Photoessay #2880 - Anti-semitism/Antisemitism

Turns out that there's a political correctness in these spellings.

My professor insists that this word, which is discrimination, prejudice and hatred of Jews, should be spelled without the hyphen.  Because there is no such thing as 'semitism' thus there can't be a thing as
"anti-semitism."  It must stand by itself -- antisemitism--

One of our readings took on the question of whether the Allies could have done something about the death camps.  Specifically, the author made a strong case that it was not feasible for the Allies to bomb Auschwitz or even the train tracks leading to it.  For those who haven't thought it through, it might seem that ti would be inhumane to bomb a facility with prisoners.  But disabling the gas chambers/crematoria would be welcomed even by those at Auschwitz.

I am sensitive to the fact that Auschwitz is taken as the symbol and the placeholder of the murder of the Jews by the Nazis.  Most Jews who lost their lives did not die at Auschwitz.  It was a death camp, yes, but also an elaborate industrial slave labor camp.  So, if you can get yourself past Auschwtiz/Birkenau and think that you're done learning about what happened, nope you're not done.

In the lecture, Professor Naar cautioned that speculating about what potentially could have been done approaches the realm of science fiction.  Then he told us what he really thought.

The Allies only defense that they followed consistently that their decisions would be based on defeating the Axis and ending the war.

He pointed out that four separate bombing raids on Auschwitz between August and December 1944 dropped thousands of bombs.  On the IG Farben facility and other industrial targets.  Nothing, nothing at all on the on the gas chambers or crematoria.  Zero.  Not their concern, apparently.  He points out that 1/3 of all people killed in the death camp at Auschwitz died after those raids.

And they knew.  Churchill, US officials made statements condemning the murder of the Jews but they consistently said they would hold those responsible after the war.  Not a thing about stopping it then.

You can't change what happened.

Picture of aerial view that the Allies had of Auschwitz.