(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



War in Ukraine and the Germans [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags']

Date: 2022-07-28

I am German, live in Brazil and have been following the reporting on this site since the beginning of the war. I've read the Atlantic, the Wapo, and the NYT for several years. Now that I'm back in Germany, I'm experiencing how people think and see the war in Ukraine. Unfortunately, with a very limited perspective sometimes. So I was wondering where did that come from? I myself am the son of a man from a poor family who, at the age of 17, was trained as a mechanical engineer and forced into World War II, fought there as a grenade launcher driver until 1945 and then worked in inhumane conditions for 5 years in Russia as a miner. He only survived because he was a specialist. When he came back he was 25, in 1949. All his youth was wasted in a war of brown fascists against red fascists. The horror he has seen came up when he got dementia the last years before he died.

My mother's father as a social democrat and opponent of Hitler only survived the concentration camp and was released because there were enough friends who supported him and got him released in the rural area where he came from.

After the war, we children were raised strictly pacifist. Almost without exception, all of the people around us who had anything to do with the army were old Nazis or had a worldview that was more hostile to freedom and democracy. That's why all my brothers, like me, didn't go into the army and started alternative service.

At the time, this was justified and relevant in order to transform our society and make it more free and peaceful. It has also enabled us, as a younger generation, to make peace with our European neighbors and to develop what we have in common despite all the differences.

Unfortunately, today we experience a downside, which is that there are no positive examples in our society of the fact that unfortunately sometimes it is necessary to fight for freedom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Mitscherlich_(psychologist)

Even in the face of the greatest threat to freedom and human rights, the “German” shrinks from taking up arms and fighting. The militaristic German of the past centuries has become the indecisive Hasenfuss of the 21st century. Unfortunately, this also characterizes the politics of my fatherland, that does not dare to stand up clearly and openly for freedom and democracy and against their enemies and in which politics does not manage to honestly get people in the mood and take them along. Although it secretly makes a contribution of almost 2 billion or more, but can't openly and honestly admit to it. Unfortunately.

Since I'm back now for the moment I'm trying to convince people and your website is a great help. Thanks for that. Democrats must be able to fight and stand together. Separating us is Putin's intention. We as Germans have to learn that again. History is a big burden. With a reason, but no excuse.

I try to convince and give another perspective with the information and news you provide, often with success. Swearing is no help. Hard criticism with arguments is welcome.

That's how I feel about my countrymen.

Thank you for reading and sorry for grammatical errors and imperfect english.



And sorry, no fancy pictures or videos.



[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/7/28/2113284/-War-in-Urkaine-and-the-Germans

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/