Jeff Crowell
Paranormal Annoyance
During last week's pre-amble Gene related an interesting phone call he received from an unnamed source who claimed Boch was an active participant in a radio show, and often expressed on that show, anti-semitic views. Chris chimed in saying he didn't know Boch had such primitive views (I believe him) but then Chris implied something that disturbed me.....something I felt needed addressed. Chris indicated then that because Boch was born and raised in Germany he was anti-semitic in his views and upbringing.
In the late 1980's, my girlfriend hosted a foreign exchange student from Norway who had been to Germany often.......even had relatives, there. This girl stated that after WWII and during the reconstruction period, the anti-semitic views of old Nazi Germany were crushed and, in some cases, made illegal in some forums by the new-born governing establishment, there. The lash-back from Hitler's influence was to quell anti-semitic views, stifle them.....to become more open minded and dispel racism and hatred that Hitler had influenced under-cover of his reign. Yes, there are remnants of Neo-Nazism still within the borders of Germany, but there are just as many hints of such here within the United States.
It caught me off guard that Chris was implying that people from Germany, 'just because' they're from Germany, would have anti-semitic views. That's not to say Boch doesn't have these views himself....I don't know. Perhaps he was, indeed, associated with one or more of those Neo-Nazi groups but that would be the cause of his views and position regarding Jews, NOT strictly because he's from Germany. To say such is identical to claiming that all Americans are wild-jack Christians who drink poison cool-aide at the behest of our religious leaders......it's presumptuous and simply not true. So, if you meet someone from Germany, please don't assume they hate Jews........or like Mel Gibson.
Peace.
In the late 1980's, my girlfriend hosted a foreign exchange student from Norway who had been to Germany often.......even had relatives, there. This girl stated that after WWII and during the reconstruction period, the anti-semitic views of old Nazi Germany were crushed and, in some cases, made illegal in some forums by the new-born governing establishment, there. The lash-back from Hitler's influence was to quell anti-semitic views, stifle them.....to become more open minded and dispel racism and hatred that Hitler had influenced under-cover of his reign. Yes, there are remnants of Neo-Nazism still within the borders of Germany, but there are just as many hints of such here within the United States.
It caught me off guard that Chris was implying that people from Germany, 'just because' they're from Germany, would have anti-semitic views. That's not to say Boch doesn't have these views himself....I don't know. Perhaps he was, indeed, associated with one or more of those Neo-Nazi groups but that would be the cause of his views and position regarding Jews, NOT strictly because he's from Germany. To say such is identical to claiming that all Americans are wild-jack Christians who drink poison cool-aide at the behest of our religious leaders......it's presumptuous and simply not true. So, if you meet someone from Germany, please don't assume they hate Jews........or like Mel Gibson.
Peace.