Opinion | NDP abandons candidate who defended the honor of a Nazi

No, the New Democratic Party is not a party of Nazi lovers.

But to this day, it has been a safe haven for a Nazi honor.

Later, Ontario’s NDP announced on Monday that former Ajax mayor Steve Parish will no longer be on the ballot in the June 2 election.

The high-profile politician was plagued by controversy after his relentless campaign to commemorate German naval commander Hans Langsdorff through a street to this “remarkable leader” in a 2007 ceremony as mayor. He came out of his retirement in 2020 to oppose any removal of the name, and stuck to his guns in 2022 while campaigning as a New Democrat.

Through it all, NOP leader Andrea Horwath stood by her strong candidate. No New Democrat left – even if supporters and party members left Horwath in the aftermath.

The public reaction to my Saturday column, and of people in the party, apparently gave Horwath a breather. The column deconstructed Parish’s bizarre obsession with Langsdorff Avenue, warning more people about the little-known story of how he polluted Ajax with a street name.

“I have decided that Steve Parish can not be a candidate for the NOP,” Horwath said late Monday. “The NOP’s selection process has given us confidence that Mr. Parish does not hold anti-Semitic views. However, our party is committed to naming and correcting injustice, and promises to do better – and as a candidate he has not reached the point. “

Parish – who boasted that he had been recruited by the party – dug himself even deeper a few days ago by issuing a false excuse simply acknowledging that he “caused some people in the Jewish community pain.” As if only Jews could be hurt or shocked by commemorating a Nazi fighter.

It turns out he was wrong about it. Among his strongest opponents were the racially motivated non-Jews – newly elected councilors – who overcame him in 2020 by recalling the Langsdorff street name.

The bigger problem with his reluctant apology? It was extremely performative and political – to concede nothing, while concealing what Parish really thinks of honoring a military man who promised loyalty to Adolf Hitler as a “prophet”.

Nowhere did Parish acknowledge the folly and crime of putting a Nazi’s name on a street sign where people walk their lives – unlike perhaps a memorial plaque in a dusty military museum exhibit, or an online history text for lovers. of naval warfare which amazes them at the apparent professionalism of this captain. And yes, I read the letters and tweets from those who fervently defend Langsdorff because he merely did his duty to his homeland – and Führer – as if it somehow deserves commemoration in a bedroom community in Toronto.

Yet Horwath initially stated that she was completely satisfied with his hollow words. Even with International Holocaust Remembrance Day at hand, she initially dismissed Parish’s misplaced claim that only Jews could be offended by honoring a Nazi.

“Steve Parish unconditionally apologized and acknowledged the pain it caused to Jewish Ontarians,” she said at the time, noting approvingly that it was “without unequivocal reasons.”

Some New Democrats saw what their leader overlooked and pointed out the hypocrisy. Other New Democrats completely gave up on the party.

“You’re unclear when it comes to Mr Parish’s support for the renaming of a street after a Nazi naval commander,” wrote Leslie Wolfe, a longtime teacher union activist who announced on social media that she had joined her NDP membership in Toronto. see St. Paul’s ride canceled.

“Andrea Horwath’s statement of support for Mr. “Parish’s candidacy, while also declaring support for the Jewish community and against anti-Semitism, is merely the party that speaks from both sides of its mouth.”

This is exactly what Parish did every step of the way. To look at his actions at the 2020 meeting where he steadfastly defended his legacy over Langsdorff is to see a politician who prefers to preach over pause and listen.

Do not mind the passionate presentations of two Jews at the Ajax Council meeting that day – Rabbi Tzali Borenstein, and Holocaust survivor and educator Max Eisen, both of whose families perished in Hitler’s gas chambers. They and others were well-meaning, but merely misinformed about history, Parish opposed in a utterly condescending tone.

After a weekend of reflection and resignation, Horwath himself had second thoughts.

“Mr Parish did not deny the decision to have a street named after a high-ranking German officer in World War II,” she said in Monday’s statement.

“Perhaps the most important thing is that he did not show that he understands why it is harmful. I want to thank the new grassroots Democrats, community members and Jewish leaders who took the time to meet with me to discuss this issue. “

Parish is not ignorant of history and he is no Holocaust denier because he has publicly acknowledged the deaths of six million Jews. But his is a flickering view of the cold reality of history.

It is not that he is anti-Semitic, merely unempathetic.

As a commander, Langsdorff “performed his duty,” Parish gave lectures to the newly elected councilors two years ago. “The council will want to do what is right … people should not be offended,” he said.

“Ajax has always been, I’m proud to say – and still am – a leader in terms of diversity,” he boasted.

Oh, diversity. Sterling Lee, councilor for the region (and race), had a question:

“How many racist or representative groups affected by the Holocaust were in those decisions … synagogues, the Polish community, the Roma, something like that, the gay community?” asked Lee.

“I’m not sure I will remember it,” Parish replied.

Diversity is usually a major issue for suspected progressives. It seems odd that Parish was stunned by the question.

The town’s newly appointed diversity and inclusion coordinator, Natasha Sharma, was asked for her own analysis:

“Through my diversity and inclusion lens, I think it’s problematic to name a street after a commander and captain of a German warship,” Sharma told the council, noting that she had dug into the town’s archives to to get the full story of Langsdorff’s history – and the greater reality.

“The lives of millions of people have been taken from the Jewish community,” she continued. “It is more painful for the Jewish community, which is still in healing and mourning over the atrocities that were experienced.”

On the sidelines of the Zoom meeting, Parish listened silently – without listening at all. Two years later, Horwath’s NDP now heard the message loud and clear.

Martin Regg Cohn is a Toronto-based columnist focusing on Ontario politics and international affairs for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @reggcohn