Monday November 10th: The 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht
by Mata HHatred creeps in on little steps, establishing itself like a cancer, a cell at a time. Inch after inch is surrendered until feet are gone, then yards, then more until, finally, the streets run red with blood. Every tolerated incursion becomes a foothold for hatred. Many small incursions had been taken in Germany in the early days of Hitler's despotic rule. These led to Kristallnacht. (The Night of Broken Glass). Seventy years ago, Kristallnacht occurred.
On Kristallnacht, Wikipedia says :
In the early hours of November 10, coordinated destruction broke out in cities, towns and villages throughout the Third Reich. The consequences of this violence were disastrous for the Jews of the Third Reich. In a single night, Kristallnacht saw the destruction of more than 200 Synagogues, and the ransacking of thousands of Jewish businesses and homes. It marked the beginning of the systematic eradication of a people who could trace their ancestry in Germany to Roman times, and served as a prelude to the Holocaust that was to follow.
Many of the Synagogues that were burned were bordered by homes or businesses belonging to non-Jews. This country-wide devastation was planned in such excruciating detail that the fire departments were on hand -- not to save the Synagogues, but to protect adjacent non-Jewish homes from catching fire.
Remember.org describes the events of that night over and above the organized and total destruction of synagogues:
Armed Nazis broke into Jewish homes throughout the land, smashed furniture, threw belongings into the street, looted money and valuables, and raped women and girls as young as thirteen before the eyes of their families. Any sign of resistance - even a word or a gesture - was suppressed with ruthless brutality. Women as well as men and boys were beaten, knifed, and shot. Pets were hurled out of upper-story windows alongside their owners. Jews were plunged into ice-cold rivers...Jews were imprisoned for assault when they tried to defend themselves, and for arson when their shops were burned down. More than one hundred Jews were killed; and thirty thousand men between the ages of sixteen and sixty, nearly twenty percent of the total, were picked up and packed off to concentration camps. Goebbels, lying with inimitable crudeness and aplomb, told foreign reporters: `Not a Jew has had a hair disturbed.' All stories to the contrary were `stinking lies.'
Historyplace.com provides a chilling close up of the aftermath of the event.
In Germany, on November 12, top Nazis, including Hermann Göring and Joseph Goebbels, held a meeting concerning the economic impact of the damage and to discuss further measures to be taken against the Jews. SS leader Reinhard Heydrich reported 7500 businesses destroyed, 267 synagogues burned (with 177 totally destroyed) and 91 Jews killed.
Heydrich requested new decrees barring Jews from any contact with Germans by excluding them from public transportation, schools, even hospitals, essentially forcing them into ghettos or out of the country. Goebbels said the Jews would be made to clean out the debris from burned out synagogues which would then be turned into parking lots.
At this meeting it was decided to eliminate Jews entirely from economic life in the Reich by transferring all Jewish property and enterprises to 'Aryans,' with minor compensation given to the Jews in the form of bonds.
Regarding the economic impact of the damage from Kristallnacht and the resulting massive insurance claims, Hermann Göring stated the Jews themselves would be billed for the damage and that any insurance money due to them would be confiscated by the State.
"I shall close the meeting with these words," said Göring, "German Jewry shall, as punishment for their abominable crimes, et cetera, have to make a contribution for one billion marks. That will work. The swine won't commit another murder. Incidentally, I would like to say that I would not like to be a Jew in Germany."
The Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance provides a detailed history and some horrifying eye-witness accounts of this night.
The Wall Street Journal points to the first ever pan-European memorial event, which will be held in Brussels Sunday and Monday.
On the 70th anniversary of the 'Kristallnacht' pogroms in Nazi Germany in 1938, a series of events will be held in Brussels on 9 and 10 November 2008. They will to be attended by several hundred political and Jewish leaders from across Europe, members of the European Parliament, diplomats, and other dignitaries, as well as survivors of the Holocaust. These events will be the first of their kind on a European level.
It is easy to look at something as obvious, as blatant as the events of that night, and to accurately congratulate ourselves for no longer living in that world. But we must be ever-vigilant of the "small steps" that, if left to grow, can blossom into larger cancers, and hurt even more people. Any hatred of any people for who they are, what color they are, what their faith is, what gender they are or prefer is just one thorn on the same evil stem.
As many of us continue to say, we are all connected to each other, all creatures of the same hand, all inhabitants of the same fragile world. We are responsible for each other's fair treatment. And when we see these small steps, we can never afford to sit idly by.
