We could use a heartwarming story right about now
And trust me, it is an encouraging and touching one. That’s true even though it’s about a German woman, born out-of-wedlock to a German mother and a Nigerian father and given up for adoption, coming to terms with learning at the age of 38 that her grandfather was the notorious and sadistic Nazi villain of “Schindler’s List.”
And it ends with puppies.
Some innocent people struggle with guilt for which they have no responsibility whatsoever, while many guilty people have untroubled consciences.
errr … this ancestor stuff, it is all about how you spin it:
http://armstrongeconomics.com/2015/02/16/political-spin-from-australia/
“I am first of all Jennifer and not first of all Amon Goeth’s granddaughter.”
Yes, this is very true; and it should be true for everyone.
Further she says:
“I was welcomed [to Israel] with opened arms. . . “
And it is very true that her skin color served as a kind of camouflage. I cannot help but wonder; given that I have seen and experienced otherwise, how much of that “welcome with opened arms” wouldn’t be if she weren’t half black.
Far too many folks act as if they personally were victims, even though they are a couple of generations removed, and as a result treat others poorly who had nothing to do with such evil acts. (whether those acts were the Nazi’s doing or others – too many people like to play the victim and demand others pay attention to them)
I’d like to think that there is a lesson to be learned by reading her story.
P.S. g6loq – now that IS funny!
Good points Charles. Interestingly, people who hold other people accountable for the actions of their ancestors or even people who are unrelated except that they have the same skin color are very selective in their outrage. My son’s teacher knew a black man who discovered that one of his ancestors was a black slave holder in the South. It changed his outlook completely.
Sadly, the Nazis were not uniquely evil. They are only notable because they seized power in one of the most advanced countries in the World. That put the lie to the belief that “reason” naturally led to good.
Despite the Jewish pledge “never again” genocides have not stopped. Since the holocaust genocides have occurred again and again. Indeed, genocide is happening again right now in the Middle East against Christians and Yazidis.
The Jews are again in the cross hairs of those who wish to commit genocide. Netanyahu is a brave man who is trying to protect his own people from another genocide. Unfortunately our own president along with many in his party side with those who wish to commit genocide. The actual number of secret sympathizers will be revealed at Netanyahu’s speech by numerous empty chairs.