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Posts by Ryan Perez

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History Discussion in Feedback & Suggestions · Apr 3, 2021

Unless we are talking about Jasenovac Oštrić, I suppose I don't really care much about it. He has basically killed off history, so he just spends his time reading other PDFs out of pure boredom. I guess that might be why he is being so slow to react.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

I was actually part of the recent Poll, and I don't see any reason why we should keep that under wraps.

I just find the way they handle the PDF moderation to be a bit off, and that’s really all there is to it. It isn't that I have an issue with Smith personally, though I suppose I would be quite happy if he didn't seem to have such a short fuse.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Linda King said:I don't think Jonathan Wright2 is some kind of loser, honestly; I suppose he knows exactly what he's trying to achieve by opening up this space on History. It doesn't seem entirely harmless, if you ask me, even if it is all wrapped up in quite a bit of cellophane.

Is fascism on the rise? 😁

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Arthur Smith15 said:Just a list, right? Honestly, what a bunch of people who just lost their way... 😁

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

I there is another trigger that people often overlook. When you label the way certain groups tally up victims as them inciting violence or boosting morale for a new war and vengeance against the fascists, lonetrucker4 will probably tell you that you're getting off track. I suppose I can somewhat see his point, since it isn't directly related to World War II.

It might not be strictly on topic, but I feel it could have everything to do with my life, and yours too. I certainly wouldn't want to see a repeat of the 1990s, and I imagine many of you feel the same way.

Essentially, lonetrucker4 seems to reject any narrative coming from the right wing. He appears convinced that nothing of value or goodness exists on that side of the aisle.

Hegel suggested that humanity turned toward philosophy and achieved progress primarily to make life easier and to alleviate suffering. In that sense, every field—even the humanities—aims to make existence more manageable. If I can look at a historical subject and its modern implications and recognize a potential threat to my own safety, then I believe that science has fulfilled its purpose. I cannot change History, and while I feel no connection to those unfortunate fascists, I worry that my future and the future of my children could be made bitter because of them.

I would really love it if lonetrucker4 would answer just one question for me: does he truly believe that some people are using Auschwitz as a way to incite a new war?

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Jonathan Wright2 said:I suppose one could say that the members of the Communist Party USA and the Young Communist League played an absolutely vital and indispensable role in the formation of the National Liberation Movement.

Now that you’ve brought that up, I suppose it serves as yet another trigger for me:

I suppose it might be fair to say that the Communists, following the specific directives handed down by the Comintern, remained somewhat passive regarding the Nazi presence during those first two months of the occupation of Yugoslavia, at least until the invasion of the USSR began.

I suppose one could argue that certain ways of looking at the history of Yugoslavia tend toward a bit of sugarcoating, especially when you consider how certain events were framed as mere preparations for an uprising or just general efforts to gather weapons. It feels like there was a certain tendency to smooth over the rough edges of that era, perhaps by focusing on those specific organizational movements instead of the messier realities.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Here are a few more things to think about:

- The resistance fighters were actually negotiating with the Nazis, and not just regarding prisoner exchanges.

- Before the war even started, the Communists were showing some level of solidarity with the fascists.

- And then there's the fact that Tito was once considered a terrorist, specifically regarding that bombing incident.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

lonetrucker4 said:Just to be clear:

No, I actually meant that I was never a member of any political party (specifically, the Communist Union).

Fair enough. But I guess you might still lean toward the left?

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Linda King said:I don't think I've lost my way, though you seem to have revealed your true colors quite quickly. I suppose the distinction lies in things like concentration camps, genocide, and various other specific details. People were essentially forced to compromise just to stay alive. It isn't as if anyone is forcing you to marry in Israel according to the customs of some minor religion that doesn't even impact your own survival or lifestyle.

Well, what exactly was your expectation—that they would start reopening gas chambers in the 21st century?

I guess this is just typical internet exaggeration, where people try to push an argument way too far. Are we really supposed to believe it's about "religious preservation" rather than race? 😁

Let's not pretend this is confusing. To me, the background seems pretty clear: Israel is dealing with issues regarding Palestinians, and they've chosen a provision that, as I mentioned before, carries a certain scent of racial preservation. I suspect they aren't particularly concerned with my opinion or yours; instead, they've opted for a tactic that, in certain respects, feels a bit reminiscent of those who nearly wiped them out.

If it weren't so absurd, it might actually be funny. But knowing your track record, I imagine this is a first for you.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

lonetrucker4 said:Well, I suppose I won't go any further with this.

