Listen to Company Store I posted not long ago, and you’ll hear all about mining history in Cape Breton. And I’m sure there might be a hint of guilt there too, FYI, A.
I’ll talk about what I know from studying: German history. They’ve got a lot of guilt attached, based on, well, 10 years combined of warrant causes. Even after that, there’s still about 45 years [?] or more when Western powers stamped in on Germany’s forehead, that they committed pretty damn evil actions against the rest of Europe, and need to repent for their forgiveness. The neo-nazis, etc. can’t really be helping them to do this, either.
I feel like it is for the most part about forgiveness, though. Or calming the nerves of those victims of crimes against humanity. I guess I’m making a case for forgiving Germany. The entire country isn’t comprised of evil people anymore, 65 years later. The nazis have been flushed out. They need to start rebuilding their image, to a point. They shouldn’t be succumbing to that stereotype that’s been given to them. They can be trusted. I know a handful of good Germans. I don’t think we should keep them on a leash any longer, really.
But is there going to be a time when we can let them be, whether self or imposed guilt remains anyway? I thought we were moving into an age of social, racial, cultural acceptance. My German prof, having lived in Halle [East Germany at the time] has told me of countless shots at her for being German, including being called a nazi on a bus. And people are still discriminated against for being black or gay. It isn’t fair. I GUESS 65 years is enough time for someone to get over a grudge. And yes, it probably was the fault of Western culture, and their inter-generational preconceptions.
I’m not arguing that descendants of Hitler or the nazis should be proud of their heritage of war criminals. I’m only saying don’t blame them now, so many years later, for something they had no control over. Forgive and forget, maybe.
Regardless of political history, I love the idea of Germany, and all of Europe, really. I am extremely stoked to be going, to see the architecture, the culture, the general excitement happening. And I’m not even limited to that one country. Travelling costs: pretty damn cheap throughout Europe. I will have free weekends, and some time after classes end to explore, internationally even. England [maybe], France, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, and more perhaps.
I want Europe, for its sights and sounds.