Eliot was a poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary critic, editor – and antisemite. He had an impressive “ear” for words, a faultless sense of cadence, and appealed through the sheer beauty of language “to people who would rather talk about poets than read them.” And yet this was the same man who said things like, “The Jew alone can retain his detestable qualities, despite climatic conditions.” T.S. Frankfurter Jewsfeld,” and the Chinese leader as “Chiang Kike Chek.” Pound was an ardent supporter of Hitler and Mussolini, going so far as to give radio broadcasts for the Italian Fascist government during World War II. He believed Jews to be responsible for a multitude of the world’s problems and embraced stereotypical conspiracy theories about Jewish control of the media and banking industries. Ezra PoundĮzra Pound was a distinguished poet and writer, but pound for pound, he was also a malignant antisemite. So, while he gets points for establishing the Lutheran Church, we’ll have to deduct points for his referring to Jews as "venomous beasts" and "rejected and condemned by God." Apparently, as Luther saw it, spreading love and peace is not all-encompassing. There is something uncannily adaptive about antisemitism: the way it can hide, unsuspected, in the most progressive minds.
In his 1543 treatise, "On the Jews and Their Lies," Luther called for synagogues to be burned, Jewish homes to be destroyed, and Jewish people to be expelled from their communities.
In terms of his antisemitism, let’s just say that subtlety and humanity weren’t Luther’s strong points. This is the Martin Luther, the Father of the Protestant Reformation. No, not the Black leader Martin Luther King who shares part of his name but thankfully not his prejudices. The French editor-in-chief of Marie Claire observed after a conversation with Chanel, “Chanel’s antisemitism was not only verbal but passionate and often embarrassing.” But she did popularize the Chanel tweed suit and the little black dress, so there’s that.
At one point, she fled to Switzerland to avoid criminal charges for her collaboration as a Nazi spy.Ĭhanel was “often given to antisemitic outbursts” about the "greedy" and "aggressive" nature of Jewish people.
Despite having used Jewish investors to fund her fashion empire before World War II, she had a notorious affair with a Nazi officer. For her reputation as an antisemite-less so. Will that knowledge about their character change how you think of them? Should we excuse them because antisemitic sentiment was so prevalent in their time? Will you still be able to admire and appreciate their creations when you’re aware of this poisonous part of their souls? Gabrielle “Coco” ChanelĬoco Chanel has long been admired as a fashion and feminist icon. Some of history’s most accomplished men and women revealed their repugnant antisemitic nature.
0 kommentar(er)
