Dear readers, Recently, the majority of the European Parliament adopted by a majority of 535 to 66 a resolution entitled the 'Importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe'. Unfortunately this resolution must be regarded as an attempt to whitewash historical fact in order to justify the equation of the murderous Nazi regime with socialist and communist ideals. The only group to reject it was the GUE/NGL. To not leave this attempt unchallenged, transform! europe initiated an open letter, which was signed by more than 170 intellectuals throughout Europe, urging 'Respect for Historical Memory in Europe'. The initiators regard this open letter as the start of a European movement to revitalise the spirit of antifascism that originally informed the founding of our democracies and the striving for European unity. In the face of emerging neo-fascist parties with increasing electoral support and an intensification of nationalist hatred, along with growing anti-Semitism and racism in many European countries, a debate about the lessons to be drawn from the victory over historic fascism has indeed become crucial. We have therefor compiled a number of texts in our special newsletter: our open letter, an in-depth analysis of the revisionist discourse in Europe, which has spread well beyond right-wing and conservative parties and its potential consequences, along with a recent example of the political struggle against it. We wish you stimulating reading! The team of transform! europe |