Hitler’s Delusions of Artistic Grandeur

Staff / Truthdig Aug 27, 2009 It's well known that Adolf Hitler dabbled in watercolor and that the Führer and his Nazi underlings amassed vast stashes of ill-begotten works of art, but according to art historian Birgit Schwarz, Hitler's artistic streak ran deeper into the dark zones of his psyche than most people realize. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Irresponsible ‘Basterds’?: Mulling Over Tarantino’s WWII Do-Over

Staff / Truthdig Aug 25, 2009 Quentin Tarantino certainly took full cinematic license and ran with it in his Nazi-bashing big-screen extravaganza "Inglourious Basterds," but as Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman explains, some people are getting pretty fired up about the film's convention-busting climax, worrying that it could lead impressionable future generations astray about what really happened at the end of World War II. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope’s Nazi Ties Questioned — Again

Staff / Truthdig May 13, 2009 It was just the second day of his Holy Land Tour 2009, but unsurprisingly, the presence of Pope Benedict XVI in Israel stirred up more static on Tuesday -- this time over his personal wartime history. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hate Groups Losing Face on Facebook

Staff / Truthdig May 12, 2009 A debate over freedom of speech on Facebook has shaken up the Web this past week. The controversy centers on use of the social media site by such entities as Holocaust denial groups. In an interview, Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt expressed the site’s desire “to be a place where people can discuss all kinds of ideas, including controversial ones,” but drew the line at groups that incite violent behavior. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pope Bringing Baggage to the Holy Land

Staff / Truthdig May 5, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI is heading for Jerusalem soon as part of his tour of the Holy Land, and although he occupies the same vaunted position as his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict's own history, along with that of the church, carries a charge that could present challenges during his visit. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

America Is in Need of a Moral Bailout

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Mar 23, 2009 The methods used to attain what we want, we are told by reality television programs, business schools and self-help gurus, are irrelevant. Success, always defined in terms of money and power, is its own justification. Our moral collapse is as terrifying, and as dangerous, as our economic collapse. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Pope Admits Vatican’s Mistake in Holocaust Controversy

Staff / Truthdig Mar 14, 2009 The Vatican is about to become a more Web-savvy institution, according to Benedict XVI. The pope issued a public statement Friday acknowledging that the Holy See failed to investigate the background of Holocaust-denying British Bishop Richard Williamson before formally welcoming him back into the Church's good graces in January. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Consider the Source

Robert Fisk / Truthdig Mar 1, 2009 Now a lot of folk will go along with the line that the Holy Father is so stupid -- so utterly out of touch with Planet Earth -- that he has no idea how disastrously his actions are received. Hmmm. Well, I wonder. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Holocaust-Denying Bishop’s Apology Falls Flat at Vatican

Staff / Truthdig Feb 28, 2009 The powers that be at the Vatican (at least the earthly variety) are even more upset with Bishop Richard Williamson now that he has apologized. After drawing outrage last month when he claimed that no Jews died in gas chambers during the Holocaust, he made an apology this week. The papacy found it inadequate, to say the least. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Rules of War Weren’t Made for Only One People

Robert Fisk / Truthdig Feb 15, 2009 The organized persecution of a group is despicable whether the victims are the Jews of World War II or today's Gazans. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

‘Holocaust Bishop’ Ordered to Recant

Staff / Truthdig Feb 4, 2009 With a media-dubbed moniker that doesn't look good for either party, the "Holocaust Bishop" -- a British bishop recently un-excommunicated by the pope -- is being told by the Vatican to recant his views after news broke that he "believe[s] there were no gas chambers [during World War II]." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jewish Council Splits With Vatican Over Holocaust Denials

Staff / Truthdig Jan 30, 2009 The Central Council of Jews in Germany has come to an impasse with the Roman Catholic Church after Pope Benedict XVI reintegrated four bishops into the Vatican's fold, including British cleric Richard Williamson, who has taken a revisionist stance on the Holocaust in recent public statements. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )