[click for  French translation] 

November 21, 2002

Internet hate must be confronted, activist says

By DIANE KOVEN
Ottawa Correspondent

OTTAWA - Though the number of neo-Nazis actively using the Internet to promote hatred is small, there aren't enough people working to refute them, says the director of a Web site dedicated to countering online Holocaust denial and racism.

Speaking at Congregation Machzikei Hadas as part of Holocaust Education Week, Ken McVay urged his mainly Jewish audience to "never quit" fighting racism, "because the minute you do, you are granting some Nazi a little more space to spread hate. The message of the Shoah is to never, ever forget."

When asked how widespread anti-Semitic propaganda is on the Internet, McVay, a non-Jew who has made it his life's work to fight Holocaust denial on the Web, said there is nothing to be alarmed about in terms of sheer volume.

He estimated that of the approximately 600 million people using the Internet, only about 200 to 300 are promulgating Nazi hatred. But the "most serious problem" is that "there are only about two dozen people actively refuting their ideology.

"The danger is that one person can put up a very professional Web site and appear to represent thousands, and can reach people around the world," McVay said.

"My message to the world and, in particular, to the Jewish community, is that the hatred is not being confronted as it should."

A former U.S. Marine who has lived in British Columbia for 35 years, McVay credits his grandfather for teaching him to stand up for what is right.

He said he first encountered anti-Semitic literature and Holocaust denial propaganda on the Internet 10 years ago. The discovery led him to research the Holocaust and engage Holocaust deniers by countering their anti-Semitic propaganda with facts that he posts online.

The result of that work - the Nizkor Project, at www.nizkor.org - is perhaps the most extensive Web site dedicated to the refutation of Holocaust denial, one that is used extensively by researchers, journalists and students.

McVay said it is a "very bad time to be a Jew in Canada," because the situation in the Middle East has led to an increase in anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incidents here.

McVay said he has been "accused" of being Jewish and has received many death threats because of his very public work.

"Did you know you can become Jewish by arguing with a Nazi?" he asked the audience.

He said this was one small example of the many illogical and derogatory statements he has been subjected to since becoming involved with the Nizkor Project.

McVay also told the audience that "from the Nazi point of view, you should be very proud of all your power. According to them, you control the media, the education system, the courts and the monetary system."

McVay, who believes in countering Holocaust deniers and racists with facts rather than censoring them, urged his listeners to "refuse to tolerate [hatred]... The hatred won't go away until you refuse to tolerate it in your community. No amount of legislation will do it... My belief is that the solution is public education."

McVay challenged the Jewish community to refuse to be apathetic. "It frustrates me that so many people just don't give a damn."

Kenneth McVay index

Focal Point 2002   write to David Irving