Taunton Mass. School Committee member gives Nazi salute and says, "Heil Hitler" to Jew at meeting

[Ian David]

Hitler remark roils Taunton
By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff | July 23, 2007

A Taunton School Committee member with a history of berating colleagues and the district superintendent at meetings has sparked an outcry by calling a Jewish board member Hitler and allegedly giving him the Nazi salute.

Alfred Baptista , who has been on the board for 22 years, stood up and said "Yes, heil Hitler. Sieg heil" to committee member Barry Cooperstein , who had admonished him for interrupting and yelling at district superintendent Arthur W. Stellar.

The remark and the alleged gesture, made at a meeting Wednesday night, has drawn intense criticism and has led to calls for Baptista to apologize publicly or resign. School and city officials said they received dozens of complaints about the exchange, which the Anti-Defamation League called "deeply offensive."

"The use of Holocaust imagery during a public meeting in this context demeans the memory of the six million Jews and others who died at the hands of the Nazis," James L. Rudolph , chairman of the league's regional board, and Andrew H. Tarsy , regional director, wrote in a letter to Baptista calling for him to apologize. "Comments like this are indicative of a misunderstanding of the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi regime and are deeply offensive."

"Sieg heil," which means "Hail victory," was a common Nazi chant.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/07/23/hitler_remark_roils_taunton/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News

[rfranklin]

1. A couple of years in a concentration camp would be appropriate...

for a moran like this.

[Marrah_G]

2. We don't round folks up for being ignorant asshats.

He will probably be made to resign for his actions. I can't believe "this" is now national news!

[Canuckistanian]

3. You don't think it's newsworthy that someone shouts "Sieg Heil" at a Jew?

If you did that in Germany, you'd go to jail.

[Marrah_G]

4. We don't live in Germany

Was it wrong? Sure. Illegal? No, we still have freedom of speech, even offensive speech. You have no legal rights to go through life not being offended.

Imagine if there was a nation-wide story every-time a racial or offensive remark was made. There wouldn't be enough trees left to print them on. The other members already disliked him because he is a jerk. The guy will probably be forced to resign. My point is that this is one guy on a school committee in one smallish town in MA. It hardly seems worthy of the national news. He is not the first asshat to say it, nor will he be the last.


So in answer to your question: No, I don't think it is newsworthy.

[hisownpetard]

5. Ever hear of Michael Richards? n/t

[Marrah_G]

6. Yes.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Regardless of the legality, it's still newsworthy, or should be

We can't let our society become so jaded that using Nazi slogans in public is shrugged off.

Freedom of speech is absolutely allowed, but that shouldn't mean you can say anything anywhere to anyone and expect there won't be any consequences.

It's the "yelling fire in a crowded theater" argument.

[Marrah_G]

8. I think you are missing my point

This is a guy on a commitee in a town in MA. I can absolutely see it being news here since I live 2 towns away. I just don't see it being national news. The guy will end up resigning.