Pomerantz
Monday February 7, 2000
The cries of outrage fill the air.
From European dispatches, we read about the possibility of sanctions and the breaking of diplomatic relations. Warnings have been sent regarding the suspension of European Union membership. What threat to civilization, as we know it, has caused talk of such drastic action?
The new government in Austria will contain members of Joerg Haider's Freedom Party, which won 27% of the vote in a democratic election, the fairness and integrity of which no one has challenged. The Austrian People's Party and the Freedom Party hold 104 of the 183 seats in the Austrian Parliament.
Before we join the merry mob in hurling broken beer bottles at the Austrians, perhaps we should ask some questions.
First, do we respect the results of free elections? After all, in Israel both Communists and semi-seditious Arabs have been seated in the Knesset because the vote totals entitled them to their seats.
Second, how many Brown Shirt goons has Herr Haider enlisted to prance down the streets and terrorize the populace? From all the evidence available, none. Similarly, he has not threatened Jewish people, nor has he described Jews in pejorative terms.
Some ten years ago, Herr Haider praised Hitler's orderly employment policies; he also praised veterans of the Waffen SS, whose membership consisted of Nazi Party members. Stupid and provocative things to do?
Most certainly, but by no means hanging offenses. It is equally true Herr Haider signed a declaration in front of the President of Austria renouncing Austria's Nazi past. Part of the statement signed by Herr Haider reads:
"Austria accepts her responsibility arising out of the tragic history of the 20th century and the horrendous crimes of the national socialist regime ..."
We cannot read Herr Haider's mind, but this hardly sounds like the action of an individual eager to resurrect the Third Reich.
Herr Haider?s program is for free markets, a strong national defense, and an immigration and cultural policy to keep Austria Austrian. This sounds remarkably similar to policies espoused by conservatives in other Western nations.
But the radical left ? and most European nations are controlled by Socialists ? have defined moderate conservative ideas as "far-right.? The far left also has little regard for democracy.
Austria is today a democratic country. (cont)
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