MP sparks ‘Holocaust’ furore
STATE Upper House MP Bernie Finn has thrown his weight behind a pro-life Facebook page called “Silent Holocaust”, a move that has angered Holocaust survivors in Melbourne.
STATE Upper House MP Bernie Finn has thrown his weight behind a pro-life Facebook page called “Silent Holocaust”, a move that has angered Holocaust survivors in Melbourne.
Holocaust survivor and board member of the Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC) Willie Lermer, 90, said Finn was “wrong” for supporting the page, as the word “Holocaust” is a unique term and should only be attributed to the Nazi genocide.
“He [Finn] doesn’t know what he is talking about. I’m sure he is an educated person, but as far as the Holocaust is concerned, he is wrong and mistaken.”
“To compare that with abortion is a shame”
Survivor Halina Zylderman said the website was “disgusting” and said a website that “put these two things in the same paragraph,” should not be supported.
The Liberal MP, who has also joined the “Christians Standing With Israel” Facebook page, has rejected suggestions that his support for the contentious page is offensive to the survivor community, citing his “long-time support” of the Jewish community and Israel.
“My visit to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem was a deeply emotional personal experience. I find great offence in any suggestion I would ever show disrespect to the victims of one of the most shameful eras in human history.”
Finn’s support for the page has also drawn the ire of Jewish state politicians. Member for Caulfield and fellow Liberal Party member David Southwick said that the page, whilst not deliberately offensive, is “insensitive”.
“While I do not believe the Facebook page intends to offend the Jewish community, the reference to the Holocaust is insensitive and inappropriate.”
Yet ALP candidate for the seat of Caulfield Josh Burns, who is also Jewish, has challenged Southwick to take a harder line on the issue and call for Finn to be sanctioned.
“If the Liberal party and David Southwick won’t show leadership on this issue and sanction Mr Finn, then I offer him an open invitation to attend the Holocaust Museum with me and learn first hand why associating this group with the Holocaust is unacceptable.
“It was disappointing to see the Holocaust trivialised in this way,” he said. Leader of the Opposition Daniel Andrews has also denounced Finn’s actions, calling the comparison “completely inappropriate”.
“What makes it worse is that Bernie Finn won’t even realise.”
Finn remains a member of the Facebook page.
TIMNA JACKS
A screenshot of the Facebook page showing Bernie Finn’s “like”.
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