ARTICLE/WEBSITE: Holocaust Curriculum Deniers

[Ryan Goble]

I caught this little blurb in the Chicago Tribune. I love how the tiny sub-title quickly frames the large economic issue that was the catalyst for this irrational behavior. I'm sure this blurb is the tip of the iceberg - it also speaks to the power of word choice, eh?

From news services September 1, 2009

GAZA STRIP: Holocaust lesson rejected: Massacre put to the side as Armenia pursues trade and Turkey courts European Union
YEREVAN, Armenia - GAZA CITY - LONDON - GAZA STRIP

Holocaust lesson rejected:

A Hamas spiritual leader on Monday called teaching Palestinian children about the Nazi murder of 6 million Jews a "war crime," rejecting a suggestion that the U.N. might include the Holocaust in Gaza's school curriculum.

Israeli officials called the comments "obscene" and said they place Hamas in a pariah club of Holocaust deniers that includes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Hamas spiritual leader Younis al-Astal lashed out after hearing that the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, the main U.N. body aiding Palestinian refugees, planned to introduce lessons about the Holocaust to Gaza students.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tc-nw-briefs-0831-09012sep01...

The English webstie for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is - http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html

The have a cool collection of short films/clips at the website you can use to teach with:
http://www.un.org/unrwa/web_videos/index.html

Interesting website...horrific issue.

"Give Peace A Chance?"

[Ashley Cornelison]

This is an issue that is horrible and I do not see it talked about in classrooms very much. This website is very interesting and it can be very useful in a lesson. I watched a few of the videos and was thinking of ways to use them in a lesson that I might teach. I have not thought of a good way to use them(within a lesson) yet but I hope I can.

[Ryan Goble]

Yeah, very tricky issue - the Arab Israeli conflict which bleeds into this Holocaust denial issue.

Lots of additional curricula ideas on the topic at Teaching Tolorance.

See this post.

Also be sure to take a spin at the National Holocaust Museum educator section.