Latest news with #MeinKampf
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congresswoman questions Hegseth about book removals at Naval Academy, other military libraries
Rep. Sarah Elfreth is seeking answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as military libraries face a deadline to remove books and other materials to comply with a Pentagon directive on diversity, equity, and inclusion. In a letter exclusively obtained by The Baltimore Sun, Elfreth, D-Md., writes to Hegseth asking for details from the department on 'targeting books and historical materials that this Administration has ideological disagreements with.' The letter requests more information on a department memorandum, issued earlier this month, that directed military leaders to remove all books focusing on perceived DEI issues by Wednesday. The memo stated that 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission,' according to the AP. Since Hegseth was confirmed as Defense secretary, the department has deleted or removed thousands of historical images, documents, and stories from online archives that contain perceived references to DEI, only for some to be restored after outside complaints. They included an article on the military service of Jackie Robinson — restored after ESPN asked the department about its removal — and images and references to the Enola Gay, the World War II aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The Nimitz Library at the U.S. Naval Academy department removed 381 books in April after Hegseth's office issued directives to evaluate and eliminate works focused on DEI. 'We knew it was bigger than the Naval Academy,' Elfreth told The Sun. 'It's a distraction — of time, energy, resources, capital — towards culture wars and not towards what's actually going to make us ready to defend this country against our adversaries.' The letter lists five questions for the secretary to respond to about the memo. One asks about the formation of the Academic Libraries Committee, the temporary committee that provided a list of search terms for military leaders to target in the book removal. Other questions refer to potential criteria to inform the list of search terms, the department institutions impacted by the memo, the future of the removed books and the costs associated with the removal. More disturbing than the targeting of books, Elfreth's letter states, 'is the lack of explanation, and the contradiction between the books this Administration thinks should be removed and the books that remain, like Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler and The Doctrine of Facism by Benito Mussolini.' Elfreth is a member of the U.S. Armed Services Committee. Seven Armed Services Democrats joined the letter. Hegseth has been weathering a maelstrom of mistakes. It started with the Signalgate incident, when then-National Security Advisor Mike Waltz created a group chat of America's highest-ranking officials to discuss military strikes in the Middle East. Hegseth sent sensitive information about the strikes in the chat, which included a journalist whom Waltz had mistakenly added. Additional reporting revealed another chat used to discuss the strikes. Hegseth included his wife in the second chat, marking another security breach. He also fired top Pentagon staffers, alleging they were leaking to the media, while his chief of staff resigned. 'This is what the media does,' Hegseth said at the time. 'They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. It's not going to work with me, because we're changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters.' He has faced public calls from resignation from his former chief spokesperson, John Ullyot, and Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican. 'In your confirmation hearing, you reiterated the importance of lethality in our fighting forces — how does erasing our history from public display and removing books from military educational institutions serve this goal?' the letter states. 'Time and energy spent attempting to expunge our historical record simply means diverting resources away from critical readiness.' 'Our servicemembers are tested every day physically and mentally, and they have the capacity to critically examine and engage with texts they disagree with,' it continues. _____
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters: Eliminate antisemitism, embrace diversity; Trump's attacks impact Penn State
Trump's dual rampage against antisemitism and DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) is both phony and dangerous. Eliminating antisemitism is only possible if we embrace DEI. DEI represents our country's decades-long effort to create a just and equal society, fulfilling our founding principles, codified in our anti-discrimination civil rights laws. Put simply, DEI is about promoting the fair treatment and full participation of all people in a world increasingly plagued with power imbalances. 'Diversity' — welcoming differences in qualities such as race, age, sex and gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and physical ability. 'Equity' — providing equal opportunity to all (not guaranteeing equal outcome). 