The North Texas Skeptic

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 15, Number 8
Date: August 2001
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Website: www.ntskeptics.org

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic focuses on refuting claims of Holocaust revisionism and denial, and also addresses the creationism versus evolution debate and other skeptical topics.

Holocaust Revisionism and Denial

This section, authored by Daniel R. Barnett, details a lecture presented by Andrew Lsaka at the North Texas Skeptics' monthly meeting on July 14. Lsaka aimed to refute claims that the Holocaust never happened or was exaggerated.

Before Lsaka's presentation, Dr. Marvin Zirber of the Foundation for Historical Revisionism, who was revealed to be Lsaka in disguise, presented arguments challenging the notion of a Nazi "master plan" for extermination. Zirber cited organizations like the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Anti-Defamation League, noting the absence of a single document with Hitler's signature detailing the "Final Solution."

Zirber also questioned the purpose of alleged gas chambers, suggesting they were primarily for delousing. He cited Red Cross findings of no such chambers and noted that Zyklon-B residue was found in delousing chambers but minimally, or not at all, in alleged extermination chambers. He also pointed out the explosive nature of Zyklon-B, making its use near crematoriums impractical.

Zirber proposed that the term "sonderbehandlung" (special treatment), often interpreted as a code for gassing, actually referred to services for VIPs, quarantine camps, or even privileges like "the right to drink champagne and take French lessons."

Following Zirber's presentation, Lsaka, without the disguise, emphasized that history relies on multiple forms of evidence. He addressed the claims about gas chambers, noting that Zyklon-B residue was found in delousing rooms but not in alleged death chambers. He explained that the high concentration of Zyklon-B needed to kill insects (16,000 ppm) compared to humans (330 ppm) would naturally leave more residue in delousing areas. Regarding the explosive nature of Zyklon-B, Lsaka stated that concentrations of 330 ppm, sufficient for killing, would not pose an explosion risk near crematoriums.

Lsaka presented a 1981 interview with SS-Untersturmführer Dr. Hans Münch, who confirmed that "special treatment" in concentration camps meant physical extermination, including gassing when dealing with large numbers of people. This was corroborated by Adolf Eichmann during his interrogation, who stated that "special treatment" meant killing and that decisions about labor suitability were made upon arrival.

Lsaka also addressed the Red Cross statement about not finding gas chambers, citing a Reuters article suggesting the ICRC may have been influenced by German intelligence. He presented a diary entry from Joseph Goebbels dated March 27, 1942, detailing the deportation of Jews from the Government-General and the planned "liquidation" of sixty percent. Hitler's January 30, 1939, Reichstag speech was also cited, warning of the "annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe" if "international finance Jewry" caused another world war.

Lsaka concluded that there was ample evidence for the mass extermination of Jews, clear orders for handling incoming Jews, and an organized effort to eliminate European Jews.

Lsaka also drew parallels between the tactics used by Holocaust deniers and creationists, including the argument that incomplete evidence invalidates a theory, quoting facts out of context, and denigrating historical and scientific studies.

The article acknowledges the assistance of the Dallas Holocaust Memorial Center, Dr. Zsuszsanna Ozsvath, and Dr. Timothy Gorski. It also provides a "For Further Reading" list of books on the Holocaust.

Web news

Authored by John Blanton, this section covers news from the web, with a focus on the anti-evolution organization Answers in Genesis (AIG) and its founder, Ken Ham.

NAIG (No Answers in Genesis): This organization debunks claims made by AIG and other anti-evolutionists. John Stear maintains the "What's New" page.

Ken Ham and AIG: Ken Ham, founder and Executive Director of AIG, is described as a prominent Christian conference speaker who focuses on topics like dinosaurs, creation vs. evolution, and the reliability of the Bible. AIG is an international organization with a presence in the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK.

The US branch of AIG is building a "creation" museum near Cincinnati, Kentucky. The article notes that opponents tried to block its construction, possibly due to fear of community embarrassment. Dan Phelps, formerly of NTS, is mentioned as being in Kentucky and making things difficult for creationists.

Ken Ham is quoted as saying they are "confronting head-on the secular humanists" and "evolutionists," asserting that "biblical history is true."

The article details AIG's financial growth and mentions their distribution of a newspaper called "Kentucky Christian News." Ham is quoted blaming abortion and pedophilia on the teaching of evolution in schools and describing the proposed museum as "Jurassic Park's greatest nightmare."

The section also highlights concerns about government funding for evolution-related initiatives, such as grants for the "Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology," "Camp Quest," a movie titled "Evolution," and a PBS series "Triumph of Life."

Back to NAIG: The NAIG website is presented as a resource for debunking creationist claims. It mentions a critique of "Woodmorappe" (a pseudonym) for selectively quoting scientific research to support creationist arguments, particularly regarding radiometric dating of Bentonite beds in Dinosaur National Monument.

What's new

This column, by Robert Park, presents brief news items of interest to skeptics.

Polygraph: A bill introduced by Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici aims to reduce the number of Department of Energy (DOE) employees subjected to polygraph tests, as these tests are not considered credible by DOE scientists. The article notes that despite increased polygraph testing by the FBI and CIA in response to spy cases, no spy has ever been exposed by a polygraph.

Power lines: A California Department of Health Services report is discussed, which allegedly revives fears about the safety of power line electromagnetic fields (EMF). Despite previous studies finding no link between power lines and cancer, the report suggests a possible link to increased risks of miscarriage, childhood leukemia, and other issues.

Power-line hazard: In Italy, a proposed law to limit magnetic fields was halted after 200 scientists sent a letter to the president. The article mentions the International Agency for Research on Cancer ranking EMF as a category 3 threat, similar to ordinary tea.

Radar hazard: The column questions whether Paul Brodeur, known for his scare stories about power lines and cancer, has switched to writing fiction. Brodeur warned of a cancer threat from early-warning radar on Cape Cod. The article notes he was fired by The New Yorker in 1992 and claims he has turned to writing fiction.

Skeptical ink

This section features a comic by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, copyrighted in 2001 and permitted for free, non-commercial reuse. The comic satirizes the use of crystal pendulums for making purchasing decisions, humorously depicting a pendulum guiding a choice of a movie about a girl named Debbie in Dallas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes critical thinking and skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, paranormal phenomena, and unsubstantiated assertions. The magazine actively debunks topics such as Holocaust denial, creationism, and various health scares related to technology. The editorial stance is one of evidence-based reasoning and a commitment to challenging misinformation, particularly when it intersects with scientific or historical consensus. The publication encourages readers to question claims and seek verifiable evidence, as demonstrated by its detailed refutation of Holocaust denial and its critical examination of creationist arguments and public health scares.