Newt Gingrich awkwardly poses for smiley tourist photo in worst possible place.

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This isn't political, it's a stupid place to take a photo like that, regardless of who it is.

By the way, which one of you actually visited Auschwitz site?

I have, because I actually had a couple of relatives that were killed there.

There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

A strange photo, I'll agree, but not inappropriate.  I'm happy he visited.

Why does New Gingrich visiting Auschwitz with his mistress that is younger than his daughter make you happy?

That is a bizarre statement.

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This isn't political, it's a stupid place to take a photo like that, regardless of who it is.

By the way, which one of you actually visited Auschwitz site?

I have, because I actually had a couple of relatives that were killed there.

There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

Gettysburg≠Auschwitz

That comment ranks up there with your Herman Cain remark...

Of course, when someone at the time said black people were "troublemakers" or "inferior," people could point to Cain as the counterexample.

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There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

A strange photo, I'll agree, but not inappropriate.  I'm happy he visited.

...

Are you seriously comparing a systematic, cold-blooded slaughter of millions of victims of the Nazi sick ideology with a Civil War battle?

Because my ancestors and relatives were direct, sometimes fatal, victims of the very same Nazi atrocities, I'm really offended by this post.

..and his relatives was fatal victims of the Civil War.

I don't know if you've ever been to the United States but if you are still walking around feeling as passionately about the Civil War as Jews feel about the holocaust we would have a name for you...

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There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

A strange photo, I'll agree, but not inappropriate.  I'm happy he visited.

...

Are you seriously comparing a systematic, cold-blooded slaughter of millions of victims of the Nazi sick ideology with a Civil War battle?

Because my ancestors and relatives were direct, sometimes fatal, victims of the very same Nazi atrocities, I'm really offended by this post.

..and his relatives was fatal victims of the Civil War.

being gassed to death in a concentration camp≠a volunteer soldier dying in a battle

There's a difference.  It's subtle.  But it is a difference.

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This isn't political, it's a stupid place to take a photo like that, regardless of who it is.

By the way, which one of you actually visited Auschwitz site?

I have, because I actually had a couple of relatives that were killed there.

There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

A strange photo, I'll agree, but not inappropriate.  I'm happy he visited.

Why does New Gingrich visiting Auschwitz with his mistress that is younger than his daughter make you happy?

That is a bizarre statement.

I am absolutely happy that any American politician wants to be familiar with the Holocaust, and would be willing to go to the site and see the scene of a horrific crime against humanity.  That his wife wanted to join him is fine.

I'm just surprised anyone would complain about it.

Oh Gwad.  Why does everything in this God forsaken country have to turn into some stupid over the top political statement?  There are tons of movies and pictures of concentration camps (the Germans loved documenting stuff).  If you are as old as Newt Gingrich and allegedly a history professor and you actually had some huge epiphany when you got to Auschwitz that gassing people is wrong then you need to have your head examined.    Some guy visited Auschwitz on a trip.  End of story.  Stop with all this over the top nonsense.  You've already said those Jews were the equivalent of volunteer soldiers who died on battlefield in the Civil War, which is absurd.

After reading your Cain remark and your remarks in this thread I just get the feeling that you feel compelled to say anything no matter how absurd to defend whatever right wing politician is being critiqued.

I am absolutely happy that any American politician wants to be familiar with the Holocaust, and would be willing to go to the site and see the scene of a horrific crime against humanity.  That his wife wanted to join him is fine.

I'm just surprised anyone would complain about it.

Mr. Strawman,

Please show me where anyone in this thread complained about Newt Gingrich going to Auschwitz.  The OP started a thread about an awkward picture.  He didn't say all Republicans should be banned from Auschwitz.  What are you smoking?

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There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

A strange photo, I'll agree, but not inappropriate.  I'm happy he visited.

...

Are you seriously comparing a systematic, cold-blooded slaughter of millions of victims of the Nazi sick ideology with a Civil War battle?

Because my ancestors and relatives were direct, sometimes fatal, victims of the very same Nazi atrocities, I'm really offended by this post.

..and his relatives was fatal victims of the Civil War.

being gassed to death in a concentration camp≠a volunteer soldier dying in a battle

There's a difference.  It's subtle.  But it is a difference.

