tagged w/ World War II
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has issued a posthumous apology for the "appalling" treatment of Alan Turing, the British code-breaker who was chemically castrated for being gay.
The apology came after more than 30,000 people signed an online petition on the UK Government Web site calling for the government to recognize the "tragic consequences of prejudice that ended this man's life and career."
Turing was just 41 years old when he committed suicide, two years after undergoing a court-ordered chemical castration. He had been found guilty of gross indecency for having a homosexual relationship. The punishment in 1952 was either a prison sentence or chemical castration. Turing chose the latter.
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More at link.LONDON, England (CNN) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has issued a posthumous... more
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Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox join forces with bloggers, comedians, students and citizen critics to review "Inglourious Basterds."
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show: http://rottentomatoesshow.com
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesBrett Erlich and Ellen Fox join forces with bloggers, comedians, students and citizen... more
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The Ill-Fated Pact
Bartosz T. Wieliński
2009-08-21
The German and Soviet invasion of Poland was a prelude to a destructive war and the communist enslavement of eastern Europe, 140 German intellectuals write in a declaration.
'We thus respond to those in Russia who are trying to defend Stalin. They don't seem to be living in the 21st century,' says CSU deputy Hartmut Koschyk, one of the declaration's signatories.
The declaration is an appeal to Europe to not forget, while celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain, the circumstances in which the continent was originally divided seventy years ago.
'We are aware, and this is a painful awareness, that without the German-started World War II neither the communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe nor the division of Europe and Germany would have happened,' write the German intellectuals. Rather than identifying 1 September 1939 - the day of the German invasion of Poland - as the beginning of the tragedy, they point at 23 August 1939, when the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact was signed in Moscow. In it, the Third Reich and the Soviet Union divided Central Europe between themselves. 'It was an ill-fated pact,' reads the declaration.
The declaration was initiated by Marianne Birthler, head of the Stasi Records Authority and the Foundation for Research into the DDR Dictatorship, and former DDR dissident, Wolfgang Templin. It was signed by nearly 140 persons, including, among others, ex-president of the Bundestag, Prof Rita Süssmuth, the first head of the Stasi Records Authority, Joachim Gauck, historians Arnulf Baring, Dieter Bingen and Heirinch Winkler, journalists and politicians.
The declaration is unprecedented. To avoid being accused of historical revisionism - diminishing German responsibility for WWII - Germans seldom speak about Russia's responsibility for the war. Politicians usually steer well clear of the subject in order not to damage relations with Moscow. Yet the declaration leaves no doubt about what communism meant for eastern Europe.
'In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and part of Germany, all weakened by the war and Nazi rule, the Soviet Union introduced a new regime. That had disastrous consequences for society, the economy and culture, as well as for the masses of people who were persecuted or lost their lives because they stood in the communists' way,' reads the declaration.
Markus Meckel (SPD), one of the signatories, assures Gazeta that no one wants to whitewash Nazi Germany. 'But we need to remember that there was another totalitarianism which also committed crimes and left scars on central Europe's collective memory. People in the West have to finally acknowledge this,' says Mr Meckel.
Moreover, the German declaration comes at a time when a group of Russian historians, acting on the Kremlin's orders, is trying to defend the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact. They are arguing that Stalin wanted to buy himself time to prepare for the war against Germany, that he was forced to sign the pact by the inflexible position of Poland which didn't want an alliance with Russia. Some have gone as far as to suggest that it is Poland that bears responsibility for the wear because it refused to meet Hitler's 'moderate' demands and surrender the 'Gdańsk corridor.'
Mr Meckel adds that the declaration is also an appeal to Russia to start an honest debate about the past. 'They should finally confront the vision of history of the Poles or the Balts,' says the SPD deputy. The signatories Gazeta has talked to hope that chancellor Angela Merkel speaks in a similar tone during the 1 September celebrations on Westerplatte, Gdańsk.
