Jews and Germans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I do not consider Germans to be generally decent. What they did was not decent. Tricking people into slaughter was a nasty nasty thing to do. Might have had an inch more respect if they had just come right out and said in clear language what they were going to do. Would never trust a German who told me to come and meet on a blind date, heck would not date a German. Would quicker meet with a mobster in a a blind alley. Always felt happy to be LEAVING Germany. The minute the plane took off, I said, ahhh.


Oh, and I am not Jewish.

You seem to have a low IQ.

Yes, so low that they would have taken me off to a death camp. That is why they scare me.

[Anonymous]

So strange to judge a current population for the sins of their past. I understand that the Holocaust was horrific. But, there are many people now that had no role in that. Germany is also far from the only country who has committed atrocities (we don't have to look much further than the U.S. where we all reside? Do you have the same views about the U.S.?)

One of my very best friends is Jewish. We've talked about this and she won't go to Germany, won't buy German cars, etc. I just think this is odd. One thing to harbor such feelings toward an actual nazi/nazi sympathizer. This is something I just don't get.

[Anonymous]

Depends, I find Berlin (and the people of) to be assholes. The rest of Germany can be ok. Munchen is nice.

I find German tourists to be the worst in the world. When I encounter elderly German people, I'm usually as rude as I can possibly be to them, because fuck them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So strange to judge a current population for the sins of their past. I understand that the Holocaust was horrific. But, there are many people now that had no role in that. Germany is also far from the only country who has committed atrocities (we don't have to look much further than the U.S. where we all reside? Do you have the same views about the U.S.?)

One of my very best friends is Jewish. We've talked about this and she won't go to Germany, won't buy German cars, etc. I just think this is odd. One thing to harbor such feelings toward an actual nazi/nazi sympathizer. This is something I just don't get.

My grandmother was in a concentration camp, she still lives about 30 miles from Germany. The "past" is not so long ago, my grandmother is still terrified of Germans and Germany.

I find people who can't "get" where other people are coming from to be small minded sub-humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like Jews, I like Germans. Those are my insights!

+1

[Anonymous]

I really agree about the train remark. Remember many years ago in college waking on an overnight train going through Germany hearing German and seeing snow covered fields - it unnerved me and has always stuck with me. As an American Jew, I have little desire to visit Germany but I don't boycott German cars etc. (as my parents did).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends, I find Berlin (and the people of) to be assholes. The rest of Germany can be ok. Munchen is nice.

I find German tourists to be the worst in the world. When I encounter elderly German people, I'm usually as rude as I can possibly be to them, because fuck them.

In South Asia the Israeli tourists have a pretty crappy reputation. Loud, obnoxious shoestring travelers if you're looking for generalizations.

[Anonymous]

As someone noted, atrocities are not that rare in history and not limited to any nationality, race, or religion. The majority of us, I fear, are capable of evil if it is necessary to preserve our lives, or our comfort, or perhaps even our convenience. That may sound cynical, but it also makes forgiveness easier.

Especially as we recall Mandela's life, shouldn't we strive for forgiveness, especially when it is the sins of parents or grandparents we are speaking of.

[Anonymous]

What is the point of this post? The answer depends on who you are asking. I am sure a concentration camp survivor's answer would be a hell of a lot different than others. This is a rude and insensitive post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is kind of a weird and random post. OP, could you explain a bit about what prompted your post, and where you see your post going?

Fair question, and frankly I'm not quite sure myself. This is of course a relationship burdened by history. I find personalized discussions still tend to be a tad akward or, more likley, just don't take place. So I wonder whether in an anonymous forum one can discuss these issues more openly.

What I'm interested in are issues such as: what's your view of today's Germany? Do you consider Germans generally decent people (but then how do you reconcile this with the holocaust) or not? For Jews with German-Jewish ancestry, do you feel that Germany is part of your family history? Have you been there - and if so what do you think - or not - would you be curious to go and what holds you back?

Full disclosure: I'm German but have lived in the US for a long time. Happy to address questions in the other direction if there is interest.

Btw, I don't want anyone to say anything. If you don't want to comment, don't.

I'm sure you feel what Jews have done to the Arabs in Palestine is also unforgivable.
I do not consider Germans to be generally decent. What they did was not decent. Tricking people into slaughter was a nasty nasty thing to do. Might have had an inch more respect if they had just come right out and said in clear language what they were going to do. Would never trust a German who told me to come and meet on a blind date, heck would not date a German. Would quicker meet with a mobster in a a blind alley. Always felt happy to be LEAVING Germany. The minute the plane took off, I said, ahhh.
Oh, and I am not Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone noted, atrocities are not that rare in history and not limited to any nationality, race, or religion. The majority of us, I fear, are capable of evil if it is necessary to preserve our lives, or our comfort, or perhaps even our convenience. That may sound cynical, but it also makes forgiveness easier.

Especially as we recall Mandela's life, shouldn't we strive for forgiveness, especially when it is the sins of parents or grandparents we are speaking of.

Agreed. I had relatives who died in concentration camps. It only perpetuates the hate to act as if I, myself, suffered. i was born in 1972. My grandparents suffered, as did many other people. But the 30 year old German I meet on the street -if I have hatred for them can only lead to more evil.

[Anonymous]

What the Jews have done to everyone in the Middle East is unforgivable. They have destabilized an entire region in one big land grab

[Anonymous]

A good friend of mine is German. When we barely knew each other she was extraordinarily generous to our family and we have been good friends since. Eventually the subject of Hitler and WWII came up. It was an extremely uncomfortable subject for her but she was open to discussing her heritage in that regard, painful as it was. I think it is akin to our country with slavery and racism against blacks - a deeply uncomfortable heritage.

[Anonymous]

I think Hitler used every tool he could think of, (propaganda, bribery, coercion, etc.) to alter Germans' moral code to regard Jews/Roma/Homosexuals as non-human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I do not consider Germans to be generally decent. What they did was not decent. Tricking people into slaughter was a nasty nasty thing to do. Might have had an inch more respect if they had just come right out and said in clear language what they were going to do. Would never trust a German who told me to come and meet on a blind date, heck would not date a German. Would quicker meet with a mobster in a a blind alley. Always felt happy to be LEAVING Germany. The minute the plane took off, I said, ahhh.


Oh, and I am not Jewish.

You seem to have a low IQ.

Yes, so low that they would have taken me off to a death camp. That is why they scare me.

Are you tall, athletic and have blonde hair and blue eyes? Yes? They'd let you go so you could breed more superior humans.