Did his relatives die in the Holocaust? Because that's the major difference not at all subtle, I feel a lot more strongly about the German occupation of Denmark than the Holocaust, the Armenian Holocaust, the Trail of Tear or the Nanking Massacre, which was something which happened to other people, the occupation of Denmark on the other hand while much less unpleasant (very mildly put) is something my older relatives could tell me about, something from which I can find traces when walk around in the city, something much more personal for me.

You should try it sometime.

Just because something happened to you or one of your relatives doesn't mean its the worst thing in the world.  Frankly when I see things like the holocaust that happened to other people it evokes a much stronger feeling from me and I realize that things that have happened to me and my family comparatively aren't that bad.  You of course are free to draw you own conclusions.

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There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

A strange photo, I'll agree, but not inappropriate.  I'm happy he visited.

...

Are you seriously comparing a systematic, cold-blooded slaughter of millions of victims of the Nazi sick ideology with a Civil War battle?

Because my ancestors and relatives were direct, sometimes fatal, victims of the very same Nazi atrocities, I'm really offended by this post.

..and his relatives was fatal victims of the Civil War.

I don't know if you've ever been to the United States but if you are still walking around feeling as passionately about the Civil War as Jews feel about the holocaust we would have a name for you...

Well, considering that my ancestor was fighting against a variation of that flag, yes, I do feel passionate.  I think that the loss should be honored, in both cases. 

I take it you oppose slavery, Link?

You're an odd egg dude.  I can honestly say I don't feel passionately one way or the other about slavery or the Civil War.  I like most sane busy Americans have other stuff on my mind at the moment.  You may still be wearing black and mourning for some relative you never met who volunteered to go to war over 140 years ago, but I think you are in a minority... thankfully.

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There are photos of me at Gettysburg, and I have relatives that died in the Civil War.

A strange photo, I'll agree, but not inappropriate.  I'm happy he visited.

...

Are you seriously comparing a systematic, cold-blooded slaughter of millions of victims of the Nazi sick ideology with a Civil War battle?

Because my ancestors and relatives were direct, sometimes fatal, victims of the very same Nazi atrocities, I'm really offended by this post.

I would say that both were horrific and that we should remember both.

The sun is hot and my oven is hot.  If I stuck my head in either long enough I would die.  That's doesn't mean they are equal.

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I certainly think that the Holocaust gets far too much attention, but there's some things you just don't do, and wearing your finest and cheesing the camera in front of one of world history's most horrific and systematic extermination centers is one of those things.

Just saying.

I would say the same thing about Ground Zero, at least while it was still rubble.  Being rebuilt, less so, because then it's about transcendance.

I agree.  I think in the mad dash to get Jewish votes and Jewish campaign contributions things have gone way over the top.  I mean Gingrich, an American of all things, calling the Palestinians a "made up people" just to pander to the pro Israel lobby is sickening.  But I don't think comparing Jews that were systematically exterminated to some relative J. J. discovered on genealogy.com last week and decided to mourn is appropriate.

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I feel a lot more strongly about the German occupation of Denmark than the Holocaust

I have no trouble feeling empathy

okay.

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But I guess a pretentious hack, who compare anyone not looking at the world precisely as them to KKK, do need a dictionary to explain what empathy is.

Errr... I was just getting you up to speed on American history and American culture.  J. J. was giving you foreigners a false impression of the United States.  No one other than KKK types still talks about the Civil War with passion.  The notion that normal people in the North or the South feel as passionately about it as the Holocaust is ridiculous.  Despite J. J.'s cute strawman remarks there is not a heated slavery vs antislavery debate here in America.  Even most openly racist people over here would not condone slavery.

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Link, for once in your life try not to be a Country Member.

Dunno what you mean.

Anyway, the picture is hilarious (for reasons pointed out by Gustaf very early in the thread, obviously). The thread is... bizarre. Very Atlas.

It's a guy who took a picture at Auschwitz that is a little off.  It wouldn't make me like or dislike him anymore than I already do.  We all make mistakes.  He could have taken a really good picture there.  Maybe a side shot with him peering pensively through the barbed wire fence.  Something that was more serious and solemn.

Visiting is okay.  Taking a picture is okay.  Taking a cheesy picture is odd.  Unfortunately most of us when we go off to some far off destination want to capture the moment and we are not professional photographers.  We are amateurs who are in a far away location for a limited time so we take a few rushed pictures.  This is the result.