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Post by A Kat Person on Jun 24, 2006 2:04:04 GMT 2
Hey Runenmeisterin, thanks for your post before regarding the situation in Germany. Very interesting... I feel that avoiding the topic of Germanic history is going too far, but on the other hand, from here it looks like Germany has done the best job of owning up to an ugly past of ANY country that I can think of! Other countries might look to Germany as an example.. e.g. Japan does not seem too keen on owning up to Nanking, and the Turks have, if I'm not mistaken, only recently began owning up to their past with the Armenians... But again, it is too bad that otherwise innocent symbolism was so raped by the nazis that it is still untouchable. I have a very interesting book (I guess probably banned in Germany!) called "Gentle Swastika" which is full of photographic documentation of the swastika's pre-nazi history, including uses by the Mayans, Aztecs, Hopi, Navaho and other Native Americans, ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, ppl from the Victorian era, ancient Hindus, Jains, etc. in fact it is quite startling how widespread this symbol was in many spiritual traditions, before it got totally defaced and destroyed by the nazis. Anyhow, because the Germans are so cautious, because this past seems to be so keenly in the German consciousness, I actually doubt that this cruelty would happen in Germany again. Unfortunately, similar cruelties continue to happen in many other countries in this day and age, while those of us with these things in our countries' past seem almost blissfully unaware, so pre-occupied are we with keeping such things from happening again in our own countries... there is a similar effect in America, where there is a considerable amount of "white guilt" in regards to past slavery, and there is still palpable anger of it in this country, yet seemingly hardly anyone lifts a finger to try and stop sexual slavery from happening in other countries, where it is still so prevalent... we here are too self-absorbed with our own past to even look up and notice that it's still so common in the rest of the world...
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Post by Runenmeisterin on Jun 25, 2006 3:37:59 GMT 2
Mmh, that book sounds interesting. I don't think it would be banned for it's not glorifying the nazi time. I have worked with quite a few books. You couldn't buy Hitler's "Mein Kampf" but I as a history student could probably get it through the library. I also worked with original NS propaganda books for papers at school.
It is so interesting to read your thoughts because you somehow have an intercultural perspective ... one of my professors would call you a cultural hybrid ;-). You can probably understand some things in America much better. My goal was always to understand Americans and their behavior better. There are so many people who criticize the US but don't really know what they are talking about. I feel I understand much more after having lived in the US and having dated an American. Maybe I would call it a critical love for the country and its people - if we take out that certain president and his entire family. *sigh*
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Post by A Kat Person on Jun 25, 2006 5:19:40 GMT 2
Mmh, that book sounds interesting. I don't think it would be banned for it's not glorifying the nazi time. I have worked with quite a few books. You couldn't buy Hitler's "Mein Kampf" but I as a history student could probably get it through the library. I also worked with original NS propaganda books for papers at school. Heheh that's funny I actually have Mein Kampf (no problem getting it here!), I had gotten it because I was very curious to see what went on in the mind of Hitler (as a psychology student!) but I am just about to throw it out because it's actually so boring I never got through it! The book I'm talking about is not a scholarly work; it's the work of a rather strange but interesting Canadian artist who has sort of made it his mission to "clean up" the swastika's image! But the photographs are legit; actually, a small chunk of the same information, with some pictures, can be found on Wikipedia's page on this topic: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SwastikaSo you can get an idea there. The book is kinda hard to find, but here's the website for it, perhaps if you are interested you might be able to order it: www.flyfootpress.com/GentleSwastika/index.html#top%20of%20the%20pageIt is so interesting to read your thoughts because you somehow have an intercultural perspective ... one of my professors would call you a cultural hybrid ;-). Hehehee that would probably be a very accurate assessment I do feel like I've always taken little bites from lots of different cultures, I love to learn about as many as possible! (I should have been an anthropologist ) This is also partially because I grew up in, and live in currently, THE most multicultural area in the WORLD, which is the borough of Queens in the city of New York. In fact, there are more languages spoken