A big argument with an anti-Semite in a thread at DSL Reports motivated me to re-read, for the first time in many years, Theodore Herzl’s diaries. A fascinating read, especially for the window into the life and emotions of an important player in an important historical moment. Especially fun because he was such a cranky, nasty, angry guy. Pretty much walking around disgusted with everyone.
Sometimes big changes happen because of noble, heroic figures, and sometimes because of irritated, obnoxious curmudgeons, who would be a real pain in the ass if you had to deal with them.
It’s also interesting that a quote posted by the above-mentioned anti-Semite, and one which is repeated on many anti-Zionist websites, purporting to be from Herzl’s diary, is completely fabricated. It would be a good example of how with selective misquoting and liberal use of ellipses, it’s easy to make someone appear to have said something completely the opposite of what he really said.
Please provide the original text of Herzl’s diary.
BS”D
>> a quote posted by the above-mentioned anti-Semite, and one which
>> is repeated on many anti-Zionist websites, purporting to be from
>> Herzl’s diary, is completely fabricated.
Actually, I read that the editor of the diary’s himself acknowledged that the most controversial parts were edited and/or censored. So the quote you dislike might be true, in the end. And even the sweetened version of the diaries depicts Herzl as a very ugly being.