Amazon has reported that “Mein Kampf” has risen to the top spot on its propaganda and political philosophy chart; it has also entered the top 20 best-selling iTunes in the category of politics and events.
Should we, therefore, conclude that anti-Semitism is on the rise? Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, doesn’t think so. In a recent op-ed piece he defends the First Amendment rights of all. Some believe that “Mein Kampf” should not be reprinted in order to keep it away from those that would want to revive the movement. In fact, many European countries have used varying measures to keep it out of the hands of readers. The Bavarian Finance Ministry holds the continental European copyright to “Mein Kampf.” It routinely denies requests to reprint it; the copyright is set to expire in 2015. Other nations restrict the sales of existing copies to qualified scholars.
Perhaps the anonymous character of an E-book purchase or download may explain, to some extent, the rise in sales. But Foxman reminds us all that even if readers are motivated by simple curiousity, we cannot forget the dangers presented in this political text. As an important historical document, Foxman believes, it must remain available to the public, but “not withough the essential supplementary texts…that put Hitler’s writings into context and explain their relevance today.”