# Best "Screw you, Nazis!" Ever - I love this video! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698 "2010-07-14T18:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/21 "2010-07-14T22:39:23Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > The thing is, without that one Survivor, the rest of the dancers do not exist. To me, it says “We took your best shot, and it wasn’t good enough. We’re still here, and we can dance. Fuck you Nazi bastards.” That’s the problem I suppose, that and the fact that the song is “ **I** will survive”. I agree with all you’re saying, but it feels basically very much a celebration of the individual and not the people. It’s basically look at ME and what I’ve done- the video is the celebration of the individual, not so much the triumph of the human spirit or such- hence my comment more power to **him** vs. yay anti-nazis! That’s why I wish the video was more about various holocaust survivors, rather than one survivor and basically his family. This is very much a celebratory video, but not for everyone. More for this guy managing to survive and do so well. Also, I’m not really getting the whole “Fuck you Nazi” vibe by basically dancing at the grave site of millions who DIDN’T survive. Sure, one could make the arrangement that by him surviving and dancing, he’s dancing for everyone- but again that doesn’t really come across when you hear the silly song and the kids dancing in front of the site where thousands and thousands were brutally murdered and tortured. But hell, the man survived, and it’s his choice to dance where he wants to. I don’t really have a qualm with the video being made, just that it’s not my cup of tea. Though I wonder if this’ll spawn another meme- maybe have another group of kids go out to the WTC site, and start dancing to “I feel safe in New York City” by AC/DC? Actually, that would be kinda funny. I had a few more but I think that’s an inappropriate tangent for another day. That said, :shrug: It’s just a youtube video, and my opinion means shit, which is fine by me. Again, more power to him, I just didn’t feel all that happy and “Yay, fuck the nazi’s!” by seeing the video. Can’t please everyone. Edit to add: actually **Meyer6** sums it up much better and tactfully than I ever could. So ignore my post, and just go with a “+1” to what he said up there. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/22 "2010-07-14T22:52:39Z")
The “fuck you nazis” vibe is what I said in the OP - this is an expression of that old saying “Living well is the best revenge” The revenge is his survival, his family, and their joy. Revenge = fuck you, living well= joyful dancing with your healthy, happy, beautiful family. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/23 "2010-07-15T04:24:11Z")
Annnnnnnnnnd, it’s gone. Could someone who saw it find another source? ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/24 "2010-07-15T05:07:38Z")
Minor hijack, when I was in Amsterdam, we went to the Anne Frank House. I think the most moving moment was seeing that they have the little brochue thingies in FUCKING HEBREW, you Nazi shits. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/25 "2010-07-15T05:20:05Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Annnnnnnnnnd, it’s gone. Could someone who saw it find another source? [Here you go](http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/7928701/auschwitz-dance-video-causes-outrage), with tears in my eyes. My take on it is this: I was dubious about it which I first read about it, but if one - one - survivor of the camps thinks it’s OK, then it’s OK. No-one else’s judgement matters. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/26 "2010-07-15T05:27:58Z")
Eh, count me in the “kinda disrespectful and creepy camp”. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/27 "2010-07-15T05:44:41Z")
If I may… “Two minutes of silence and a poppy on your lapel doesn’t compair with the feeling you can only get from peeing on Hitler.” -Uncle Ghastly [http://www.ghastlycomic.com/d/20041114.html](http://www.ghastlycomic.com/d/20041114.html) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/28 "2010-07-15T05:45:24Z")
It’s weird, but I can understand it. It reminds me of something that happened just a few years ago. I am descended from Holocaust survivors myself. My grandmother was celebrating her 100th birthday in Montreal. There was a big family celebration. Most of her descendants were there. At the time, that meant 3 children, 9 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. My uncle gave a toast. I remember one line in particular: “Look around this room and you’ll see how none of this would have come about if \ hadn’t survived.” It brought tears to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/29 "2010-07-15T09:22:33Z")
Groucho Marx reputedly danced the Charleston for two minutes on the site of Hitler’s bunker, so it’s not like this is unprecedented. I can definitely identify with the sentiment behind it. “I Will Survive”, however? C’mon, they could have done much better than that. A lively _hora_ with a live klezmer band - now that would have worked nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/30 "2010-07-15T11:07:05Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > Groucho Marx reputedly danced the Charleston for two minutes on the site of Hitler’s bunker, so it’s not like this is unprecedented. I can definitely identify with the sentiment behind it. I don’t think there’s any controversy about dancing, spitting, or peeing on Hitler’s grave. No one cares about disrespecting him. It’s the other victims that died in these places that need respect; that’s what’s causing the iffyness. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/31 "2010-07-15T12:19:36Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > Groucho Marx reputedly danced the Charleston for two minutes on the site of Hitler’s bunker, so it’s not like this is unprecedented. I can definitely identify with the sentiment behind it. That is reminiscent of Hitler dancing at the surrender of France, which is a somewhat different vibe. And dancing where Hitler killed himself is one thing; dancing where millions were murdered is something else. > [@](#): > > “I Will Survive”, however? C’mon, they could have done much better than that. A lively _hora_ with a live klezmer band - now that would have worked nicely. I was thinking of a [different tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MReV9dkAVhY&feature=related), but yours works too. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/32 "2010-07-15T13:57:56Z")
