The Nizkor Project: Remembering the Holocaust (Shoah)

Shofar FTP Archive File: orgs/american/codoh//university.response/msu.003


Newsgroups: soc.college
Subject: CODOH's paid advertisements: Michigan State (3/4)
Summary: Letters to the editor address CODOH's advertisement regarding
         the Holocaust Memorial museum in Washington, D.C.
Followup-To: alt.revisionism
Distribution: world
Organization: The Old Frog's Almanac
Keywords: CODOH

Archive/File: orgs/american/codoh/university.response msu.003
Last-Modified: 1993/10/24

_The State News_ of Michigan State University
Monday, October 18, 1993


REGARDLESS OF RIGHT, ADVERTISEMENT WAS WRONG
	by Suzette Hackney, editor in cheif

	It's time for me to address an issue of importance to The State News
staff, myself and the MSU community.
	On Friday, The State News ran a paid advertisement titled "A
Revisionist's View of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington
D.C."  The advertisement questioned the validity of the Holocaust that
led to the death of millions of Jewish people.  According to the ad,
there is no proof of gassing of Jews during World War II.
	While the group that purchased the ad, the Committee for Open
Debate on the Holocaust, had the right to do so, readers must realize
what an impact such a hatefilled and hurtful ad can have on a campus
community.  Freedom of speech allowed the group to buy the ad, but
ignorance actually made them write it.
	It is important that State News readers know the ad was not
meant to hurt anyone or cause any divisiveness on campus.  I would
hope that by now, as we all claim to be seeking and receiving a
"higher education," readers would take the ad for what it was: a lie.
There is no denying that the Holocaust occurred, and there is no
denying that it is a painful part of history that will never be
forgotten.  For a group to try to say otherwise is ludicrous and
frightening, but it also makes me feel better to know that those
people are out there.  Personally, I want to know what people are
thinking, even if it hurts me.
	But, we cannot only blame the ignorant people of CODOH because
running the advertisement was ultimately up to The State News retail
department.  It is something we take full responsibility for, and we
apologize for the pain it caused.  Every day we come across decisions
as to what should be printed in the paper.  Every day the decisions
become more difficult to make.  Should the First Amendment give people
the right to hurt others?  Unfortunately, yes, it can.  While freedom
of speech is something we could never sacrifice, it does leave room
for misunderstanding, hurt feelings and ultimately hate.  But would
you rather it didn't exist?  I don't.  
	I want readers to know the difference between a paid
advertisement and editorial content in our paper.  Although the ad did
appear in The State News, it was not The State News staff talking. It
was not an article written by one of our reporters, but something that
we could not change.
	You ask, "Why run it then?"  We ran it because the CODOH had
the right to purchase space in our paper.  
	But in the future, I promise we will take into consideration
more than the rights of the CODOH or other hateful groups.  Instead,
we will think about the right each and every student on this campus
has to be happy and feel accepted.

Followups directed to alt.revisionism


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