Re: Jorg Haider is Dead
"exceptionalism in the 'evil' department"Originally Posted by Strike For The South
I was referring to the notion that the Holocaust is somehow a unique event in human history, or even in the Second World War - and thus makes the Germans exceptionally "evil". Sadly, ethnic cleansing was a relatively common occurrence throughout much of history - and still is. As horrific and shameful as the Holocaust was, it was neither the largest in scale nor the most brutal in nature - even in terms of WW2.
A Russian politician who praises the Red Army is not automatically assumed to support wanton genocide and neither is an proud American politician assumed to support using nuclear weapons against innocent women and children. Yet somehow a German or Austrian politician who acknowledges the heroism and sacrifice of honorable German soldiers is assumed to hold Nazi views. It's a double standard that is thankfully subsiding as we move farther from the conflict.
Just to be clear, I'm in no way discounting the atrocity that was the Holocaust in any way. I just feel it gets an inordinate amount of attention for reasons that are not historically justified. It has become a profitable industry.. and frankly, the deliciously evil German archetype is much more interesting to portray in movies and such than some bland and obscure Russian gulag commandant.
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