The link is down. Anyone have another way to view it? ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/33 "2010-07-15T14:55:11Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > It’s the other victims that died in these places that need respect; that’s what’s causing the iffyness. I’m aware of that. I was merely stating that this fellow is not the first Jew to have danced in ecstatic defiance on a site expressly linked with the history of the Nazis. I actually don’t have a problem with a Holocaust survivor standing before the walls of Auschwitz dancing to reflect the joy of life, using his actions to say “I am still here and you are not, you absolute disgrace to humanity”. And I feel that it could be done in the name of all who died there - not only Jews, but Romani, gays and lesbians, the mentally and physically disabled, Socialists and Communists - as a gesture of solidarity and respect. But using a disco hit from the '70s doesn’t convey the right feeling; in fact it’s almost historically ignorant. Better, as I said, to use something from the culture that Hitler tried to eradicate - a traditional dance to a klezmer band. Wouldn’t have killed the kids to take the time to learn a few steps. ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/34 "2010-07-15T17:50:22Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > For those who are torn and feel it’s disrespectful - it’s anything but. In fact, it is the ultimate expression of _ **respect** _: respecting the price of death paid by so many, if you survive what others didn’t, what better respect could be paid than to live your own life as gratefully and _ **joyfully** _ as you possibly can? What better respect can be paid than, for yourself and those who died, thumb your nose at the Nazis and declare: Here I am! Here are my grandchildren! We are filled with joy and life and we go on, in spite of everything you tried to do, all the ones you did kill… you ultimately failed. I agree that this is the strongest message of the video. I feel a bit weird and uncomfortable that so many non-Jewish non-Europeans on the board are criticizing a Holocaust survivor and his Jewish family for the way he expresses this. “Hey, you, Abie Leibowitz, you’re not doing the Holocaust right, didn’t you get the memo? You’re supposed to be _sombre_ and _respectful_, and tell those snot-nosed grandkids of yours to sit down and stop _smiling_ all the damn time.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/35 "2010-07-15T18:29:09Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > The link is down. > > Anyone have another way to view it? POst #25. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/36 "2010-07-15T18:37:55Z")
> [@SecondJudith](#): > > I agree that this is the strongest message of the video. I feel a bit weird and uncomfortable that so many non-Jewish non-Europeans on the board are criticizing a Holocaust survivor and his Jewish family for the way he expresses this. “Hey, you, Abie Leibowitz, you’re not doing the Holocaust right, didn’t you get the memo? You’re supposed to be _sombre_ and _respectful_, and tell those snot-nosed grandkids of yours to sit down and stop _smiling_ all the damn time.” This is very wrong. By this logic, any actions, if done or expressed by a Holocaust survivor, are beyond even commentary by others? To the contrary: the whole point, in my view, of having Holocaust museums, memorials, documentaries, and camp tours is to enable all of us, all of humanity, to understand and absorb the horror of what was done to European Jewry in the 1930s and 1940s. It asks – no, it DEMANDS – of all of us to never forget what so-called humans are capable of doing to their own species. I said, above: > [@Bricker](#): > > ``` > I will admit that my first reaction is not positive -- it seems kind of trivializing. > > ``` > > But of course, if the folks would actually did lose family feel this is empowering, then my opinion isn’t worth much more than warm spit, so more power to 'em. And I stand by both statements. You cannot tell me I can’t so much as express an opinion about how the issue is treated. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/37 "2010-07-15T18:44:37Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And I stand by both statements. You cannot tell me I can’t so much as express an opinion about how the issue is treated. Good thing he didn’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/38 "2010-07-15T19:51:56Z")
I sent the link to a friend of mine yesterday. He’s descended from Survivors, and he absolutely loved it. I can see how some might not like the video, but I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/39 "2010-07-15T21:40:12Z")
> [@Meyer6](#): > > There is a quote on the YouTube video: > > “…it’s a wonderful thing that some survived. But to dance around Auschwitz publicly celebrating the survival of a few is crass and disrespectful to the memories of the dead. If some members of your family died in a car crash (God forbid) but I survived that crash, how would it be if I posted a video around of me doing a silly dance and celebrating my survival? It would be wrong.” A car crash is different. It has no purpose. Surviving a car crash doesn’t prove anything. The holocaust had a purpose. One person’s survival proves that the holocaust was unsuccessful. But survival alone is not enough. Another aspect of the holocaust is the fear that the event might have a lasting impact in its aftermath. That’s why there is still a battle against the holocaust 60 years later. That battle is won by living well, being successful, and maintaining strong ties with your family. All the things that the holocaust could have destroyed even after after it was over. One person’s survival with an extended family, spirit in tack, shows that the holocaust did not win 60 years ago and it’s still losing today. Dancing to “I will Survive” at Auschwitz is just one brilliant way of saying that. I think that other survivors and their descendants would be happy to know that the holocaust failed to claim the spirit of at least one other person. However, there will always be people who don’t appreciate silliness and won’t understand how silliness can show that someone is happy. They will instead interpret it as rudeness. It doesn’t matter what the context, some people just don’t like silliness. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698/40 "2010-07-15T22:39:23Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > However, there will always be people who don’t appreciate silliness and won’t understand how silliness can show that someone is happy. They will instead interpret it as rudeness. It doesn’t matter what the context, some people just don’t like silliness. There are also people who genuinely see things differently than you out of sincere feeling, and not due to a lack of a sense of humor. I _hate_ it when people snarkily dismiss everyone who disagrees with them like this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-screw-you-nazis-ever-i-love-this-video/546698.md?page=3)