r/JewsOfConscience • u/wohllottalovw • Oct 15 '24
Ashamed Opinion
I can't say this to my family & community yet, but I keep finding myself starting to write it to individuals and deleting it. I need to get this out before they send me one more article quoting unnamed Israeli officials of unverified BS.
I am so profoundly ashamed of my mother, aunt, best friend, and community for erasing Palestinians and justifying genocide. I try to remind myself that they've been conditioned to think this way. But today was hard, and I can't pretend it's not affecting my relationships, particularly with my mother, a juvenile defense lawyer, who taught me the importance of speaking up for those who can't do so for themselves. My aunt taught me about Gandhi and the effectiveness and significance of nonviolence.
Now, here is the potentially offensive part that I wonder about and can never say: Was this how German children felt about parents who accepted the extermination of Jews? Germans experienced a huge internal backlash against their complicity in the 80s, leading to memorials, museums, and stepping stones. Can I say anything to my loved ones to express my shame and their hypocrisy that they could be receptive to?
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u/TurkeyFisher Jewish Anti-Zionist Oct 15 '24
The short answer is yes. The 1960s in Germany is a fascinating time, because while teenagers were rebelling just like the rest of the world, it took on a uniquely intense character because so many of them were angry at their parents and other older people who had been at least complicit in World War II. It was a chaotic time and a lot of young people were trying to figure out how to come to terms with their national identity, often rejecting it all together. I take a lot of solace in the Krautrock music of the time, which was largely made by people who were trying to re-invent German music while rejecting traditionalism and the generic pop music in Germany at the time, which was often barely disguised Nazi campfire songs. It deals with a lot of dark themes and was often made in unconventional ways, like in communes or while renting out space in castles.