The German declaration is also a homage to the democratic opposition in Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. 'We will never forget that it was especially the Poles who, fighting for our freedom and theirs, dealt the first blows to the communist regime,' reads the declaration.The Ill-Fated Pact
Bartosz T. Wieliński
2009-08-21
The German and Soviet... more
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Japan and Russia have never signed a peace treaty over World War II. The reason for this is that there is a dispute over four islands off Hokkaido that were occupied by Soviet forces that were once in Japanese hands. A 1956 Japanese-Soviet joint declaration signed in Moscow stated that Shikotan island and the Habomai islets would be returned to Japan after a peace treaty was concluded between Japan and the Soviet Union.Japan and Russia have never signed a peace treaty over World War II. The reason for... more
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Here is a performance by sand artist Kseniya Simonova in Ukraine's Got Talent. Incredibly, it's an eight-minute piece (performed to music) that recreates the conquest of Ukraine by Germany in World War II, and it's both beautiful and moving. I know, that sounds like a premise for a Monty Python skit, but just go watch it and you'll understand.Here is a performance by sand artist Kseniya Simonova in Ukraine's Got Talent.... more
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Okay, I'm no film critic, I just love movies. I mean, I really love movies. I could live in my own private film festival (and have for specific stretches of time). I'll see anything from an arthouse indie specialty film to the tentpole CG blitzkreig popcorn movie event, and I'll enjoy it. Even if it's not perfect. But when I feel the hand of a master filmmaker in every nuance, I enjoy it even more.
This weekend, thanks to a lovely and talented thespian friend of mine, I got to see an advance screening of Quentin Tarantino's INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. I was eager to go, since I'm a fan of his work and - I'll admit it - I was intrigued by the mixed reviews he got in Cannes. But within the first few seconds I felt the unmistakable deft skills of a master filmmaker. And that was something that continued throughout the entire movie. Every spot-on performance, every gorgeous shot, every moment telling a story (and the story-within-the-story). In its essence, this film is made by someone who loves movies for other people who love movies.
And it seems like only yesterday Quentin broke out as a writer with TRUE ROMANCE, or announced his presence on the director scene with RESERVOIR DOGS, or won an Oscar for PULP FICTION. Okay, he's no newbie, but still, his craft feels ripe now. It's pretty cool actually. And it's nice we have a real American Auteur in our times!
So forget the haters and run out to get some cinema when Inglourious Basterds comes out.Okay, I'm no film critic, I just love movies. I mean, I really love movies. I... more
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“Shadowplay” is a multi-award winning animated stop-motion short film, which was written, animated and directed by Dan Blank. The film was the winner of the 2002 Los Angeles Film Festival Best Short Award, the 2002 Student Academy Award (Bronze) and the 2003 Student Emmy Award (Gold).
In August 1945, the closing chapter of World War II, a blinding flash lit the sky over Hiroshima. In that searing light, huge slabs of concrete worked like emulsion paper, creating silhouetted photographs of that split-second of power, with only shadows left of the people who had been going about their everyday lives. “Shadowplay” tells the story of Akio, a shadow of a young boy, who wanders around the devastated city searching for his family, while trying to make sense of the unfathomable atrocity.
We should be reminded of these images when there is talk of nuclear threats or weapons of mass destruction. The faceless poses of Hiroshma should make us realize that this could have been anyone, anywhere.
This piece presents a number of colorful illustrations from the film and the acclaimed animated short, “Shadowplay.”“Shadowplay” is a multi-award winning animated stop-motion short film,... more
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Logic dictates that more than 60 years after the conclusion of World War II, after tribunals and investigations of all sorts, we pretty much know all the gory details Hitler and his henchmen envisioned and inflicted on the human race.
But that sadly is not true. It’s not true at all. National Geographic Channel’s Hitler’s Hidden Holocaust uncovers still more atrocities – atrocities of vast proportions that until now have remained almost totally unknown outside of the areas in Eastern Europe in which they occurred.
