A group of eight Holocaust survivors drew parallels between the current political climate and that of Germany in the 1930s. Some of them condemned the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD).
Eight Holocaust survivors have urged young people to shun far-right parties and vote to protect democracy at the upcoming European Union elections.
“For millions of you, the European elections are the first election in your lives. For many of us, it could be the last,” read the open letter, unveiled in Berlin on Tuesday.
“We couldn’t stop it back then. But you can today,” the eight authors wrote.
I haven’t downvoted you, and sucks that it’s happening, but usually the “both sides” crowd don’t understand that there isn’t much nuance to their argument. For example, Nazis want to kill all non-aryans. Others, want to live. The compromise there is only kill some non-aryans. Is that something you’re okay with?
If not, why do you think talking to Others would change the rhetoric on the Nazi side? There clearly one extremely bad side here, but that’s an easy example. Real life is littered with less-extreme versions. For example, I saw an article the other day of someone who wouldn’t sell their house to a woman of color after they finally met her. What a bunch of knobs.
I agree that culture and togetherness is the best way to cure these people. In general, I’ve started to see racism as a mental deficiency; it’s something that could be treated. But what you’re saying is tone deaf. “Go get yelled at by the far right, maybe you’ll find common ground” is not an experience you’ve likely had to deal with i.e. your advice sounds like it comes from someone that hasn’t dealt with virulent intolerance before. Sure, with someone you like, talk to them…get them mentally efficient again. But fuck off if you expect me to do that to strangers who have, for decades, bullied people like my friends to the point of depression and suicide. Understand that it takes a lot of time to deprogram someone, and you’re not the one doing it. In fact, you want victims to do it.
Finally you said something that bothers me. “Don’t shun the far right”. You’re right that we shouldn’t ignore them. They should be monitored, closely, because they’re dangerous. But stop giving fuckheads a platform. It’s ridiculous that as a race, we’ve had to listen to all the town idiots berate and spew their hatred. Emotionally-immature people get caught up in their rhetoric before they’ve had the chance to grow into a decent human being, and by the time they’re 35, it’s too late; they’re now the racist uncle at Thanksgiving. Americans have a laugh around the holidays, but deep down it’s truly vile. And even if that uncle turns it around at 36, the damage has been done to countless people he’s interacted with. “Oh but he’s better now” just isn’t good enough for his victims.
My kids aren’t listening to all right-wing fuckheads, because I know they’re not there yet, emotionally, to critically think about what the belligerents are on about. If you think your kids are special, great - good for you. But remember that every interview about a christofascist mass killing has their friends, family, and neighbors going on about how “he was a nice boy”. The people selling this bile are much better at selling than others are critical thinking.