June 24, 2003

MODEL T MINDS

Some people weren't reading Harry Potter on the weekend:

Officials of the Malaysian prime minister's party gave out copies of American industrialist Henry Ford's anti-Semitic book "The International Jew" to delegates at a party gathering yesterday.

Party workers at the assembly's secretariat handed out free copies of an abridged version of Ford's book, translated into Bahasa Malay and published in Johannesburg.

The book, first published in the 1920's, also contained the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," which was originally published in Russia in the early 20th century and has been used through the decades to peddle theories of an international Jewish conspiracy.

Posted by Tim Blair at June 24, 2003 01:55 AM
Comments

Weren't Hitler and Ford mutual admirers? Isn't it true that Mein Kampf still sells well in many predominantly Muslim countries? And so on.

Are any of us really surprised that Mahathir's boys are handing out antisemitic writings?

It's getting near the time to oil the guns and warm up the tanks.

Posted by: ZsaZsa at June 24, 2003 at 02:24 AM

Henry Ford had a great mind for organization and things mechanical, but as a human being was a real buttwad©.

Posted by: Wallace at June 24, 2003 at 03:27 AM

I heard that Ford later apologized for falling for the Protocols and publicizing 'em, but obviously it was too late. You can never unring the bell, no matter how rich and powerful you are.

Posted by: kathy at June 24, 2003 at 04:23 AM

Ford was unwittingly publicising old Tsarist Regime propoganda. When modern 'educated' regimes publish it, however, it's part of a premeditated plan to foster hatereds that will lead to deaths and, more importantly, help them maintain their tight hold on power.
That's why it's important to know if this story is in fact true? Source?

Posted by: Norman at June 24, 2003 at 01:03 PM

Hitler had a picture of Henry Ford in his office. Ford made German tanks in WW2.

Posted by: Rick Squane at June 24, 2003 at 02:40 PM

I suppose we should be grateful they weren't handing out Alison Bronowski's latest,"Poor White Trailer Trash: Asian Impressions of Australia", with preface by Philip Adams and postscript by Terry Lane.

Posted by: Rob at June 24, 2003 at 02:52 PM

Could you imagine what the outcry would be if John Howard's staff started handing out copies of "Malaysians are a bunch of ignorant corrupt pig fuckers who elect even more morally bankrupt pig fuckers". Just the outcry from our own press would be unbearable.

Could be fun, just for the reaction. I had better start work on it straight away so that John has it to give out as Christmas presents.

Posted by: Todd at June 24, 2003 at 04:23 PM

Regarding this topic, I once heard that Jews are prohibited from attending Monash University's Malaysian campus (Sunway College). One might suspect the same motivation is also why they won't name this campus after Sir John Monash. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me?

Posted by: Steve (Monash Graduate) at June 24, 2003 at 07:40 PM