Fox News' Greg Gutfeld receives backlash for Holocaust remark ...

The White House expressed strong disapproval of remarks made by Fox News host Greg Gutfeld on The Five while discussing slavery and Florida's new teaching standards.

During the Monday show, Gutfeld responded to fellow panellist Jessica Tarlov, who occupies the liberal seat on the program. Tarlov raised concerns about the new Florida curriculum, particularly a provision that has faced significant criticism. The controversial part of the curriculum stipulates that students should be taught that slaves developed skills that could sometimes be utilized for their own benefit.

Tarlov voiced her discomfort with this provision, drawing a parallel by saying it was akin to suggesting that Jews in concentration camps during the Holocaust "learned a strong work ethic."Afterwards, Gutfeld referenced Viktor Frankl's book "Man's Search for Meaning," where the author discusses how individuals in concentration camps had to survive by possessing skills and being useful. According to Frankl, their utility was a key factor in staying alive amidst the harsh conditions of the camp.

As Gutfeld drew intense backlash for his remark, the White House also condemned these comments made on the show, raising further debate about the new teaching standards in Florida.

In an official statement, Andrew Bates, a spokesperson for the White House, expressed deep concern over what was allowed to be said on Fox News yesterday. Furthermore, he highlighted the network's failure to condemn these statements, considering their “obscenity”. The spokesperson specifically pointed out how a Fox News host defended a horrid, dangerous, and extreme lie that insulted the memory of millions of Americans who endured the evil of enslavement, while also propagating another horrid, dangerous, and extreme lie that insulted the memory of millions who suffered during the Holocaust.Moreover, Gutfeld's statement triggered a response from the Auschwitz Memorial, which expressed concern that his comment oversimplified a sensitive topic and should be handled with caution.In a social media post, the Auschwitz Memorial acknowledged that while some Jews may have utilized their skills or usefulness to enhance their chances of survival during the Holocaust, it emphasized the importance of providing proper context and understanding. The memorial highlighted that such individual actions do not represent the complex history of the genocide carried out by Nazi Germany.

According to a White House statement reported by CNN, Andrew Bates clarified a crucial point that Americans should fully grasp: there was absolutely nothing good about slavery or the Holocaust. He emphasized the need to unite rather than divide people with harmful rhetoric, and he stressed that Americans deserve access to the truth and the freedom to learn, without facing book bans and falsehoods.

FAQs:

Q1:What is Holocaust?The Holocaust, occurring during World War II, was a genocide carried out by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. It involved the systematic murder of approximately six million European Jews, which accounted for around two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population. The Holocaust also encompassed the persecution and killing of other groups, such as Slavs (including ethnic Poles, Soviet citizens, and Soviet prisoners of war), the Roma, the "incurably sick," political and religious opponents, gay men, and Jehovah's Witnesses. The tragic events spanned from 1941 to 1945, marking a dark period in history.

Q2:What is Auschwitz Memorial?The Auschwitz Memorial, located in Oświęcim, Poland, serves as a museum and memorial site. It was once the grounds of two German Nazi concentration camps, namely Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. These camps were established in 1940 and 1941 and tragically became the sites where millions of individuals, predominantly Jews, but also including Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and others, were imprisoned, tortured, and killed.