Germany's Troubling Debate Over Holocaust Education

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


Hat tip to Shirley and Gatestone Insitute


Soeren Kern has an interesting article in the Gatestone Institute about Germany's (supposed) dilemma about Holocaust education as it pertains to recent immigrants-specifically Muslims.

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/5929/germany-muslims-holocaust-education

In the last decades, Germany has done what I consider an admirable job in educating their young generations about the Holocaust. Now because of their restive Muslim immigrants, many of whom harbor anti-Jewish attitudes, the country is now engaged in a debate over whether they should bother Muslim children with visits to concentration camps. The argument goes that as recent immigrants, they are not responsible for the Holocaust.

Either are the young native Germans, but as German citizens, they must understand their country's past. The idea is that it never happens again. It is in that same spirit that we educate our children about slavery and segregation. We don't want it to happen again. New immigrants to America? Sorry, but you also need to understand our past-both good and bad.  As I recall, the wave of Irish and Italians who came here arrived after the Civil War. Their descendants are in the same boat as the rest of us even if their ancestors had no role in slavery.

Those who wish to exempt immigrant children, I suspect, are really concerned about not offending them with expressions of sympathy for Jews. Let's face it: Many of these immigrants come from countries that still think Hitler was a good guy. After all, Mein Kampf (Mein Jihad) is still a best seller in many Middle Eastern countries.

Germany must not abdicate its role in educating their young about their unfortunate past. Those who choose to immigrate to Germany and remain, must also understand their adopted country's history.