'Inclusion' — embracing a culture in which everyone, regardless of social status or identity, can express their ideas and perspectives. Despite efforts to misrepresent DEI, it does not mean lowering standards. DEI confers tangible economic and social benefits. For example, research shows that decision-making and business profits are improved when leadership teams are diverse. Protecting the rights of one group means protecting the rights of all groups. It's not possible to battle antisemitism without also battling racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. Diversity is our country's strength. The administration dishonors America when it scrubs government websites of the accomplishments of women and Black Americans, saluting only white men, and censors books that celebrate diversity (while retaining Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'). If Trump wants to eliminate antisemitism, as claimed, he must be honest about DEI and restore DEI initiatives. Anything else is a sham. Sheri Berenbaum, State College The president and his party have now included the university in their attacks. Remember what the university centrally is. It says on the face of Pattee Library, 'the true university is a collection of books.' The book materially participates in time, but its witness transcends its date and when we enter the book we attain that independence as well. Then our perceptions are ordered to see things for themselves rather than just for us like the animals. The mind so attuned can reflect the whole universe, which is a central aspect of the vocation of man. It is State College's great privilege to have Penn State at its core. John Harris, State College I am writing to support Jennifer Black's candidacy for the State College Area School District board of directors. Few of us probably have given back to the SCASD as much as Jennifer Black has. Year after year Jennifer Black finds time and energy to volunteer for school when help is needed. With her three kids in elementary, middle and high schools Jennifer Black knows our district better than most of us. Having also background of a teacher and a tutor for over 20 years, she deeply understands parents' expectations, students' and teachers' needs, and the responsibilities of the school administration on uniting interests of kids, families and teachers for better learning. Jennifer Black wants to reform the mental health support framework of the SCASD. While many of us think in terms of standard policies and protocols, Jennifer Black has unique, out of the box ideas, that I believe can help kids overcome their social fears in school and among friends. I want to give Jennifer Black a chance to apply her ideas — grassroots and derived from students' perspective — to improve our SCASD for our kids. I will vote for Jennifer Black. You should too. Shushanik Makaryan, Port Matilda Is this really the country we want? Lots of ink and anger (and no small amount of jingoistic silliness) have been spilled over the policies and politics of the Trump era. What is often lost in all this give and take is what all this means for what it is we want this country to be — and who we are as a people. Arguably, a key reason most of us have loved this country despite its many flaws and injustices is that we could generally take solace in having been good neighbors — to one another and the world. We helped each other out, we cared for those in need, we contributed mightily to the world's collective well-being in ways large and small, and we forged alliances and partnerships, imperfectly, though largely in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. This is the true 'soul of America.' Compare this history and spirit to what we are now being asked to accept — that might makes right, that alliances are a waste of time and resources, that empathy is weakness, that only things with economic and political (and often short-term) transactional value are what matter, and that fear, coercion, and power trump cooperation, mutual support and collective well-being. Does anyone really think this what so many have given their lives trying to protect? Does anyone really think this isn't undermining what truly has made us great? Does anyone really believe this is legacy of America we want to leave our kids? Walt Whitmer, Spring Mills
The National
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Inside the extreme far-right plot to infiltrate Reform UK
Extreme far-right party Patriotic Alternative (PA) and Unity News Network (UNN) – one of the most popular sources of information for the far right in the UK, which is run by a Scot – have signed a joint declaration encouraging supporters to support and infiltrate Nigel Farage's party. 'We encourage all of our supporters to become active organisers and members of Reform and seek candidacy to become MP's [sic], mayors, councillors, police commissioners, MSPs, researchers, party staffers,' the document – which was published in both the PA and UNN Telegram groups – reads. READ MORE: Sunday Times Rich List shows it's time for a wealth tax, say Greens 'Our combined support will be able to exert a significant level of influence on the direction of Reform and eventually within the corridors of power in this nation,' the statement went on. (Image: Telegram) Mark Collett, the founder of PA, later clarified the group are not 'directly campaigning' for Reform UK. 'They are not strong enough on issues such as mass immigration and the deportations that would be necessary to prevent the indigenous people of the British Isles from becoming a minority,' he wrote. Collett then suggested, however, that the party can be influenced from within. 'We suggest those who wish to stand as candidates do so covertly under the Reform banner,' he said. (Image: Telegram) 'By existing on the edge of Reform and using our combined power to help change the outcome of elections, we can interact with Reform members and supporters – taking our message to them and pulling the Reform Party in our direction. 