Re: License to....

[Phil and Judy Rose <pjrose@servtech.com>]

>Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 01:18:15 -0400
>From: "Brad Wilson" <bradw@pobox.com>
>Subject: Re: License to....
>
>>I don't think you meant to do this, but quoting some karate teacher's
>>motivational poster strikes me as pretty insensitive in the context of WW2
>and
>>the Holocaust.
>
>Um.
>
>Wow, you need to get a grip.  Someone who thinks anything Germany has ever
>made, or will ever make, it evil -- because of the Holocaust -- is SERIOUSLY
>mentally imbalanced.


Brad, I don't believe that sentiment was expressed or even implied in
_anything_ anyone's posted on this subject over the past couple of days!
Dee was responding to someone who--perhaps unintentionally--expressed a
seemingly callous "get over it" attitude concerning the people who still
harbor resentment toward Germany because of the murderous horrors inflicted
on millions during WWII. She came nowhere near, IMO, to expressing the
words you appear put in her mouth.

That Germans, German language or things made in Germany are "evil" is
preposterous, and it is far from what is being discussed. The issue, IMO,
is simply the recognition (and understanding) of the fact that many are
still traumatized by the torture and slaughter of their families by Germans
in WWII. Many victims survive, and so have many more of the perpetrators.
Although time does have a way of healing wounds, in a case such as this
it's not unreasonable to expect that the period needed will be
defined--more or less--by the lifetimes of those personally involved.

Certainly there _is_ (was) a time for the rest of the world to "get over
it". But for the victims themselves? None of us have the moral right to
demand that of them. As for us, if we choose to celebrate the Audi marque
as a symbol of German excellence today, it seems most inappropriate to
wittingly connect it with dark symbols from the not-so-distant past.

Phil R.

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