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From: mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion.jewish,net.religion
Subject: Re: Ordinary people
Message-ID: <5979@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-May-85 11:02:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.5979
Posted: Wed May 22 11:02:28 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 24-May-85 21:10:47 EDT
References: <5692@umcp-cs.UUCP> <1843@cornell.UUCP>
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Xref: linus net.politics:8444 net.religion.jewish:1586 net.religion:6544

In article <1843@cornell.UUCP> cornell!mf writes:

>> [me]
>> What should frighten people most about Nazism is that it was brought
>> into existence and perpetuated by ordinary, "good" people.  It could
>> happen again anywhere, even in Israel; even in the USA.
>>
>> Charley Wingate    umcp-cs!mangoe
>
>I believe Nazism could happen--does happen--in the USA; in fact it has
>many supporters in this country, some of which are active in this very town.
>
>To say that it could happen in Israel displays either a crass ignorance of
>what Nazism stands for, or, worse, an identification with some of their
>aims.  To refresh your mind on who their target is (my people) and who
>their supporters are, here is a collection of recent local grafitti:

[List of anti-semetic graffiti omitted]

You're missing the point completely.  Israel, by the very nature of its
concentration upon nazism, is quite suceptible to some sort of persecution
of another group.  Just listen to Meir Kahane; what he says can easily be
perverted into race hatred.

It is precisely when a nation thinks itself to be most civilized that the
risk is greatest.  Contemplation of the evils of Nazi Germany should lead
one to self-examination, and examination of one's own nation.  When it
directs one's gaze outward, the tendency towards intolerance and persecution
is increased.  This is why I see a problem with the world jewish community's
current fixation with the Nazis; it must be remembered that others have also
persecuted, and unbridled pursuit of evil can easily breed intolerance.  
Remember the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Charley Wingate  umcp-cs!mangoe

        "For the mouse is a creature of great personal valour." - C. Swift