Look at just these few small examples, and think of them as you remember Kristallnacht:
...Jeff Dunham, a well-known ventriloquist has a new dummy -- "Achmed the dead terrorist". Not only are we supposed to laugh at a dead terrorist - a skeleton in a turban -- but the dummy tells 'Jewish jokes' that the audience finds amusing. They are not funny.
...In St Louis, a group of high school students declared "Hit A Jew Day". The school administration viewed it as harmless fun with no prejudice involved.
...The Anti-Defamation League cites a dramatic increase in anti-semitic comments on discussion boards relating to finance since the economic meltdown.
...A Greek Newspaper Headline features a big photograph of Obama and the headline: "The End of Jewish Domination in the United States. Everything changes in the USA and we hope that it will be more democratic and humane.”
...The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors all hate crimes and trends in America, points to incidents of anti-semitism on American campuses in their latest magazine, The Intelligence Project
The Southern Poverty Law Center has posted a map which displays the locations of over 800 hate groups They describe the dots on the map as follows:
"The Southern Poverty Law Center counted 888 active hate groups in the United States in 2007. Only organizations and their chapters known to be active during 2007 are included. All hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. This list was compiled using hate group publications and websites, citizen and law enforcement reports, field sources and news reports. Hate group activities can include criminal acts, marches, rallies, speeches, meetings, leafleting or publishing. Websites appearing to be merely the work of a single individual, rather than the publication of a group, are not included in this list. Listing here does not imply a group advocates or engages in violence or other criminal activity."
HRM Deborah of Palestine points to the fact that a recent investigation by a journalist has unearthed remnants of Kristallnacht.. She also describes the fears of the reporter that found the artifacts:
Additional artifacts found by Svoray's crew included mezuzahs and chiseled windowsills and armrests from destroyed synagogues. A swastika-shaped ornament was also discovered.
.
The search for additional artifacts at the site is ongoing under the constant watch of bodyguards, this after Svoray complained of threats made on his life.
.
Svoray refrained from making his findings public for fear that the site would attract people looking to get their hands on Nazi treasures.
.
"There are no real treasures here, but there is still a danger that the site will turn into a circus of auctions organized by skinheads," he said, "the site is drawing more and more interest; people are starting to dig."
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Svoray stressed that an organized archeological dig will be required in order to unearth all of the Jewish artifacts at the site.
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The journalist also reported of a plan to erect a hunting museum in Goering's honor at the site. He said that so far his repeated efforts to scuttle the plan have failed.
There are lessons in the broken glass of Kristallnacht. Do not forget. Be vigilant. Stand up to hatred. This lesson is not about being politically correct, it is about deciding to live a life of acceptance and inclusion. There is evil in the world. That evil has the heart of hatred. Our love for our fellow human beings must be and act stronger than any hatred. And that means watching, and stopping "the little steps".
In 1993 in Billings, Montana, a rock was thrown into a child's window of a Jewish home in which he had displayed a Menorah. Isaac, the young boy, was frightened. There had been some other anti-semitic events in the community. His mother spoke of her fear at the local town meeting. Soon the whole town placed Menorahs in their windows, standing in solidarity with Isaac and his family.
That is one kind of love that heals, that stands defiantly in the face of hatred.
Mata H, CE for Religion & Spirituality, can also be found blogging at Time's Fool.
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Comments
Actually, the school
Actually, the school administration and teachers, as well as several parents, were appalled at the "Hit a Jew" day in St. Louis. The students were disciplined, including being suspended from school, and other punishment may be forthcoming. As soon as the Principal heard about the event, she called a school wide assembly to address the incident. The school board is working with the local Jewish community to see how to prevent such actions in the future.
More at the St. Louis Jewish Light web site.
thanks for the clarification
I am glad responsibility is being taken. I was going by this quote from local news station KCDK : "Educators said they do not believe the incident was done with hatred or prejudice. "
KC~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
The educators took what
The educators took what happened very seriously. However, and the Jewish community is backing them on this, they feel that the kids were really stupid and got carried away, but they weren't acting out of hatred.
I don't know if this will make matters worse, I'm not doing well in Blogher comments, but prejudice awareness in St. Louis tends to focus more around issues of race, not religion. These kids would never do a "Hit a black person day", they would know that this is wrong. That's why the schools want to start an education program for the kids about the Holocaust and bigotry against the Jewish people, so that the kids understand why this act was wrong.
I'm probably saying it wrong, the link I gave you has more detail.
I know someone who knows the superintendent
there
And assures me that the super is extremely not tolerant of this kind of thing.
