A letter to the editor of the Irish Independent, March 3rd 2005:

"Sir - Ciaran Masterson, in his letter says that the word Nazi is an abbreviation for National Socialism. That is not quite correct. It is actually derived from the first two letters of NAtional Socialism and the first two letters of the ZIonist Party.

"During the Nazi era, only two flags were allowed to fly: the Nazi swastika and the blue and white banner of the Zionist Party. That information is revealed in Ralph McInerny's book, The Defamation of Pius XII."

I will redact the asshat's name, if only to spare him some embarrasment if he ever comes to his senses. This is the kind of thing that anyone with a common sense grasp of history can reject without following up the source. However, I am still curious to see how brazen a lie this is. If I ever happen across McInerny's book I will take a minute to see if the above letter writer made up his theory out of whole cloth or if he corrupted some innocent mention of Zionism in the text.

I suppose there's no fact-checking in letters to the editor. Or much of an appraisal process.