I spent five years in Germany and while there is shame, I encountered a great deal of resentment and whining that “it wasn’t us, it was sixty years ago!”

Between that and head-on encounters with the worst of the German psyche, I will never trust Germany completely.

Maquis on March 19, 2008 at 5:48 PM

How many 30 year old Germans do you know who had anything to do directly with the Holocaust? How is being slightly resentful of constantly being blamed for it and flogged into apologies any more ‘wrong’ than whites being resentful of being blamed for slavery here?

My mom is German (my dad is half also) and I was almost born there so perhaps there is a little bias on my part, but I don’t think so. No one forgets the Holocaust or thinks it was ‘great’ (other than extremists) but to have to actively be forced to apologize for it when you were born in 1975 is ridiculous.

It’s OK not to totally trust Germany cause I can say we tend to only trust other Germans from the same areas of Germany as us so it’s a fairly mutual, god natured, mistrust I assure you. ;)

Between that and head-on encounters with the worst of the German psyche, I will never trust Germany completely.

If you’re feeling cynical about race relations just now, the magnitude and symbolism of the following might help you to feel better. Yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed Israel’s Knesset.Expectations were high for the first-ever spee…

Cables, dispatches and memoranda for 3/19/2008……

Yes, the Holocaust happened, and it was monstrous, and should never be forgotten.

But Germany of today is thoroughly ashamed of it, and would love to be given the chance to bury the dead past.
tom on March 19, 2008 at 12:09 PM

It would be great if that past could be buried, but the Holocaust is such a recent event that there are still people living who participated in perpetrating it, I had a German coworker a few years ago whose father was receiving a pension for being in the Nazi army.

And, here in America, we still self-flagellate over slavery in speeches about race.

But Germany of today is thoroughly ashamed of it, and would love to be given the chance to bury the dead past.

I don’t think they’re going to give Israel anything like unlimited support, since they’ll probably approach the Palestinian issue like the rest of Europe. But it’s still great to see this sort of meeting.

I won’t knock kishkes if you won’t knock bubas. :)

Shy Guy on March 19, 2008 at 10:14 AM

Agreed. I wish I still had bubas.

Don’t knock kishkes.

Attila (Pillage Idiot) on March 19, 2008 at 10:08 AM

I won’t knock kishkes if you won’t knock bubas. :)

Buba kishkes.

Shy Guy on March 19, 2008 at 9:46 AM

Don’t knock kishkes.

but the German Prime Minister’s message was one of strong, unequivocal support

Buba kishkes.

But I had no problem with Merkel speaking in German. Most of our Knesset members are idiots in oh so many ways.

That would be such a Historical moment,
with Germany helping defend a country
in which in the past they tried to annihilate
and history coming full circle to save!

Some members boycotted the speech, declaring that it was given in the “language of the murderers”

In that case you can’t speak French, Austrian or Swiss either. Priorities people. It’s not the language but the actions.

As in the past, Merkel’s speech contained only homeopathic doses of criticism of Israel’s occupation policy and its hesitation to commit itself to the peace process. “One must also have the strength to make painful concessions,”

Disappointing.

I’m sorry but the DA doesn’t start talking about a deal until after you stop shooting at the cops and passers by.

- The Cat