Re: [Cz-L] Resilience

Christian, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Condemning the new generations for
the sins of their parents or grandparents is not right. We should remember
that

not all Germans, Poles ,Romanians, etc. agreed with the Nazi regime, but had to
remain silent. We all know what happens to good people in a totalitarian
regime.

Do we like to be be blamed to this day for the crucifixion of Jesus?

Best regards,

Ruth

Ruth Glasberg Gold

20191 E Country Club Dr, #1802

Aventura, FL 33180 USA

T 305.936.9494

F 305.936.9992

email: glasgold_at_bellsouth.net

----- Original Message ----
From: Christian Herrmann <cyberorange_at_gmx.de>
To: Jacob Greenberg <grs_software_at_bigpond.com>; cornel.fleming_at_virgin.net
Cc: Czernowitz-L_at_cornell.edu
Sent: Wed, January 30, 2013 7:32:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Cz-L] Resilience

Serah,

you write "Germany took responsibility for their crimes
and is still paying restitution". As a German - born in 1962 - I can ensure you,

it was not always like that. Beyond financial reastitution it took decades
untill there was a public awarness of the German crimes here in Germany.

I grew up in an atmosphere of silence in the 70s and early 80s.
My father served in the Wehrmacht. I could ask him as much as I wanted, he never

lost a word about the war time. I had a Jewish class mate, whose parents were
both prisoners in Auschwitz. They did not talk with him about it. A scary
alliance of silence.

My history teachers in school were bullied by parents when they wrote about the
school's policy towards Jewish students in the early and mid 30s - and finaly
left the school.

I went into a serious conflict with teachers and the director of my school in
1980 when I and other students invited former resistance fighters to talk to the

students. They were still seen as traitors by many. When I made my graduation
some of the teachers took their chance to pay back. This was 35 years afterv the

end of WWII.

I'm not telling this because I think I'm so very special. I'm not; I guess I'm
quite typical for my generation. I tell you because I experienced the deep inner

conflicts of a post-war society - and the long after-life of dictatorship.
Ukraine and Lithuania are young countries. You are right, many individuals from
both nations were involved in the holocaust. And the way nationalists of both
nations are still interpreting history is very different from the way you and I
do. No doubt.

Looking back at my personal experience in Germany and comparing it with today's
situation of young people in NGO's in Ukraine - Jewish and non-Jewish - I feel a

deep sympathy for this those kids. They try find out and to speak out the truth
about the past. They struggle for the right of free speach. They ask for a free
press. They bring volunteers to clear the Jewish cemetery in Czernowitz. They
ask to have the holocaust in the school curriculum. They have something to say
and they want people to listen. They ask for a future. They daily feel the
limitations of state policies towards them. Are we going to condemn them because

of the guilt of their fathers, grandfathers or great-grandfathers or are we
going to support them? I decide for the last option. They are the future.

Christian

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Received on 2013-01-31 08:12:58