'We have seen massive shifts in the Overton Window in recent years, and we have already shifted the political discourse dramatically.' A former leading member of the British National Party (BNP), Collett has repeatedly recommended Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf to his audience, according to advocacy group HOPE not hate, and in 2019 described Hitler as a 'simple, humble painter'. More recently, he has defended keeping Kanye West's new song, Heil Hitler, along with its companion title, WW3, which similarly glorifies Hitler, on music streaming platforms. Once the UK's largest fascist organisation according to anti-racism charity HOPE not hate, PA has since splintered. The group was previously involved in anti-migrant protests in Erskine and unfurled a 'white lives matter' banner at the top of Ben Nevis in 2021. At the heart of its ideology is the 'White Genocide' myth, with the group actively campaigning for the mass deportation of immigrants. READ MORE: Lidl knocked back by Scottish Government amid 15-year battle over store signage UNN, meanwhile, is run by former Scottish Conservative and Labour councillor David Clews. The channel was created in 2018, also with former leader of UKIP's youth wing Carl Pearson. UNN's Facebook page has 105,000 followers and 21,000 subscribers on Telegram, and helped to actively spread misinformation about the far-right riots seen in England and Northern Ireland last year. On Thursday, a few days after posting the declaration, another post from UNN on Telegram said the 'ultimate aim' was to be positioned in order to 'seize control by the early 2030s'. 'Our Strategic Plan has 3 main stages but all are equally important and now in play,' the message reads. 'The ultimate aim is to be positioned in order to seize control by the early 2030s. This isn't a game. This isn't about being 'honourable' and other such weaknesses. This is about the cold, ruthless and calculated accumulation of strength leading to supreme power. 'If not, what's the point?' The message was followed by several antisemitic messages from followers. 'There is no benefit in everything you do without eliminating the Jews and removing them,' said one. The far-right declaration between PA and UNN also claimed that 'thousands' of the group's supporters are already members of Reform UK and 'occupy positions of power' – but argued that more support was needed to exert influence and ensure the party enters into government. A recent investigation by anti-racism charity HOPE Not Hate revealed that seven Reform UK candidates standing in Doncaster in the local elections – six of whom were elected – had previously posted antisemitic conspiracy theories, neo-Nazi material, and extreme anti-Muslim content. One of them, Steve Plater, shared articles from PA, including claims of 'a multicultural and anti-White tyranny'. He also wrote that Muslims 'can't wash off the smell of donkeys' and 'cook over burning camel shit'. Momentum with Reform UK (Image: PA) THE declaration comes swiftly off the heels of Reform UK sweeping to victory across more than half a dozen English councils earlier this month, as Farage said his party had eaten 'Labour for lunch' and 'wiped out' the Conservatives in parts of England. The party took control of seven local councils, winning hundreds of seats across localities from Durham to Kent and toppled a 14,000-strong Labour majority in a parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby – winning by a very slim six votes. Polls have also been suggesting voters across the UK are flocking to the populist far-right party. Last week, three Westminster polls in less than 24 hours gave the party a significant lead over Labour. The leads range from five points to 13, suggesting Reform UK are on track to replace Labour in power at Westminster come the next General Election. It's a prospect that is certainly exciting for extreme far-right groups such as PA and UNN. READ MORE: Almost 50 homes could be built on ex-festival site near BBC HQ in Glasgow But these extreme groups are not all in agreement. The far-right Homeland party has kept quiet while the extreme National Rebirth Party has hit out at the declaration, calling it a 'pitiful display of weakness and self-interest'. Polls suggest Reform UK are also on the rise in Scotland, with the party even beating Scottish Labour to take second place in a by-election in West Dunbartonshire on Friday. Clews took to Telegram to celebrate the result. He said: 'Reform's just a juggernaut now, right? And here's the thing, it's got nothing to do with Reform, it's got nothing to do with Farage, it's got nothing to do with me, it's got nothing to do with Rupert Lowe. It's to do with the British public having had enough. 'They came a close second in Clydebank. Clydebank! Singer factory, unions, Upper Clyde shipbuilders, decades of Labour. I mean that's just incredible.' He added: 'Now, clearly the media are pushing reform, and that has to make us slightly sceptical of it, which I understand, but we need to ride this train.' Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP (above) said this should be a 'clear warning about the danger Reform represents'. 'I know many people are sick of the dominant parties right now, and are looking for an alternative, but I am convinced most voters will reject the hateful extremism of the far right, and the more people who see that's what Reform truly are, the more people will reject them,' he told the Sunday National. 'The country does need change; a change from governments that serve the interests of the super rich while punching down against the most vulnerable, ignoring the environmental crisis, and cutting services and social security. The Greens will stand for the change we need, on our track record of making it happen, while Reform will keep peddling the politics of hate.' A PA spokesperson, meanwhile, said: "Our FAQ posted on our website is very clear. We are not supporting Reform, instead we are campaigning against both Labour and Conservatives in order to allow Reform to break the anti-democratic two-party system and to push the political narrative in a pro-White direction." Reform UK and UNN have been approached for comment.
Local Germany
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Local Germany
How is Germany responding to Kanye West's 'Heil Hitler' single?