in Queens than in any other simlar-sized area in the world! So, I have been exposed to many cultures, and I feel lucky about that And THANKS!!! It feels nice to know that someone is interested in reading my thoughts this is why I love forums like this, I myself so much love to talk to people from different countries, find out their thoughts and how they live. You can probably understand some things in America much better. My goal was always to understand Americans and their behavior better. There are so many people who criticize the US but don't really know what they are talking about. I feel I understand much more after having lived in the US and having dated an American. Maybe I would call it a critical love for the country and its people - if we take out that certain president and his entire family. *sigh* Well, half of us feel as you do! we're not all dumbasses.... You are right, that many people seem to criticize the US without knowing what they are talking about. Likewise, some Americans criticize Europeans without knowing what they're talking about! Ignorant minds are everywhere. I think what it is, is that people over-identify the government with the citizens... their criticisms are really about the actions of the government, but they take it out on all the people. So, as a result, like many other Americans, I personally tend to feel apologetic for being an American, even though I would sooner shove hot pokers up my......while listening to britney spears than vote for Bush!!! ;D Of course, Americans have historically been very guilty of this as well. Because of anti-Soviet propaganda during the cold war, narrow-minded types of Americans tended to hate Russians. Even though the problem was with the Soviet gov't, obviously, not the citizenry! Because of this, I had a very hard time growing up in the 1980's here as a Russian; people gave me a lot of grief over it, even though I was a KID!!! Granted, unfortunately, there is a sizeable chunk of Americans who go along with this government no matter what they do... but there is an equally sizeable chunk trying to work against them! Basically, America is a nation of immigrants, and it is a huge nation with very different environments and lifestyles in different states... so there are all types here; I don't think it is possible to assign one identity to all Americans as a whole.
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Post by jarmo on Jun 30, 2006 17:34:43 GMT 2
In my hometown, some months ago, they discovered an old WWII aircraft bomb at a building site. 1 and 2 july, they are going to dismantle this bomb. many people have to leave treir houses as a precaution. Earlier living boats (boats where people live on) were dragged away from their spot, which was just opposite of the place where the bomb lies. It is a quite big operation. after 6 p.m. nobody is allowed nearer than 500 metres from the bomb. TV camera's are following the operation. police and even helicopters are available to guide this all. The bomb is not going to be taken to an abandoned spot the let it explode, because it is too dangerous. The bomb is in the very middle of the city... drempelsweg.purmerend.nl/afbeeldingen/actueel/wherebom/OntruimingCirkel500m_140606.jpgAt first, there seemed to be a second bomb... but this turned out to be just a stave of metal... The bomb is a 1900 Pounder... and the army explained some stuff about the bomb at an educational night about the bomb... the shards of the bomb can fly about 600 metres far. (silly that they only evacuate 500 metres around the bomb then ) The crater can get like 35 metres diameter. But it is REALLY amazing... there are very much details about the flight where the bomb should have been dropped... All from the Uk National Archives and the RAF.
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Post by twilightheart on Jul 1, 2006 8:25:09 GMT 2
In my hometown, some months ago, they discovered an old WWII aircraft bomb at a building site. 1 and 2 july, they are going to dismantle this bomb. many people have to leave treir houses as a precaution. When I was in school, we had that very often. They then suddenly told everybody to leave the house and gather in a specific building at the end of the town. And there we stayed 2 hours and when the bomb was dismantled, we just could go home or to school again.
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Post by Runenmeisterin on Jul 1, 2006 14:47:41 GMT 2
Yeah, it happens quite often in my area, too. It's almost a common small side note in the daily papers.
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Post by jarmo on Jul 1, 2006 16:03:59 GMT 2
well... here it is a big issue... there is even an sms service, so that you can get information about how it's going on...
I think it is a big issue here because it is just in the middle of the city... and it's a very heavy bomb...
(16:03 right now... the area should be cleared by now...)
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Post by MaliceGarden on Jul 5, 2006 13:46:56 GMT 2
jarmo i hope you live far from me twi: wasnt nice to have a break from classes?