I just keep going back to the "hit" part - not even the "Jew" part (though that's of course wrong too). Where do kids get an idea that anything related to hitting should be part of a spirit day?? Seriously - my kids ranger from elem. through high school - in public school - I've never heard of such a thing - nor had my kids.
Jill
Writes Like She Talks
Thanks Shelley
I do not think we really disagree. I'm glad that measures are being taken. I'm glad you commented, by the way, and I hope you comment often and on any post that engages you. I really believe in the quality of dialogue that can happen here -- so stay, please!
It was the quotation that got to me.
I guess if you and I were sitting at the same table having a cuppa tea (or coffee) I'd wonder out loud what ingredient allowed the kids to single out Jews when they would know, as you said, that singling out blacks was wrong. They may indeed not overtly hate, but there must be some sense of something that they experience or assume that allowed them to choose Jews to single out, no? Why do you suppose they didn't hit Catholics or Methodists or all Christians? What mechanism was in place around black students that went wrong around Jewish students -- let's talk about that, and see what we might figure out, ok?
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
My guess? The Jewish were
My guess? The Jewish were "other". The group targetted before the Jewish were tall people. "Hit a tall person", again basing the focus of the action on those who were different in some way.
The school had planned an educational series on different voices, and discrimination, for the Spring. They've since moved it up, because what the "Hit a Jew" day represented more than anything else is a lack of respect for those who are different.
I don't necessarily think the kids were anti-Semitic as much as they were just plain, anti-. Intolerant, egged on by their buddies, neck deep in group think, and singling out groups of people who were different; escalating what started out as "friendly" contact, into aggressive contact.
Again, my knowledge is second hand, so this is only my opinion.
I hear what you're saying
I don't know that any of us can know what was in the children's minds, and I know others have explained as you have. It's plausible though I have my reservations about it -but that's really not what's important.
Again - I was just reiterating that I can't fathom where hitting anyone comes in as part of showing spirit. You can guess I'm not big on hazing etc. either - I specifically chose a college that had no Greek societies - I just don't like that kind of thing - but I do realize many people accept it, like it etc.
Jill
Writes Like She Talks
I agree. Too often events
I agree. Too often events start out harmlessly and end badly, because kids (and sadly, adults at times, too) get too caught up in their identity within a group, and don't think through their actions.
If I were any employed at any school, I wouldn't encourage any form of group physical contact-no, not even "hug a friend". Even with that, one could see how it could be abused.
When I was about these kids' age, for some reason we all developed a belief that we could levitate each other with just the power of our minds. We would have kids lay down on desks, and worked to pick them up with one finger on each hand. I could have sworn we could do it, too.
Not just levitating, either. As a group, we thought we could see ghosts, that houses were haunted, the whole thing. Not just a few of us -- our entire class. This was long before goth was cool.
That is, until one day when the principal pulled us all together and told us to cut the crap out, because we were scaring our parents.
Kids apart would never do things that kids together would do. If the school teaches one thing based on this event, in addition to respecting those who are different, it's to learn to think as individuals, and never get so caught up in "groups" that they lose their moral base.
That's a great point, Shelley
That is a really good point about teaching kids to think for themselves. My middle child had a four day three night camp experience with her grade a couple of weeks ago and I told her before hand that she needed to think for herself and not do what she knows she shouldn't do even if others are doing it and so on. She totally got it and actually told me about a couple of incidents where she did not choose to go along with the more mischievous behavior. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't always make good choices, but that doesn't mean that as a parent I shouldn't give direction.
Anyway - thanks for that comment - again - really good point.
JillWrites Like She Talks
Shelley and Jill
I think you are on to something here -- the "group-think" mentality always ends up badly. It sets up a limited number of people called US, which means that everyone else is THEM...and suddenly the THEM gets to be suspect, other, not as cool, whatever....
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
Memories are short
We need to be told over and over again about past horrors so that we never forget. It's incredible how short memories are. I know why the Museum of Tolerance was created here in Los Angeles. Thank you for reminding us all, Mata.
http://www.storyrhyme.com/jcsblog
JC
Thank you for your kind words.
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
Threats of violence against Prop 8 supporters
too
Now there are threats of violence against anyone who supported Prop. 8 including churches, particularly Mormon churches. All for exercising their right to vote. The people of many churches and synagogues gave their money and time and votes to help defend the 8000 year culturally and globally accepted definition of marriage while the opponents gave their time, money, and votes to defeat it. The supporters of Prop 8 had to fight intense media onslaught while the opponents had the media's support. Prop 8 would not have been on the ballot had 4 judges not violated the will of the people after Prop 22 passed and they overturned the 4 million vote majority who wished to keep marriage between a man and a woman and still have domestic partnerships for homosexuals, thus giving them the same rights as married couples without redefining marriage.