US-born rapper Kanye West (who goes simply by 'Ye' since 2021) has managed to hit the headlines once again, stirring up fresh controversy and accusations of rampant antisemitism with the lyrics of his latest track. Ye's new hit single, titled 'WW3', repeats the phrase 'Heil Hitler' over and over again. It also mentions 'rockin' swastikas…' and reading two chapters of Mein Kampf (Hitler's infamous autobiography) ' before I go to sleep'. Railing against the lyrics of the track, the Frankfurter Allgemeine wrote that Ye has 'openly expressed his enthusiasm for National Socialism'. The Jüdische Allgemeine, a weekly newspaper focused on Jewish life in Germany, added that Ye has been at the centre of several scandals for his antisemitic speech previously. Starting at the end of 2022 he had said he admired Hitler and also denied the Holocaust, also a couple weeks ago he wrote on social media, 'I am a Nazi'. 'Banned' content Nazi symbols and speech are strictly prohibited in Germany. Using the phrase 'Heil Hitler' would in most cases be deemed as an act of hate speech. The public display of Nazi symbols or the use of Nazi slogans is a criminal offence in Germany, and can be punished with hefty fines or even imprisonment of up to three years. READ ALSO: FACT CHECK - Are people punished for using Nazi slogans in Germany? What are the rules around showing the 'Nazi salute' in Germany? In one recent case, Björn Höcke, an Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician, was charged for using a known Nazi slogan at a political rally and was fined €13,000 . But though many of its tropes glorifying the Nazis are illegal under German law, enforcing a ban on Kanye's track appears to be next to impossible. Reportedly music streaming platforms like Spotify, Youtube and Soundcloud have tried to block the content due to its antisemitic nature. However, when The Local checked at time of publication the track was still found on Spotify on a device in Germany. Advertisement Also, various clips of the song and its music video have been shared across social media sites, which moderate content to varying degrees and with varying levels of success. Ye's video cannot be directly seen on his X profile from Germany. The rapper had previously been blocked multiple times on X for antisemitic content, but since Elon Musk took over as CEO of the platform he has remained active there. He also recently lost a contract with German company Adidas due to his antisemitic outbursts on social media. Mixed reactions Considering how explicit the lyrics to WW3 are, reactions to the song in online discourses are mixed. As has been the case in many of the scandals Ye has been at the heart of, certain fans can't be convinced that he means exactly what he has said. "You judge the lyrics, but you should enjoy the vibe instead," read one online comment reported by the Jüdische Allgemeine. Advertisement Similarly, a report by t-online noted stark contention between fans with different views – with one fan commenting 'Ye forever, protect us' and another writing 'Wake up, Mister West!' One thing is certain: Ye's success seems to be directly linked to his ability to spark controversy. 'WW3' has already gained millions of streams and moved to the top of 'top 50' charts in several countries including Germany, Israel and the US.
The National
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
A pattern's emerging and it's similar to Germany in the 1930s
Now it's alleged that her book is one of nearly 400 books removed from the prestigious US Naval Academy's Nimitz Library. Why? Just following orders from the US defence secretary to review and remove books promoting diversity, equality and inclusion. But if I wanted to, I could borrow one of their two copies of Mein Kampf. There's a pattern emerging here. In the latest escalation of Donald Trump's war on the judiciary, the FBI arrested a sitting Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan, accusing her of helping a man evade immigration authorities. READ MORE: Labour MPs angered as Keir Starmer ignores calls for change of course Attack the judiciary, take steps to remove and silence the very people meant to consider, interpret, defend and apply the law, then who is safe? There's a pattern emerging here. Two high-profile cases, two people, have become the face of fight back to the picking up and forced removal of thousands from the US. One is the pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student facing deportation Mahmoud Khalil, picked up and detained without an arrest warrant. The other is Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk, with her full legal credentials swept away. If you can remove people from the streets, their homes, without legal due process, who is safe? There's a pattern emerging here and it's similar to Germany in the 1930s. That pattern has carried on with the far right now even smarter with its blitzed-up propaganda. Everything's wrong. Others made it wrong, it's their fault. But 'they and only they' will make it better. Much as I hate acknowledging it, what Trump said pre-election, he did ASAP. So with Trump as a real change factor, not a weak slogan in freebie attire, is it any wonder that the main traction for change here is coming not from the mainstream, but from the far-right? Politicians are dressing up more of the same as change or asking us to rally against Reform as a diversion away from their failure to deliver. I'm just wondering if a square round table bash will cut it. That initiative seemed to depend on a lot of trickledown, from those present, to us on the outside. We can't rely on bogeyman tactics or the other Unionists losing out to Reform in 2026. Even if they do, how will that further Scotland's move to independence? What's on offer? Why vote for independence? Why not offer something revolutionary? Why not have pro-indy parties offering radical change as part of a managed phase, the foundation laying for independent Scotland, such as control over land? Land reform that puts Scotland and its people in control, how it's used, where, by whom and taxed. Or taxing profit before wages. Or control over our energy: creation and supply. At the Waterwise Conference in London in March, it was stated that the country (whose country?) could face insufficient water supplies in 25 years. But fear not since part of the solution was 'cross-country water transfer schemes'. Now I know whose country! It's too cheesy to paraphrase it thus, but having come for the oil, then wind and wave, then when drought hits, they come for the fresh water, what's left? Spain and Portugal have just demonstrated the importance of central power of supplies and infrastructures in the life of a country and its people. Can we afford to have someone else controlling basic energy creation and supplies? I doubt it. That would be unimaginable ... like someone else being in control of all our money through their banks, and not having our own currency and banks. Selma Rahman Edinburgh