By its very nature, any documentary about the Holocaust is grim. But few are as gut-wrenchingly horrific as this one.Logic dictates that more than 60 years after the conclusion of World War II, after... more
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writa
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"Battlefield 1943 captures not only the nostalgia many of us feel when we think of Battlefield games, but also manages to include solid gameplay with attention to the platforms the game is shipping on. The game itself can be found on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade for $15 or 1200 Microsoft Points. The price point is good for those of us looking for a solid Battlefield game on the consoles, or anyone interested in a multiplayer shooter this summer.""Battlefield 1943 captures not only the nostalgia many of us feel when we think... more
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Babble
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I've often had mixed thoughts of how I would feel if I were held responsible for such a monumental task. Apparently Charles Albury wasn't bothered at all. His defense was that he was just following orders and saving American lives.I've often had mixed thoughts of how I would feel if I were held responsible for... more
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Churchill gives a dazzling rendition of his 1941 proclamation, aided by wayward time travelers.
mp3 for "Lift Up Your Hearts" available here:
http://thegregorybrothers.com/
New facebook page, with sound files and goodies:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael...
Original Churchill speech:Churchill gives a dazzling rendition of his 1941 proclamation, aided by wayward time... more
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Israel will not cooperate, UN to investigate in Gaza War
Israel will not cooperate, UN to investigate in Gaza War
Israel said that it will not cooperate with the UN inquiry panel to investigate violations of international humanitarian law during the Israeli military invasion on Gaza that ended on Jan. 18.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak made the remarks to reporters after meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters.
Barak said that the panel, led by South African prosecutor Richard Goldstone, "I don't think Israel has to or will cooperate with this investigation," he added.
Yigal Palmor, Israel's foreign ministry spokesman, told The Associated Press news agency:
Israel had no plans to co-operate with the investigation.
UN investigatorsIsrael will not cooperate, UN to investigate in Gaza War
Israel will not... more
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War Is Sin
By Chris Hedges
War exposes the lies we tell ourselves about ourselves. It rips open the hypocrisy of our religions and secular institutions. Those who return from war have learned something which is often incomprehensible to those who have stayed home. We are not a virtuous nation.War Is Sin
By Chris Hedges
War exposes the lies we tell ourselves about... more
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Federal agents carrying John Demjanjuk in a wheelchair put him on a small jet Monday to be deported to Germany, where the retired autoworker is accused of being a Nazi death camp guard in World War II.
Demjanjuk, 89, arrived in an ambulance at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport after spending several hours with U.S. immigration officials at a downtown federal building. Airport commissioner Khalid Bahhur confirmed Demjanjuk was on the plane and that its destination is Germany.
The deportation came four days after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider Demjanjuk's request to block deportation and about 3 1/2 years after he was last ordered deported.Federal agents carrying John Demjanjuk in a wheelchair put him on a small jet Monday... more
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After being sentenced to death by an Israeli court in 1988, John Demjanjuk faces charges again in Germany—64 years after WWII ended in Europe.
He's been living in the United States since 1952. His citizenship was revoked in 2002 for failing to disclose his role as a Nazi prison guard. In March 2009 Germany finally issued an arrest warrant, and it's only a matter of time before he stands trial.
Isn't it safe to say he's escaped justice by now? It's taken way too long for the world to put this guy behind bars. Let him die in peace.After being sentenced to death by an Israeli court in 1988, John Demjanjuk faces... more
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Deir Yassin Remembered
Dear brothers and sisters
Yesterday we remembered Deir Yassin massacre
Early in the morning of April 9, 1948, commandos of the Irgun (headed by Menachem Begin) and the Stern Gang attacked Deir Yassin, a village with about 750 Palestinian residents. The village lay outside of the area to be assigned by the United Nations to the Jewish State; it had a peaceful reputation. But it was located on high ground in the corridor between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Deir Yassin was slated for occupation under Plan Dalet and the mainstream Jewish defense force, the Haganah, authorized the irregular terrorist forces of the Irgun and the Stern Gang to perform the takeover. In all over 100 men, women, and children were systematically murdered. Fifty-three orphaned children were literally dumped along the wall of the Old City, where they were found by Miss Hind Husseini and brought behind the American Colony Hotel to her home, which was to become the Dar El-Tifl El-Arabi orphanage.
