Yesterday, the Harvard Crimson published a Holocaust denier's advertisement challenging readers to “provide, with proof, the name of one person killed in a gas chamber at Auschwitz.” The Crimson says the ad was published inadvertently.
Today, a staff-ed featured the paper's mea culpa, which I think was notable for this statement:
The reason that an advertisement promoting Holocaust denial was inappropriate is not merely that it offended many on campus but rather that it contradicted our values in serving a diverse and welcoming university community. After all, content that some find offensive is often acceptable, and the angry reader is an inevitable element in the production and consumption of journalism. As a newspaper devoted to the highest standards of journalistic integrity, The Crimson does not often shy away from offending readers who take umbrage at its content. But Tuesday’s advertisement was a different story. It was more than just “offensive” to some readers—it was wrong.
Instead of simply offending, Holocaust denial has much graver effects. It promotes hate and could actually jeopardize the psychological and emotional well being of others in the Harvard community.
Do you think Aftonbladet's arrogant editors will actually learn something about responsible journalism from The Crimson? Naaah.
