RE: [Leica] Riefenstahl Dies

["bdcolen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

I find it far more likely that someone such as yourself, with what
appear to be your political leanings, would have been sent to the camps
as an undesirable. But obviously, if you think otherwise, who am I to
argue.

As to the question of mass psychosis...No, not a mass psychosis. Rather
the preaching of an anti-Semitic, authoritarian, nationalistic message
to a people who wanted to hear and respond to just such a message. 

BTW - I would never presume to judge those who were scared to resist -
the pressures, and physical dangers, were enormous, way beyond anything
those of us who didn't live through it, or who didn't live under
Communism, can imagine. I do, however, presume to judge those who
actively supported the regime.

Best

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Johnny
Deadman
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 2:41 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Riefenstahl Dies


Well, I say such a thing because it is true. Unless you believe that 
Germans were seized by a mass psychosis between 1933 and at least 1939 
and probably beyond, you have to assume that they were a people much 
like any other and therefore that in the same circumstances other human 
beings would have acted very similarly.

Neither you nor I can imagine how we would have felt had we lived 
through WWI and the treaty of Versailles and the russian revolution and 
the Weimar republic and all the rest of it. Statistically speaking, 
about half of us, had we grown up in Germany and been living in Germany 
in the thirties, would have supported Hitler. And who are you or I to 
say we would not have been one of them. I have been taken in by 
politicians -- haven't you?

I have been thinking about this a lot recently because I am writing a 
movie about a 'good German' in that period who is struggling with the 
decision as to whether or not to betray his country in an attempt to 
bring down Hitler, and have been forced to think myself into the minds 
of ordinary people like his wife and his work colleagues as they go 
about their business. Dramatizing the process by which he comes to his 
decision has been very interesting.

A little humility is always in order when judging the mistakes of the 
past.



On Tuesday, September 9, 2003, at 02:07 PM, bdcolen wrote:

> I seriously doubt that you would, Johnny, and I wonder why you would 
> even hypothetically say such a thing.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Johnny 
> Deadman
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 1:11 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Riefenstahl Dies
>
>
> Were we to all be suddenly transported back to pre WWII Germany 
> without the benefit of hindsight it is a sobering thought that about 
> half the people on this list would be supporters of Hitler (I have no 
> idea how many Jewish members this list has but I exempt them from my 
> generalization). Maybe I would. Maybe you would.
>
> Maybe we too would have been there at Nuremberg with our Leicas.

- --
John Brownlow

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com http://www.unintended-consequences.com

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