The violence that the opponents of Prop 8 are threatening is every bit as disgusting and horrific as the ones perpetrated against Jewish people 70 years ago. So please, if you hear of this kind of intolerace against people's right to vote their conscience, stand up against the violent threats and point it out to them. It would be a very sad day when people are threatened with violence if they vote the "wrong" way.
teresah
I personally disagree with your political position entirely. But no one should have to endure death threats for the way they vote in America.
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
Teresah, I'll proudly stand
Teresah, I'll proudly stand with you on this issue. Marriage is between one man and one woman, and has been so defined from the beginning of humanity. (Had it not been so, humanity would not have lasted long. Hmm?)
But, in addition to that moral and social position, the Prop 8 battle highlights the creeping danger to our political system. If a few judges can overrule the ballots of the people, how long will it be before the people can no longer express our will by voting? And then how long before we cannot express our opinions by voice or printed word?
The transition of power in America from one presidential administration to the next, from one legislature to the next, from one governor to the next has since our beginning been a marvel of constitutional government. The people vote; leadership changes. Without riots or threats.
Until now, I guess; until enough segments of the population think the time has come to move backward from our civic marvel. These segments -- for they do seem to operate by group-think, or, more accurately, group-emotion -- apparently want to take governing to the streets. And that leads to no government at all, but to mob rule. For we're not talking about "mere" protesting, even in noisy crowds. We're talking about true mobs seeking to force their way by intimidation and attack.
No, I'm not exaggerating. Our discussion here is about incrementalism.
The media's continued support of Prop. 8 opponents is deplorable. But this is not new. The press's responsibility to truth has been steadily dissolving for about 40 years. It didn't happen overnight. The press is no longer a voice for truth for THE PEOPLE, but only for THEIR people. They too must now be counted among the mobs.
Thank you for a wonderful post
Mata,
Thank you so much for writing about the event, the commemoration and the long-term relevance of Kristallnacht. Sadly, it is only one example of many that demonstrate how wrong things can go. Thank you for urging vigilance. I don't get down about being told I'm too sensitive because I feel so strongly that if I don't feel it, there may be no one else who will. I'll take the hits and consider, but to everyone, if it just doesn't sit well with you, say something - if not for anyone else, then at least for yourself.
Jill
Writes Like She Talks
thanks Jill
Martin Niemoeller, a German pastor who survived Dachau is the attributed author of the following:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
Apathy is also poisonous
One of the hardest things for me to hear while I was living in Austria (I'm Jewish) is "why should I care about those events. I wasn't there. It's not my fault." And while I don't happen to think you can automatically paint post WWII generations as racists, I do think that a tacit denial of history is a very dangerous path to take. I had a young Austria guest who told me that "We don't talk about the war." How can you deny history? How can you "not talk about the war"? I swear, I did not understand.
Americans aren't immune from the past - we have the shameful mark of slavery and the Japanese internment camps. We don't have to learn about history because we're seeking to place blame, we have to learn about it so we can create a better future. Thanks for the reminder.
Nerd's Eye View
Thanks, Pam
The only reason to not talk about it is to not take responsibility for it, it seems to me. Simon Wiesenthal, the famous "Nazi hunter" who died in 2005 based his research center in Austria for that reason. Here is a comment from the representative of the Austrian government at Wiesenthal's funeral:
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
I post I wrote following up
Hi Mata - I've now written about this here with a slightly different background - thank you again for finding the poem and the wonderful clip.
Jill
Writes Like She Talks
Jill, thanks
Thanks for your article --- we all need to stand up for anyone who is the victim of prejudice or worse. Bottom line: Donne's words (sexist language revised by ed.)
John Donne
Meditation 17
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions
"No one is an island, entire of itself; every person is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any person's death diminishes me, because I am involved in humanity; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee..."
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
The Poem
Thank you for posting the N.M. poem. I've heard it before but forgot about it. During the last few weeks of the presidential campaign, I received several racist emails with photos that were supposed to be funny. They were forwarded at least 30 times before they reached my in-box. I only knew the person who forwarded them directly to me. They were hateful and harmful. I told the sender what I thought about the emails and why he shouldn't be going along with accepting and forwarding them. The emailer thought I was being too sensitive and that the emails were just a joke and that everyone forwarding them was voting for Barack Obama anyway so what was my problem? I find that very scary. I'm grateful for the new generation that drove this presidential campaign. But I am also puzzled that so many voted to outlaw gay marriage. I intend to protest the ban on gay marriage and your poem confirms my belief that these issues that effect human rights and equality are everyone's issues. I'm so glad I was browsing the blogs today and found your comments, so thanks! (actually, I just became a member today)
bulldogmom
Welcome to BlogHer!