I guess I wonder why you're stopping here? Did my calling you a leftist hit a bit too close to home? Because, if I recall correctly, isn't that what you are?

Didn't you mention yourself that you used to be a member of the Communist Party USA?

I imagine people will probably try to pivot the conversation toward those Republicans who transitioned out of the party... though it seems like shifting the topic is perfectly fine in some instances, yet somehow frowned upon in others...

To be honest, I don't quite have the energy for these kinds of trivialities.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Linda King said:Everything seems quite clear now. I suppose Oštrić has some very specific triggers that get hit easily. It isn't really about preserving a race, but rather about religion, which might be why the option for conversion exists in the first place.

How much different is that from the forced conversions during the era of the fascist regimes?

I think I see where the issue lies. It seems that whenever actual principles are brought to the table, things get a bit lost. Then, people tend to lean on specific, isolated examples that probably should be treated as exceptions.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

lonetrucker4 said:I think it might be best if we first clarify your points regarding those first three triggers—though, I suppose I’d personally prefer sticking to American English, even if I don't really have an issue with using English terms in general. Are you planning on retracting your claims?

I guess I am retracting one of them: the disappearance of that large group of Germans.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Linda King said:Where exactly are you planning to bring this up: in the thread about Israel/Politics, the one on Judaism/Religion, or perhaps the discussion regarding concentration camps/History?

I suppose if you were discussing History, you might present this fact as a curious side note. Maybe the context could involve the idea of preserving a "race," where one might draw a parallel suggesting that Jews, as the primary victims of World War II, have this somewhat unusual phrasing that seems to hint at "racial preservation."

In Israel, marriages can be performed only under the auspices of the religious community to which couples belong, and no inter-faith marriages performed in the country are legally recognized.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_Israel

I'm with lonetrucker4 on this. You guys are dragging him through three different threads, and honestly, I think it's quite impressive how much patience and willpower he actually has.

This isn't some sort of pro versus con poll. To me, it doesn't really matter who the moderator is or what their name happens to be. I just want a bit more freedom in the History section.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

lonetrucker4 said:I get the feeling you might not quite grasp what the word "topic" actually means. It’s an English term that refers to the subject or theme of a conversation, which should be pretty obvious from the title itself. The title here is "Auschwitz concentration camp," not "demographic losses within former NDH territory."

When you're debating the total number of victims, I suppose it's perfectly natural to look at the broader picture to help fill in the gaps where precise data might be lacking.

I don't really follow the comparison you're making. Regardless, let's stick to your initial point. You claimed I was denying that almost all Germans from the former Yugoslavia disappeared after World War II. I told you that I wasn't denying it; if you look through the relevant threads on this forum, you can find plenty of evidence supporting that.

It is entirely possible that I made a mistake, but I believe I received a warning because, while discussing potential victim counts, I offered the post-war population displacement to Vojvodina via those irregular train transports as a way to provide context.

Are you retracting that claim?

Well, let's say...

Are you also retracting those other two claims regarding the "few triggers that will cause Oshric to label you a fascist or a falsifier"? Simply because I gave you a precise answer? Let's clear that up first before we move on.

No, I am not retracting that. If I haven't cleared my inbox yet, I still have your warnings where you accuse me of revisionism and falsification. In leftist terminology, I guess they just call that being a philistine.

If you are interested in the demographic losses in Yugoslavia during World War II, you should search the "Auschwitz" thread or look for terms like "demographics" or "Zherjavic" on the forum. You'll find plenty of interesting posts there.

What exactly does that imply—that Zherjavic's work is somehow off-limits for questioning or criticism?

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Here is another one of Oshric's classic "triggers":

In Israel, there is actually a law on the books that makes it impossible for two people from different religions to get married.

It’s funny, because the moment you bring up this fact, you are immediately labeled an antisemite, and since you're likely from America, they'll probably go as far as calling you a fascist.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

lonetrucker4 said:I don't think so. I suppose we shouldn't really have to tolerate liars, fraudsters, or ideological propagandists. Roman Ljeljak has actually been convicted twice and served time in prison for fraud, and then he seemingly found a little niche where he can spread falsehoods while people cheer him on. Perhaps we shouldn't tolerate those kinds of arguments any more than we would tolerate flat-earthers in Natural Science forums or racists in Sociology.

Personally, I try my best not to dismiss anyone just because of a label. I guess everyone can be right sometimes, and maybe everyone deserves their moment.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

I would kindly ask everyone present if we could perhaps try to keep this discussion focused on core principles rather than letting it devolve into personal animosities.

