I have just read an interesting article written by a limey whose grandad was in the Waffen SS.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4734661.stm
The writer never knew his grandad, who was killed in Prague in 1945, so he never got to ask him what he had actually done during the war. What he does know is that his grandad was a member of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, which was the premier regiment of the Waffen SS, and rumoured to have been involved in the execution of civilians and POWs. The writer acknowledges that his grandad must have “been involved at some level even if that involvement was just driving a truck and turning a blind eye.”
The writer’s family have a collection of photographs taken by the grandad during WWII, which depict him sight-seeing in Paris, playing football and passing the time with his mates in other benign ways.
…it’s impossible to avoid what one always hopes wasn’t true about the Third Reich – these men are not monsters. No matter what sort of gangsters, charlatans and psychopaths they may have been following, the vast majority of the German people, even the vast majority of the Waffen SS, were normal people.
…And that I suppose is why I find this microscopic story of an insignificant part of the Third Reich so fascinating. If it shows that my grandfather can not only stand aside while bad things happen but actively take part, then it could happen to any of us.
I believe that the writer is correct. I believe that as Americans in a society which is progressing towards totalitarianism, we need to be wary of the phenomenon of normal people becoming capable of doing evil things. We need to remember that just because someone has official sanction and is wearing a uniform, whether TSA or NYPD or whatever, does not mean that s/he is looking out for us. In fact, we need to keep in mind that our government has interests that not only have nothing to do with our security and well-being but are, in fact, in conflict with them. That government is manipulating people to do their dirty work. Beware, for we are in danger of becoming a nation of Nazis and informers.
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9 comments:
MM,
Excellent article - thank you for providing a link! It really was an excellent read and the other comments were worth reading as well.
I know that this maybe a little off topic but with this new Bush appointment to the U.N. there has been alot of coverage in Canada about him. I don't want to seem ignorant and I honestly want to know the answer - what the hell is a neo-con?? It has been thrown around for sometime (years) and I don't know exactly what it means.
If you have time away from blogging you can send me an email. I will have some Caribana pictures for you by then.
xx
Two comments....
Was just in Washington DC. Heard from a source that the current administration is adding 464,000 (yes that figure is correct) jobs to staff the Patriot Act offices in DC. Real estate agents are salivating and there is a bldg boom there.
When I working in a small town in Colorado last year, 58% of the workforce was in the Reserves and most were in Iraq. This included moms and Dads. Whole famliles of kids without parents were being taken care of by the grandparents.
This Iraq "struggle" is so tied into our econonomy. Perhaps soon, the majority of Americans will be employed as pawns, and all our jobs will be dedicated to the "struggle."
Scary thought
ok...anonymous was me....Dr. Bellarina
I've also heard Neo-cons referred to as "disaffected Trotsky-ites" that have left the Democratic Party. Basically, a Trotsky-ite is a socialist that believes in gradual change toward socialism as opposed to a revolutionary change as Lenin wanted. Of course, Trotsky ended up dead in Mexico because of his insolence.
And because Frida wouldn't let him stick it in.
But he put it up my butt, that was really quite enough!
But he put it up my butt, that was really quite enough!
Monkey,
Thank you for the article, I read it and now have a new load of summer reading. I appreciate it! Once I finish "The best Democracy that money can buy" I will let you know.
cheers!
What do you mean "we are in danger of becoming a nation of Nazis and informers"? Are you kidding? It is already here.
Thanks for hanging in the trenches, let the bells toll.
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