I recall studying theology in college, and meeting a visiting professor who was friends with my advisor. He'd known several prominent European theologians (among them, was a fellow student of Bonhoeffer's), and got out of Europe to the US, I think, just before France fell -- it's been a few years, I can't recall the specifics.
What I do recall is this: at one point, he mentioned waiting in line to buy various household goods, including soap. A small child was in line ahead of him, and asked her mother if it was really true what so-and-so said in the schoolyard, that soap is made from people? Everyone in line got very, very quiet; no one looked anyone else in the eye.
His observation was that it'd be false to say that there were Nazis over there, doing A, B, C, and the rest of the people were downtrodden and/or ignorant. That, in fact, the entire nation of Germany bears the burden because everyone knew: they knew where the Jews were going, they knew where their soap was coming from, and they didn't do a damn thing about it. Those who actively took advantage of the political/judicial permission to act on centuries-old antagonism is one thing, but it's equally evil (and with this, I do agree) to keep one's mouth shut and let it happen.
Although I must admit that seeing the thelemic law quoted in the middle of a discussion about Nazism being institutionally permissive antisemitism does seem... unexpected.
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2006-09-17 11:16 pm (UTC)What I do recall is this: at one point, he mentioned waiting in line to buy various household goods, including soap. A small child was in line ahead of him, and asked her mother if it was really true what so-and-so said in the schoolyard, that soap is made from people? Everyone in line got very, very quiet; no one looked anyone else in the eye.
His observation was that it'd be false to say that there were Nazis over there, doing A, B, C, and the rest of the people were downtrodden and/or ignorant. That, in fact, the entire nation of Germany bears the burden because everyone knew: they knew where the Jews were going, they knew where their soap was coming from, and they didn't do a damn thing about it. Those who actively took advantage of the political/judicial permission to act on centuries-old antagonism is one thing, but it's equally evil (and with this, I do agree) to keep one's mouth shut and let it happen.
Although I must admit that seeing the thelemic law quoted in the middle of a discussion about Nazism being institutionally permissive antisemitism does seem... unexpected.