Germany shouldn’t constantly atone for the Nazis.
A politician from the rightwing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has broken with the country’s postwar political consensus by calling for a “180-degree turn” from the tradition of remembering and atoning for the Nazi era.
We should never forget the past, for we do not want to repeat the mistakes our predecessors made. However, Germany should not be expected to express guilt and atonement seventy-odd years after the end of the conflict. It’s done. It is in the past and that is where it should reside. Modern Germans are not responsible for their forbears’ sins as most of them weren’t born. Time to draw a line.
Likewise, it is time to stop going on and on and on and on and on about slavery. No one who is alive today was responsible for what happened. So stop wittering on about it and stop feeling guilty about it. If you want to complain about slavery, then complain about those who are doing it today, not the long dead. And, no, our society is not built on racism, so we do not have to face up to anything.
Ever thought why the powers that be made ‘racism’ the big deal. It was introduced for a purpose. This purpose should be self evident to you.
When I was age 17 there was a fair chance you might be issued with a rifle to shoot whoever. Now that could be racism.
Nowadays it is to let your country be swamped with foreigners without any protest.
Of course he’s right. Moreover the mindset that Germans must forever wear the marks of shame is what has led to the mass migration into Europe. By trying to show what good people they really are, they’ve overdone it to the extent that its now a huge problem. Another perfect example of the law of unintended consequences.
I never ever felt guilty about any of the things done by the British Empire. How could I. I wasn’t there – not even born FFS
Quite right. I don’t feel any guilt or responsibility for Blair & gang. I never voted for the bastards, therefore not my fault.
I don’t feel responsible for any government that the UK has had since I turned eighteen. Living in a safe Tory seat means that my vote doesn’t actually count because it makes no difference anyway.
It doesn’t matter what you vote – they do their own thing once in power anyway.
“If you want to complain about slavery, then complain about those who are doing it today,” Ah, but it’s their culcher, innit?
The war ended May 1945, anyone born later than that did not exist in Nazi Germany. Also, anyone born after, say, 1935, would have had nothing to do with what went on. Perhaps there are some around in their 90’s who may have had some connection. Rather than going on about the past we would be better occupied in tracking the major German financial corporations and figures.
What’s a decent time period – 50 years?