VPO & Haider: Empty
Declarations
By William Osborne
[Sent to various lists
February 4, 2000.]
For those who might not
know, Austria's newly elected
far-right/neo-Nazi "Freedom Party" has been given half of the
ministerial posts in the Austrian Federal Government. (The party's leader, Joerg Haider, has praised the employment
policies of Hitler and has referred to the concentration camps as
"punishment camps." The
Freedom Party now heads the Austrian Department of Justice.) The European Union has threatened Austria
with sanctions. And some of its
leaders, such as the foreign minister of Belgium, Louis Michel, have hinted
that a way might be found to expell Austria.
Israel has recalled its Austrian ambassador.
The issue is very serious
since several other European countries have strong far right/neo-Nazi parties
whose legitimacy will be enhanced by the inclusion of the Freedom Party in
Austria's government.
In what the new Austrian
coalition describes as a "pre-emptive political strike" against its critics,
Haider and his conservative party partner, Wolfgang Schleussel, signed a
manifesto acknowledging Austria's responsibility "arising out of the
tragic history of the 20th century and the horrendous crimes of the National
Socialist (or Nazi) regime."
Shortly afterwards Haider
criticized the President of Austria, Thomas Kleistil, for forcing him to sign
the declaration, terming it "an affront to the Austrian public."
The declaration has
impressed few. German Defense Minister
Rudolf Scharping said during a visit to Israel that the declaration
"sounds like lip service" and that Austria is making "a historic
mistake." US State Department
spokesman James Foley said that any suggestion that "our concerns would
evaporate simply on the basis of a statement is not credible."
This must seem familiar to
members of the IAWM. The Vienna
Philharmonic first said it would allow membership to women 1981, but 19 years
of "lip service" has produced nothing. The IAWM has learned that its concerns about the VPO cannot
"evaporate simply on the basis of a statement." The orchestra steadfastly refuses to hold
blind auditions through all rounds, and continues to exclude women and
non-whites. It even requires a photo
with job applications. Both the VPO and
Haider illustrate that the declarations of bigots under pressure mean little.
Carnegie Hall should end its
duplicity and stop inviting the Vienna Philharmonic for yearly concerts. As Bernhard Holland noted in the _New York
Times_ last October, "The Vienna has become almost as much of an
institution in New York as it is at home." The Vienna Philharmonic cannot separate itself from Haider as
long as it continues to reflect the same values of sexism and racism. Nothing but the inclusion of women and
non-whites will show that it has changed.
Actions speak; empty words meaning nothing.
William Osborne