Nazi Agenda Re-Appraised
Nothing is ever entirely black and white; one must recognize the grey areas, the nuances, the instances where an ideology may have created an atmosphere which encouraged something worthwhile in the general heat of its fiery credo of mayhem-bent destruction. Some say the devil was really God's alter ego, his sibling, simply more adventurous. One was given dominion over the universe, the other over its depths. Who is there prepared to launch an expedition of enquiry to prove this imponderable?It's far simpler to look at the dimensions of human dementia, to weigh whether anything could conceivably be salvaged from an ideological regime convinced of its moral, human, social, political superiority. Insisting that its exalted place in the scheme of world history, culture, scientific endeavour, allied with the physical and cerebral quality of its people entitled it to conquer the world and impose upon it an ideal of great clarity.
Simply put, that the conquered world be prepared to submit to an armada of men and women representative of a new era, a super-race whose purpose it would be to ennoble humankind and at the same time supervise world events and the lesser inhabitants of that world. In the process unleashing a mechanistic army prepared to do the bidding of an arch sociopath who had the saving grace of great personal charisma.
Laying siege to one country after another, then graciously accepting their surrender. While bombing cities, marching into sovereign but ill-defended countries, toppling one government after another and installing its own puppet regimes. Assembling in primitive mass camps any deemed sub-human; homosexuals, tramps, political adversaries, gypsies and mental deficients, alongside the weak and the ill - and oh yes, the greater European Jewish community.
Consigning them by the millions to a well-orchestrated and documented oblivion. Prudently setting aside their clothing, gold fillings, and other personal possessions. Utilizing flayed human skin for lamp shades, and bones for soap in a war-hungry economy. While the air of Europe stifled and stank with decomposing bodies, with the chimney-stench of the crematoria.
That was the nasty side of the Third Reich. But the side that many Germans wish to cling to is far different. This was the paternalistic governance of a health freak, who launched a propaganda campaign to entice its Aryan supermen to eschew tobacco; frankly bad for one's health. And speaking of health, an administration that pertly taught its population the benefits of eating well and exercising to encourage a healthier mind and body.
Which also touted the great benefits to society of ensuring that women did what women do best: look after their menfolk, cook and clean the household, raise children for the thousand-year reality-in-the-making. An administration that ridiculed music and the arts of a modern "unrepresentational" bent as corrupt, and looted great art of the ages for the greater good of the Fatherland.
But it also built factories and highways to move goods, and railroads to move people in cattle cars to certain destinations. A bustling economy ensued that employed far greater numbers of people than were formerly able to fend for themselves in a pre-war depressed economy. This has always been a nation proud of its cultural, artistic and scientific achievements. It has always known itself destined for greatness.
Somewhat hobbled in its ascent and humbled by the downfall, after 1945. Germans have a reputation for nostalgia. Not surprising then that there has been a renaissance of Nazi memorabilia, a growing appreciation for all the "good" things that transpired through the intervention of Nazi German in national affairs. Germans are finding political correctness grating and tedious.
They yearn to express themselves. So now greater numbers of German citizens find themselves finally prepared to publicly utter support, however limited, for some elements of National Socialism: lower crime rates, full employment, respect for family values. On balance that Germany back then was self-confident and full of itself. It's tiresome having to admit to oneself that German aspirations and self-entitlements led to a time of vividly cruel violence and undeniable genocidal excesses in human failure.
The headline "Nazis not all bad, 1 in 4 Germans say" is dispiritingly disappointing. Surprising? Alas, no.
Labels: Anti-Semitism, Human Fallibility, Political Realities, That's Life
posted by Pieface @ Friday, October 19, 2007
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