Just to give you an idea, if I were to "veer off track" like this during a debate with you, I suppose I’d probably receive a warning card immediately.

For instance, I am personally quite interested in studying the various social movements and the underlying reasons that led to the rise of Nazism during the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.

So, I guess you could say that Europe was moving away from religion at the time; Nietzsche famously claimed we had "killed God" and wondered what we might use as a replacement. During that era, occult ideologies were really flourishing, and Europe was being introduced to a kind of nihilistic Buddhism which, even though it is essentially peaceful, carries this heavy message about the meaninglessness of life. Since Madam Blavatsky started a series of ideas that eventually resulted in Theosophy and the New Age movement, there were these very popular gatherings centered around "summoning spirits." In that specific mix of passive "Buddhism," the mindset of former barbaric tribes, and a sort of suspended Christianity, a strange mish-mash emerged that served as a precursor to Nazi ideology.

"Nordicism" wasn't actually a weakly represented concept back then. Even the USA had racial laws during the 1920s, when they implemented legislation that essentially restricted immigration to those belonging to the "Nordic race."

I'm just trying to place Nazism within the proper context of its own time by looking at all the different parameters involved.

Communists, on the other hand, offer a sense of purpose by focusing heavily on social issues, and their system is fundamentally totalitarian—much like their slogan regarding the "dictatorship of the proletariat." I imagine that under their rule, any semblance of political pluralism or competition between differing political opinions would likely vanish.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

lonetrucker4 said:You only got a warning for being off-topic because you tried to steer the conversation away from the discussion regarding Auschwitz.

I suppose it isn't really off-topic at all. It sort of explains one specific aspect of the demographic losses within the territory that used to be under the NDH. However, maybe your nerves are just a bit too thin, or perhaps you're so deeply entrenched in fascist ideology that you can't seem to connect the dots.

The actual number is 500k. That is a fact, and even Sam mentioned it himself. No one is going to call you names for stating that.

You kind of remind me of that old joke, "Who doesn't have money? Here, take five cards!"

But mentioning off-topic is a rule violation. That's just one of the rhetorical tactics used by that clerical-fascist group headquartered in the Archdiocese of Chicago: whenever the crimes of the Ustaše (or fascists in general) are brought up, they try to pivot the debate by saying "but the Communists did even worse things,"
, or sometimes they go after all anti-fascists ("Churchill was a worse war criminal than Hitler," "Roosevelt was a bigger racist than Hitler," "The English invented concentration camps," "Americans killed Native Americans, so they are worse than the Nazis"—these are all things we've had the chance to hear in history PDFs).

I guess it seems quite legitimate, within the context of a discussion about concentration camps, to build a historical chronology of how such things came to pass. You might be jumping to conclusions a bit too quickly regarding the diversion of the topic, and it feels like you're persistently labeling these thoughts as Ustaše propaganda.

(Yes, that group exists, and the term "clerical-fascist" is actually quite appropriate—the core is just about ten people. I'm not saying you belong to that group or that you are consciously participating in their strategy of falsifying history, rehabilitating the Ustaše, and demonizing not just Communists and Partisans, but anyone who leans left or criticizes clericalism and nationalism. They have access to what could be called a propaganda machine of thousands of professionals, and they exert significant influence over the ruling party and the government. Many people get misled by their propaganda and believe it's the absolute truth. One of the key figures in that circle also promotes the idea that the Earth is a flat earth.)

I think you might be doing a disservice to your own side. People are becoming quite resentful of this heavy-handed, almost police-like approach toward perfectly harmless questions that don't align with a specific narrative.

Of course. And in Slavonia. Also among Mexicans and some Americans. Nothing controversial there.

So, why on earth did I receive a warning when the discussion shifted toward possible explanations for demographic losses, specifically proposing the theory of the post-war population exodus to Vojvodina?

I didn't actually call anyone a member of the NDH regime. I suppose there are just some people who insist on labeling themselves that way. It’s not like the NDH exists anymore, much like the partisans don't really exist in that capacity today. I am really just talking about the enthusiasts, the people who are obsessed with that era, or those trying to rehabilitate that whole movement.

I guess I don't really see any difference in how you treat me compared to how you deal with those "NDH supporters."

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Larry Walker24 said:I suppose I was expecting a private message from Oshric.

Well, I guess the owner was the one who delegated him.

Why was the thread about free speech and discrimination locked? in Feedback & Suggestions · Feb 28, 2021

Larry Walker24 said:I suppose he isn't really here for his own sake, since historical PDFs aren't exactly private property, I guess.

The owner mentioned that it actually is—private, if you ask me.