TEI versus Yahoo!

Indeed, we realize that it is difficult maintaining a directory that receives what must be thousands of submissions a day, however, we have reason to believe that some of the controversy generated is really unnecessary, and perhaps, brought upon themselves as a result decisions made tainted with bias, or perhaps as a result of external pressure for individuals or organizations who desire to stifle thought, opinion and free expression, which are the hallmarks of a free, justified and equal society.

The TEI is among the groups listed in the Yahoo! Directory. This has done much to expose our views and our mission to a wide-ranging, active and open-minded group of truth seekers. However, we would like to take this time to bring you up to date regarding how our listing came to being, which we believe to be particularly enlightening.

The original submission on behalf of the Truth Establishment Institute (TEI) to Yahoo! was:

Pretty straightforward. A clear, concise and factual description of what we believe to be our mission written in plain English.

What was actually listed when the TEI was placed in the Yahoo! directory listing some 48 hours later was:

As you know, those at the TEI are not known to take misrepresentation of facts lightly.

Immediately, we crafted what we though to be a very considerate email to the Yahoo! Directory listing administrator who notified us of our newly listed status.

To: Rob Clark <rclark@yahoo-inc.com>

From: tei@altavista.net

The description for the Truth Establishment Institute is not correct.

An unfortunate mistake has been made.

The url (www.truthinstitute.org) is correct, however, those who made modifications to what was submitted prior to inserting it into the Yahoo Directory made a mistake.

We are aware that there are thousands of submissions daily and that this may have merely been an oversight.

The Truth Establishment Institute is NOT committed to proving that the Holocaust never happened.

In fact, the TEI believes that many holocausts have taken place throughout history including the one directed at Jews in Germany.

The Truth Establishment Institute is committed to showing that it may not have been as severe as many have claimed, and that there have been other holocausts that have taken place throughout history that should be analyzed as well, for they may have been worse.

We would hope that this modification would be made since that information was added by those responsible for the listing.

Again. Pretty straightforward. A clear, concise and factual description of what we believe to be our mission with a few statements to add clarity to our previous comments, just in case.

To: tei@altavista.net

From: Rob Clark <rclark@yahoo-inc.com>

Subject: Re: Yahoo Listing

I will amend the comment to reflect the point of view described below.

r

We don’t know who ‘r’ is. It could be an individual or perhaps just a community account used by several individuals to work with submissions. It doesn’t really matter.

Furthermore, the following descriptions were placed in the Singaporean Yahoo! directory listing, the Canadian Yahoo! as well as the Ireland and United Kingdom Yahoo! directory listing:

Now, we were impressed that even though they get well over 30-million hits per month, and countless submissions for directory listings probably in the neighborhood of the thousands per day, we did receive an email from a real live person.

The TEI asks the following question that appears to be abundantly clear and filled with common sense:

Why couldn’t the Yahoo! administrators responsible for the online directory listings simply use the description that we provided? They must be terribly busy, so why go through all of the extra steps when they could have simply used what was originally submitted?

Then a short time later, we read the following headline on a 2/23/00 press release from the Anti-Defamation League.

ADL Says Yahoo! Violates Its Own Rules by Hosting Hate Clubs!

"We are extremely disappointed that while other Internet service providers have been responsive to living up to the standards of their service guidelines and concerns raised by ADL, Yahoo! Continues to ignore its own policy and us by playing host to racist and anti-Semitic clubs," said Abraham Foxman, ADL National Director. "In turning a blind eye to these hate clubs, Yahoo! Is enabling haters to organize, attract recruits and disseminate offensive material and messages."

The ADL continues their bombastic tirade in the following manner:

"Yahoo!, which stands as one of the most popular providers of Internet services that can have educational value, must rid itself of purveyors of hate."

Now, knowing the emotional reaction that is experienced by members of the Jewish community, when hearing anything regarding the words "Nazi" or "Holocaust" or anything that closely resembles unflattering references to an aspect or aspects of the lives of individuals who happen to be of the Jewish faith, the TEI must ask if this is an intentional effort to be in compliance with the ADL, to disparage our organization in order to appease the ADL. Could it be a deliberate setup?

Then almost 48 hours later, we read the following headline on a 2/25/00 press release from the Anti-Defamation League.

The TEI does not object to the ADL expressing displeasure at the fact that there are some organizations that advocate outright violence and hate toward other groups of people. While it is their right to say what they please and do what they please, they must also take responsibility for their actions.

Having the TEI listed incorrectly runs the risk of categorizing us with groups with objectives that are not the same. We are confident that close scrutiny can only benefit us and our objectives.

However, as it relates to the question at hand, the TEI would like for you, who frequent our site out of curiosity, for research or for informational purposes to consider the following questions:

Would the decimation of the Indian population in what is now known as the United States of America qualify as a type of holocaust?

Dramatic loss of life as a result of diseased blankets and other maladies spread by European settlers. The decimation of the Native people is evident.

Would the loss of life experienced by Africans brought to America during the Atlantic Slave Trade qualify as a type of holocaust?

It should, because conservative estimates cite between 100 million and 200 million perished in the Middle Passage alone.

Would the amount of lives lost when America dropped the Atomic Bomb on the inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki qualify as a type of a holocaust?

While not as sizeable as the loss of life in Germany experts cite 300,000 to 400,000 human beings, including women and children were killed as a result of this aggression and the effects of this are still felt today in generations of deformed children as a result of radiation poisoning.

Fair-minded individuals would have to answer all questions in the affirmative, however those with another agenda will always see things the way that they want to see them

It is up to you to escape from the collective mediocrity and comfortable quagmire of ignorance in this society, and look at things deeper than what they superficially appear to be.

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