A school governor has been criticised for comparing a concentration camp with a theme park.Ken Booth, a parent governor of Hawthorn Primary School, Elswick Road, Newcastle, and Tyneside organiser of the British National Party, made the claim when asked about school trips to Auschwitz. Mr Booth, a school governor for four years, said he believed there was too much focus on Auschwitz and too little on other areas savaged by war.
He said schools should spend on books and equipment instead of educational trips to the death camp. Mr Booth, who says his own father suffered at Belsen concentration camp, said: “No-one is comparing Disneyland to Auschwitz but we are talking about how it has become more akin to a theme park.
“Everyone agrees atrocities took place. But to over promote one facet perpetually gives the impression that some one entity has the franchise on self-pity and suffering and all the other casualties of the war were less significant. Why can’t we all just remember all of the war dead on our normal Remembrance Sunday? Money could go to better things like books and equipment. It has started to be run as a theme park and promoted as such.”
But one St Mary’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive school pupil, Brendan Shepherd, 16, went to Auschwitz in October and said he thought it was an experience pupils should be able to have.
He said: “It was a good thing to do and helped me learn more about what went on. I didn’t have an image before but now it will stay with me.”
Andy Roberts, chair of Hawthorn school governors, said: “Mr Booth has made these comments as an individual and his views should be in no way be seen to reflect the views of the school governing body or the school and its staff. The head and I utterly distance ourselves from them.’’
Chronicle Live
If there is any truth in this NAZIs claim that his father suffered in Belsen and that is a big IF (then god forgive me) he didnt suffer enough cos he produced a nazi bastard.
ReplyDeleteA BNP man, wearing an NF badge?
ReplyDeleteA BNP member has finally been exposed as a Hitler-lover, who seeks to deny the Holocaust happened. by downplaying the significance of the nazi's largest concentration camp Let's not forget Nick Griffin shares such views. Some, i.e. Mark Collett even go one step further as directly praising (S)hitler.
ReplyDeleteVote for them at your peril, as Poppy Day approaches.
If there is any truth in this NAZIs claim that his father suffered in Belsen ...
ReplyDeleteHe only suffered because he did not get time and a half working in the watch tower.
Wait a minute -- as I read it, he did not deny the holocaust, he said that lots of other people suffered as well as the Jews. I didn't see anything there which classes as holocaust denial. Or did I miss something?
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a ventriloquist's dummy.
ReplyDeleteYears of political experience have taught me that as electoral rosettes get bigger brains get smaller.
ReplyDeleteThat splendid photograph confirms the theory!
On 4th October 2007, Booth was quoted in the Northern Echo as saying of Auschwitz: "It's become a Disneyland equivalent of what Auschwitz was really like. It's big bucks and people are making a lot of money out of it..." he added that the BNP disputes "official figures" and the "authenticity of some of Auschwitz's buildings." The contempt implicit in his Disneyland comment as well as his remarks re. figures and buildings are worthy of any Holocaust denier.
ReplyDeleteBooth came to the BNP via the NF hence the rosette in the photograph taken in Newcastle Civic Centre. In the NF Booth oversaw the production of The Flame. By trade he is a printer. He has been unemployed for some time, a single parent looking after the younger four of his ten (10) children.
Child care concerns, however, don't stand in the way of his political work and he is currently spending time in Northumberland.
His appearance has improved since the photograph in the Civic was taken. Gone is his ponytail and he looks cleaner; his jackets are a better fit. Goes to show there's more money in the BNP compared to the NF.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a ventriloquist's dummy.
Can't you see 'Naughty Nick's' elbow?
(G)
anon said....10 kids, i dont believe it he doesnt look as though hes got a good one in him. i wouldnt touch him with yours let alone mine.
ReplyDeleteStill out of work 4 kids, income support why does he need to go out to work. typical of the calibre of candidates the bnp like to put up.