http://www.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi/people/c/cole.david/images/cole-recants-02.gif THE STATEMENT OF DAVID COLE Prepared January 2, 1998 This statement is given in an attempt to set the record straight about my current views regarding the Holocaust and Holocaust denial. As anyone who follows the subject of Holocaust denial knows, from 1991 until 1994 I was well known in the movement as a Jewish Holocaust denier [a self-described "revisionist"]. For the last three years I have no longer been associated with this movement, having realized that I was wrong and that the path I was taking with my life was self-destructive and hurtful to others. I have spent the last few years in silence on the subject of my time with the denial movement, a silence caused mainly by my shame at what I had done with my life and my desire to distance myself from that life. However, in that shame-induced silence, it has now been brought to my attention that I have not gone as far as I should have to make a clear and complete public statement in order to set the record straight as to where I stand. It is my great hope that this statement accomplishes that task. I would like to state for the record that there is no question in my mind that during the Holocaust of Europe's Jews during World War Two, the Nazis employed gas chambers in an attempt to commit genocide against the Jews. At camps in both Eastern and Western Europe, Jews were murdered in gas chambers which employed such poison gasses as Zyklon B and carbon monoxide (in the Auschwitz camp, for example, the gas chambers used Zyklon B). The evidence for this is overwhelming and unmistakable. The Nazis intended to kill all the Jews of Europe, and the final death toll of this attempted genocide was six million. This atrocity, unique in its scope and breadth, must never be forgotten. During my four years as a denier, I was wracked with self-hate and loathing, a afact that many of my critics were quick to point out. Indeed, this self-hatred was obvious to most, but I was too blind to see it. The hate I had for myself I took out on my people. I was seduced by pseudo-historical nonsense and clever-sounding but empty ideas and catch-phrases. When my eyes were finally opened, thanks to several good, kind friends who had refused to give up on me even when I was at my worst, I was horrified at what I had done. My instinct was to flee and never look back, but I now understand that I owe it to the people I wronged to make a forceful repudiation of my earlier views. I also owe a very large apology, not only to the many people I enraged, and to the friends and family I hurt, but especially to the survivors of the Holocaust, who deserve only our respect and compassion, not re-victimization. http://www.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi/people/c/cole.david/images/cole-recants-03.gif Therefore, to all of the above people, let me offer my most humble and very, very sincere apology. I am sorry for what I did, and I am sorry for the hurt I caused. And just as I must set the record straight concerning my views, it is also incumbent on me to set the record straight regarding the video "documentaries" and media appearances I did from 1991 to 1994. These "documentaries" are merely videotaped garbage filled with self-hatred and pseudo-intellectual nonsense. My "media appearances" were nothing but an embarrassment. My glazed look, specious reasoning, and talking-in-circles during my talk show appearances would have hopefully alerted any astute views that this was a man not in touch with reality. It has been brought to my attention that Bradley Smith is still using one of my videos in advertisements he is running on college campuses. Therefore, I would like to make these additional points: This video is being advertised without my consent, and I denouce this video as being without worth. Bradley Smith is no historian, and denial is no "historical field." Students on college campuses should look elsewhere to find out about the Holocaust. To these students I would say, look to books like Professor Raul Hilberg's "Destruction of the European Jews," Leni Yahil's "The Holocaust," and Lucy Dawidowicz's "The War Against the Jews" for correct information. If your school library doesn't stock these books, have them order copies. Do not pay any attention to any "David Cole" videos, except to rightly denounce them as frauds. I am thankful for being given the opportunity to make this statement. This statement is made freely and under no duress, and is quite willingly, even happily, given to Mr. Irv Rubin of the Jewish Defense League for the widest possible distribution. This statement is the most current and accurate compilation of my views, and it supersedes any previous writings, videos, or statements. It is my hope that there will be no more confusion as to where I stand. I thank you for letting me set the record straight. [/s] David Cole Subscribed and sworn to before me on January 5, 1998. [/Mary Stewart] [Notary seal]
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