You can watch few videos here about the people who remember Deir Yassin
Full Story Click Here...Deir Yassin Remembered
Dear brothers and sisters
Yesterday we remembered Deir... more
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A list compiled by the German industrialist Oskar Schindler has been discovered by a researcher at a library in Australia.
Schindler's list helped hundreds of Jewish workers escape death in the Holocaust during World War II.
It was found in research notes which belonged to the Australian author of Schindler's Ark - the basis for the Oscar-winning film, Schindler's List.
The document was found at the New South Wales Library in Sydney.
There are 13 pages of fragile, yellowing paper, upon which are typed the names and nationalities of 801 Jewish people.
They are being described as some of the most powerful documents of the 20th Century.
The list was hurriedly typed on 18 April 1945, in the closing days of World War II, and compiled by Oskar Schindler, a card-carrying Nazi.
Schindler ran a factory in Krakow, Poland, during the war, where he used Jewish labour.
Appalled by the conduct of the Nazis, he sought to persuade officials that his workers were vital to the war effort and should be spared from the death camps.
"It saved 801 men from the gas chambers... It's an incredibly moving piece of history," library co-curator Olwen Pryke said.
This Schindler's list was found sandwiched between research notes and German newspaper clippings gathered by Australian author Thomas Keneally.
Ms Pryke said neither the library nor the book dealer, from whom it bought the six boxes of material in 1996, realised the list was hidden among the documents.
Mr Keneally was handed the list almost 30 years ago in a shop in Los Angeles, by one of the people whom Schindler helped - Leopold Pfefferberg, Jewish worker 173 on the list.
Mr Pfefferberg wanted the novelist to write Schindler's story.A list compiled by the German industrialist Oskar Schindler has been discovered by a... more
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President Obama showcased his ignorance of world political history at the G-20 summit in London recently when he made a crack at his political predecessors’ penchant for back-room brandy sessions:
"Well, if there’s just Roosevelt and Churchill sitting in a room with a brandy, that’s an easier negotiation. But that’s not the world we live in, and it shouldn’t be the world that we live in."
I realize that every generation likes to think of itself as unique and facing problems their ancestors did not. It’s the easiest way to excuse failure. No one will blame a world leader for poorly handling a challenge that the world has never seen.President Obama showcased his ignorance of world political history at the G-20 summit... more
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Martin Miller at Photography Served gives us a look at some historic weapons of mass destruction under an artistic light as these striking black and white photographs transform some of last century’s most horrifying weapons into beautiful works of art.Martin Miller at Photography Served gives us a look at some historic weapons of mass... more
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"In occupied Paris, a Gestapo officer who had barged his way into Picasso's apartment pointed at a photo of the mural, Guernica, asking: "Did you do that?"
"No," Picasso replied, "you did", his wit fizzing with the anger that animates the piece.
Work started weeks after German bombers had unleashed an early dose of Blitzkreig on the Basque town from which the work takes its name. It was first shown at the world fair in Paris, supposedly a showcase for scientific progress, but the deaths of hundreds of civilians in a small Spanish town proved technology's darker side. As in Picasso's cubist days, there are symbols and broken shapes aplenty, but with Guernica there is no need to decipher. The message is stark, with immediate impact. In black and white, the piece has the urgency of a newspaper photo. Flailing bulls and horses show that the visceral horrors of war are not just an affront to human civilisation, but to life. With the help of Stepney trade unionists, keen to raise awareness of Spain's civil war,
in 1939 Guernica came to Whitechapel art gallery. Next week the gallery reopens after an overhaul, and a full-size tapestry copy will form part of an installation by artist Goshka Macuga. It is borrowed from the UN, where it normally hangs outside the security council chamber. When Colin Powell was setting out the American case for war against Iraq in 2003, it was decided it would be "appropriate" to cover it up, a tale that offers a powerful rejoinder to Wildean quips about all art being perfectly useless.""In occupied Paris, a Gestapo officer who had barged his way into Picasso's... more
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