Een antisemitische politicus is iets anders dan een antisemitische schrijver. De excuses van de familie van Roald Dahl voor de antisemitische uitspraken van de schrijver leverden niet heel veel gedoe op. De uitspraken zoals onderstaande waren al langer bekend:

There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews. I mean, there’s always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere; even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.

De familie schreef op de website van Roald Dahl een verontschuldiging:

Apology for anti-Semitic comments made by Roald Dahl

The Dahl family and the Roald Dahl Story Company deeply apologise for the lasting and understandable hurt caused by some of Roald Dahl’s statements. Those prejudiced remarks are incomprehensible to us and stand in marked contrast to the man we knew and to the values at the heart of Roald Dahl’s stories, which have positively impacted young people for generations. We hope that, just as he did at his best, at his absolute worst, Roald Dahl can help remind us of the lasting impact of words.

Lees meer bij The Guardian.

(foto: Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo / Nationaal Archief, CC0)