‘Trust me, I’m a doctor and Nauru is worse than Auschwitz’ doesn’t wash with punters
Not for turning into putty. Greg Brown, The Australian, February 3:
“We’re not for turning,” Mr Shorten (said) … “Do people want a government or do they want a piece of plasticine … a lump of political putty?”
No turn. Emma Connors, Australian Financial Review, February 8:
The lady is not for turning … (Kerryn Phelps MP is) unwavering in her determination to put doctors in charge of medical transfer decisions for refugees on … Nauru.
Turning into Dutton’s putty? Dennis Shanahan, The Australian, yesterday:
MP Kerryn Phelps … (says) Labor’s amendments would give … immigration minister (Peter Dutton) too much power to block refugees.
Professor David Isaacs, AMA Forum, February 21, 2016:
There are factors that make Nauru and Manus Island as bad as and possibly worse than Guantanamo.
Worse than Auschwitz. Greg Brown, The Australian, February 11:
(AMA) paediatric representative … Paul Bauert … (said): “As Viktor Frankl the psychiatrist from Auschwitz described … in his book Man’s Search for Meaning … (the main reason people in detention suffer is) that these people have a lack of meaning, a lack of any end to what is going on, a lack of certainty … Even those who finally knew they were about to be condemned to the gas chamber at least found some sense of relief in knowing what was happening.”
Who was Frankl? Timothy Pytell, Holocaust and Genocide Studies 17.1 (2003) 89-113:
After his youthful socialist affiliation, Frankl … joined the Fatherland Front — a fascist organisation in Austria in … 1934 … In 1936 and 1937 he participated … in all four seminars … of the Goring Institute … founded by … the cousin of Hermann Goring … “to assemble in the spirit of the National Socialist German government” physicians who … willing to … practice a psychotherapeutic medicine in the spirit of a National Socialist worldview” … After the 1938 Anschluss, Frankl … took a job … at the Rothschild Hospital … (which) was taken over by the Nazi authorities … (and conducted) experimental brain surgeries on … (Jewish) patients … (although he) had no training in neurosurgery ” … Frankl confessed: “I was in Auschwitz only three or four days … On Frankl’s claim that attitudinal values could turn tragedy into triumph, (Lawrence) Langer wrote: “If this doctrine had been more succinctly worded, the Nazis might have substituted it for the cruel mockery of Arbeit Macht Frei.”
Reader Robert Weil, Jwire.com.au, February 11:
What shameful garbage from this man. At least those in the detention centres can enter the shower blocks safe in the knowledge that they will walk out having enjoyed a refreshing shower.
Refugee activist Kon Karapanagiotidis tweets, February 11:
Poll: Who do you trust more to do the right lawful and ethical thing when it comes to the fate of sick refugees on Manus and Nauru? Peter Dutton — 56 per cent (or) Australian Doctors (44 per cent).
Herald Sun columnist Rita Panahi tweets, February 11:
How long before he deletes the poll?
… Peter Dutton — 64 per cent (or) Australian Doctors (36 per cent)
Panahi tweets, yesterday:
Aaaaaand it’s gone. If you don’t like the result of a poll, just delete it.
Aaaaaand it’s gone. If you don’t like the result of a poll, just delete it. pic.twitter.com/haBJa3jVdA
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) February 11, 2019