Posted on 09/05/2001 8:57:23 AM PDT by dead
The University of Bonn has caused outrage by naming Joseph Goebbels, the Nazis' propaganda chief and fanatical anti-Semite, as one of its most famous alumni in an advertising drive for new students.
Jewish organisations and student groups have criticised the university for trying to exploit the Goebbels connection, while playing down his role in the murder of 6million Jews.
Goebbels' name appears on a brochure alongside those of Karl Marx and Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. The University of Bonn was one of eight that Goebbels attended before joining the Nazi movement.
Describing its well-known "old boy", the brochure says: "Goebbels was a student of the philosophy department from 1917 to 1918. From 1933 to 1945 the close friend of Hitler became propaganda minister and was responsible for Gleichschaltung, the forcing into line of the media and cultural life."
Mr Paul Spiegel, president of the Central Council of Jews, said the university had failed to distance itself from Goebbels and had played down his role in the "mental preparations" for the Holocaust. The insensitive way the brochure had been produced showed "the ignorance of the young generation", he said.
The university said it in no way condoned Goebbels' behaviour. "It is not only grand periods that form part of our history but also the dark chapters," said Mr Klaus Borchardt, the dean. The brochure, he said, kept an "appropriate distance" from Goebbels.
The Telegraph, London
“Goebbels' name appears on a brochure alongside those of Karl Marx ...”
When do we hear the howling over Karl?
even the language is the same: New world order, protection of minority rights...
Nazism is coming back, only without torch parades and hakenkreutzes.
This story illustrates the woeful ignorance of the history of German Socialism, that the Left has exploited. There is a protest over the listing of Goebbels, but not apparently over the listing of Karl Marx! Are the protestors completely unaware that Hitler and Goebbels did not originate the idea of Socialists' demonizing the Jews as a scapegoat against which to rally their followers. Karl Marx did! (See The Lies Of Socialism.) This article would be funny, if the stupidity that it reflects were not so sad.
Frankly, having myself gone to a College that was well known for having turned out people whose views I excoriate, I see no problem, whatsoever, with a College listing some of its most famous Alumni. Part of the academic experience should be in learning how to recognize the deceptive and misleading argument. One does not have to endorse Marx or Goebbels to go to school with them.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
Even more curious would be the role the university played in forming Goebbels' anti-Semitic views. I don't have a source to link to, but I understand that German universities had been teaching anti-Semitism since the 1870s. Being a professional student, apparently (having attended eight universities), Goebbels was probably a confirmed anti-Semite before he met Hitler. I notice from the article that the University of Bonn didn't distance itself from its pre-Nazi era curricula.
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