Dostoyevsky would have raised his eyebrows, if he had had Internet access. These days, criminal acts are broadcast within minutes of their occurence on www and give immediate cause for people to post their own views. If one belongs to the journalistic community, then a cachet of credibility is attached.
Sadly, it seems that the overwhelming content of comment and non-comment means that the average sound-bite consumer has a difficult time in applying necessary discernment. If it appeared, whether in a tabloid or a newspaper of international import, posted on the Net, or disseminated on reading lists, it must have merit. Or so they think.
Let’s approach the issue of hate crimes. Most reasonable people would agree that murder, is a crime that is driven by extreme passion, such as that could define hate. But is it alright to claim, that a captured alleged murderer, who has yet to have had his day in court to have his innocence or guilt determined be accused of commiting anything beyond murder? Hate crime presupposes passionate pre-meditation. Bad things far too often happen to good people. It is a reach, however, to make claims before legal resolution.
Toronto and the expatriate Jewish community was rocked by a murder of an Orthodox businessman, and it was not long before David Rosenzweig’s slaying was being branded from Jerusalem to parts all over capable of being bombarded by ‘net access as being a hate crime.
The accused in the crime was described in the press and on the ‘net as a skinhead, the slain pizzeria owner was publicly visible as well, having the externally identifiable traits of practising Orthodox faith.
B’nai Brith is a Jewish organization that has long stood up, for the rights of all of Jewry. Commendably so, rightfully so. But one fears that the organization has been blinkered to far too great a degree, judging by political statements made recently. Elsewhere in this issue you will find an open letter written to the Minister responsible for law and order in Canada, Martin Couchon, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. It strikes a body that this Minister is torn between two postings - the application of impartial jurisprudence and montoring the legal system. But, the Liberals seem to know just who should run the country, never mind the revolving doors in Ottawa - from Finance to Health to Environment, hardly a minister has either not resigned or been cashiered for reasons that the electorate should not tolerate.
B’nai Brith, howsoever, does not like the legal decision regarding Canadian citizen Wasyl Odinsky, who, like many proud Canadians was born in Ukraine. He has been cleared of all charges concerning his alleged WWII past in this country, by our judiciary system. Accusations are also something that can be fuelled by irrational passion, hate if you will. Odinsky should not be hounded as he has been. The open letter is bold enough to suggest, that continued Internet accusations about Odinsky’s alleged and importantly never proven or found past are tantamount to spreading hate.
Spreading hate is the same accusation that B’nai Brith is levelling against Rozensweig’s killer, making reference in a press release to endemic skinhead action globally, most notably, however in Russia.
One hopes that justice prevails, but as is far often the case, media perception can influence decisions. (We all know OJ is guilty...)
David Rozensweig did not deserve to be murdered, if, as B’nai Brith claims, it was solely as a reason of faith. Any caring human hopes that his killer will receive the appropriate punishment.
In the case of Odinsky, we hope that B’nai Brith will also accept a judicial finding, that allegations against him had no foundation.
To give B’nai Brith their due, and make a sincere attempt to figure the reasons for this media storm, one only need only to look at the rise of Anti-Semitism in Russia, skinhead activity in Europe, culminating around Hitler’s birthday. An Estonian Life Leader (April 24th, 2002) addressed concerns about such behaviour, raised not only in Toronto but anywhere the Internet’s tentacles reach.
The FSU monitor is an excellent source about xenophobic violence and extremism, such as those of concern to the B’nai Brith. The problems in Russia are acute, many have compared the situation to the KKK in its heyday. It’s scary to realize that while American and Russian police are working in tandem to the crimes fuelled by intense passion. As we know, all of us who have fought against injustice, corrupt bureaucracies and uncaring people, hate cannot be far behind. The Russian problem has historically become more acute when economic prospects are slim - such as that in 1998, when through collusion, as some insist to this day, the ruble collapsed, making some Rich in Switzerland and America, many more impoverished in Russia.
As can be safely said, whether it is abot bikers in the US, or skinheads in Russia, they do not reflect the views of a majority. In America, one feels more comfortable about the ability of the police to protect the common person. The corruption in Russia does not breed any like sense of security.
Police could not protect David Rosenzweig from his assailant in Toronto, but citizens have reasonable faith in the system to deal with the consequences. This is almost a civic need, otherwise chaos ensues.
Common folk have no choice bu to put faith in the rule of the law, and that is what decided in the case of Odinsky. To go further and flame the fires of an already intense conflagaration by is very frightening, and can only have the result that creepy people like white extremists are encouraged to continue their campaigns, while innocent people - Estonians, Ukrainians and Orthodox Jews pay the ultimate price.
One truly hopes that common sense, not insanity prevails in all cases noted above.
Editorial: Crime and Hate
Arvamus
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