robg@mmintl.UUCP (Robert Goldman) (04/26/85)
Charley Wingate writes:
I will not retract one portion, however. Throughout this whole thing there
has been a notable lack of charity, that most difficult of virtues. I
myself have been guilty of much. It seems to me that the 20 SS are a bit of
a red herring. There is no reason why the visit could be arranged so as to
exclude them from honor. As for the common foot soldier, I see no reason
not to forgive. At this late date, we are in no position to judge upon
their actions in the war, of which we know little anyway.
It seems to me that the error here was more one of statesmanship
than anything else. If Reagan had an adviser with a drop of sense, he or
she (the adviser) would have pointed out that this was bound to cause
offense. Being put in the awkward position of having to defend his action
has caused offense to both the modern Germans, and Jews. A better solution
would have been to visit Dresden, and lay a wreath for those killed in the
bombing -- they were the Germans victimized by Nazism, not the SS troopers.
If you'll pardon me, it seems that charity is the red herring, here.
What is at issue is that the actions of the President must be held to a
higher standard than the actions of an ordinary citizen, for he represents
us all in the international community. (ugh! shudder!)
Robert Goldman
MultiMate Int'l.
The opinions expressed here are mine, and mine only, blah, blah, etc., etc.
. . .mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora) (04/30/85)
>/* rdz@ccice5.UUCP (Robert D. Zarcone) / 12:59 pm Apr 29, 1985 */ >At the risk of getting the JDL after me, let me say that you do >yourself, and many others, a dishonor by implying that the majority >of the German people condoned Hitler's actions by serving their >country in time of war. It is very easy for people in our free >society to assume that anyone, anywhere can speak out against their >government and not face retribution. Let me point out to you that >this has very rarely been the case in most of the world. What in the world does the JDL have to do with this!? >Should we let the world forget what happened? No. Should we in >anyway honor the madmen that made it possible? Never! But isn't >about time we stopped condeming a whole generation of people because >they fought for their country when its existence was being threatened? >No? Tell me that again when you see the tanks in the street. Germany's existence was being threatened!?!! This is perhaps the most ignorant statement I have seen yet on the net. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT - DON'T TALK!!!!!!! Michael Sykora
mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora) (05/05/85)
>/* myers@uwmacc.UUCP (Jeff Myers) / 2:13 pm May 2, 1985 */ >> > At the risk of getting the JDL after me, let me say that you do >> > yourself, and many others, a dishonor by implying that the majority >> > of the German people condoned Hitler's actions by serving their >> > country in time of war.... >> >> One ought to reflect upon Nazi strength in the last Reichstag before >> one erroneously assumes that a majority of adult Germans did not >> apporove of the Nazis' anti-Semitic program. >> >> David Rubin >I take it, then, that the majority of US citizens approve of proxy war >on Nicaragua because Reagan was elected President. Remember, campers, >no-one is elected on single issues. > >jeff m The point is, when the Nazis were elected, their anti-Semitism was well known, and while many Germans may not have guessed their ultimate plans, they knew that anti-Semitism and Nationalism were destined to be important themes in Nazi policy. Michael Sykora