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Post by jarmo on Jul 5, 2006 17:14:37 GMT 2
I live in Purmerend... So thats not too close ;D
But all went well with the bomb... no unexpected stuff... they brought the bomb to sea to let it explode there... (didn't ecpect they'd transport the bomb past houses etc :S)
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Post by swiatowit on Jul 5, 2006 18:16:30 GMT 2
Maciej Giertych, one of our politicians gave the honours to the gen. Franco yesterday. It's nothing bad in this, but the most of eurocongressmen told that he is a fool and fashist. It's terrifying that people still takes the communist words as a truth. Franco saved Spanien of the 2nd World War. He wasn't as bad as they said. But liquided communism in his country. In my opinion someone just like gen Franco, Pinochet or Pi³sudski is necessary in many of countries now.
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Post by Olli The Drunk Bear on Sept 1, 2006 15:30:19 GMT 2
Great! not sure if any of you guys can remember me saying about closing down the hospitals around my area. Well the government has given the hospitals £50million to sorth the buildings out and such. As I read in the paper. So never mess with us Foresters because we always win I'm glad about this because that means that their are going to be no job losses and everybody does not have to travel as far for treatment.
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Xetee
Clansman
Jarto d'aguant?...
Posts: 218
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Post by Xetee on Sept 2, 2006 17:21:06 GMT 2
Maciej Giertych, one of our politicians gave the honours to the gen. Franco yesterday. It's nothing bad in this, but the most of eurocongressmen told that he is a fool and fashist. It's terrifying that people still takes the communist words as a truth. Franco saved Spanien of the 2nd World War. He wasn't as bad as they said. But liquided communism in his country. In my opinion someone just like gen Franco, Pinochet or Pi³sudski is necessary in many of countries now. Swiatowit, you don't know what are you saying. I'm Spanish, and I can tell you that Franco is a dictator, who infringes the civil rights. Franco didn't save Spain of the 2 nd World War, he puts Spain in a terrible War called Guerra Civil (Civil War). And he didn't liquided communism in Spain. Here are still many communist (like my mother's family) and I have left-wing wiews. If you defend people like Franco, Pinochet, Mussolini, Hitler, I think you are a fool and a fascist (like Maciej Giertych).
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Post by CrazyMary on Sept 4, 2006 7:01:47 GMT 2
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Post by Olli The Drunk Bear on Sept 4, 2006 8:46:59 GMT 2
No way. Steve Irwin? I used to watch his documentaries and he would always come to near death situations but you think nothings going to happent to him. I also used to watch his childrens program before I went to work I can't believe that though
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Post by DaveTheRake on Sept 4, 2006 9:44:03 GMT 2
Maciej Giertych, one of our politicians gave the honours to the gen. Franco yesterday. It's nothing bad in this, but the most of eurocongressmen told that he is a fool and fashist. It's terrifying that people still takes the communist words as a truth. Franco saved Spanien of the 2nd World War. He wasn't as bad as they said. But liquided communism in his country. In my opinion someone just like gen Franco, Pinochet or Pi³sudski is necessary in many of countries now. It's a pity that I didn't read this message when it was posted, I would have givden you the proper answer. Thankfully, Xete has told you the basics, so you maybe think twice before you make any statement about something you've got no fucking idea. Would you like to know why Spain didn't fight in WWII? Do you really think Franco saved Spain from that war??? Then maybe you'd like to know that Franco and Hitler had an interview in Endaya to set the terms in which Spain was to enter in WWII; Franco claimed that Spain were to be given all the territories in North Africa that Spain controlled in XVth and XVIth Centuries. Since Hitler told him that was impossible, Spain did not enter in WWII... overtly, because Spain sent to Russia the Division Azul squad, a group of Spanish soldiers. About communism... yes, it's true that he fought against communism with all his strength but... as usually takes place in this situations, if you fight against something by force, killing people, being a genocide, you just plant the seed for your own destruction. You'd like to know that Franco's struggle against communism was so succesful that in the first democratic ellections two years after his death the party that won was a centre one, the second was Socialist party and third was Communist one... so yeah, he was quite succesfull Please, try to learn first about what you're gonna say before you speak and show you are an ignorant. Oh, and please, try to learn about what democracy is and what it is when the army removes people from its democratically ellected goverment (What Pinochet did to Chile )
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