I share your deep puzzlement about getting questionable emails. And I find the responses you got to your raising the issue equally confounding. You are right -- human rights are everyone's issues. And it is important to keep raising the concern whenever we can -- exhausting, but needful for soul health and world health.
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
Hatred creeps up in little steps ...
A highly quotable opening sentence, Mata, for a provocative and educational blog post. I wanted to add to the discussion the following excperpt that I used for a post during the election season when we were seeing attempts to encourage paranoia about "the other," a dangerous dance with hate:
People always assume another horror like The Jewish Holocaust could not happen in America or any other modern democracy, but the reality is this kind of darkness rolls in like faint mist. If we ignore rhetoric that encourages bigotry, the mist thickens and spreads.
Thank you for another excellent post, Mata.
Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link, Obama the Comedian: Rahm Emanuel's Roast plus Obama's Dating Advice.
exactly!
When you said "this kind of darkness rolls in like faint mist I said "YES" right out loud. It starts as something that people hope will just go away. But what needs to happen is that we deliberately stand up for what we know is right, and good and whole.
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
"never again" applies to all people
I'll tell you what horrifies me. It's not that people ignore history, it's when they misinterpret it. In the last few years, pundits like Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter have spoken about the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII in glowing terms and went onto suggest that we should create camps for Americans of Arab cultures. That is sick. And the fact that these views have not marginalized these women in any way shows how much their messages of hate resonate with a considerable segment of the American population.
When Krsitallnacht happened, a lot of people refused to believe that a modern, civilized country like Germany would turn against its own citizens like that. But it did. And without vigilance around the world, it will happen again (and is happening in places like Darfur).
Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants
You are right Suzanne
Thanks for bringing up those examples, you are absolutely right. I haven't read any of the books written by those women, but I have read about Malkin's book and the internment thing.
The messages of hate resonating is something that I agree is deeply disturbing, and the fact that people like Limbaugh just continue to feed it, well, I'm seeing it in the Ohio political blogs too - just continued, shameless pushing - last night I read one that said, "hey, the KKK is just a community organizer, what's the big deal."
Sigh. It's almost like there are people who want to say, this is what you voted for? This is what we'll give you back. And yet these are the same people who divide us up into real and not real Americans? With that kind of behavior, it's easy to see why it's so confusing to point out where that line is.
Jill
Writes Like She Talks
yes, you are right
Either it applies to everyone, or it applies to no one. There is no "middle ground" where hatred is concerned.
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool
Mata, what an amazing
Mata, what an amazing piece. Thank you. You're so right, hatred creeps in - I had an instance of it today - with a man that I was hiring to take care of a problem on a property that I manage for a friend. The "handyman" made an assumption about the tenant and made an ugly comment and laughed about it - I let him know that I wasn't on board with his brand of hate, although I felt that maybe I was too gentle about it - I really wanted to scream at him. I know that he felt that what he was saying was no big deal, but of course it was. He backpedaled through the rest of the conversation and I hope that it makes him think about his words, and who he's speaking to, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
I come across this too often and it never fails to stop me in my tracks. I wonder if my response to these people is enough - should I be stronger with my words? I don't know if that will make the offender defensive and give them the opportunity to feel some sort of twisted justification. I guess I hope that maybe the gentler, no-nonsense, but unemotional approach that I take when I repsond to this sort of comment will be effective. I just don't know. But thank you for such a though provoking article. I believe that opening the discussion is the only way to change the things that need to change.
Christine
It's My World. Welcome To It.
Blog: http://www.colormepink.com
Homeschool Blog: http://web.mac.com/colormepink/
Jewelry Blog: http://www.starbrightjewels.com/blog
Every situation is different
Thanks for your comment, Christine. When I hear ugly comments like that, I have three goals.
1. To make the person stop spewing.
2. To let them know that there is a line of acceptability that he/she has crossed.
3. To help them understand, if possible, why that remark is inappropriate.
Some people listen. Some people stop the immediate behavior but pick it up later. Some people do not want to understand. But there is merit in attempts on any and all levels. Even if all that happens 'for the good' is that you make it clear to someone that you do not allow such remarks in your presence, then still, a good thing has been done.
~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool