Forgiveness, by Gråulf

A while ago I got into a ferocious argument with a professor at the University of Colorado, who stated that all white Americans carry a burden of guilt for our past history of slavery. I hear the same argument about our treatment of Indians, and usually I just let it pass, but this professor caught me in a bad mood. I sneered that while there were slaves in America my ancestors were serfs in Denmark, and were often treated worse than any American slaves by the landowners they belonged to, so don’t tell me what to feel guilty about! Who is supposed to feel guilty about the inquisition, and the thousands of accused heretics burned to death by the Catholic Church? Who is supposed to feel guilty about the one million Europeans that were captured by Barbary Pirates, and sold into slavery in North Africa? Who should feel guilty about all the genocide happening around the world right now?

A group of American Jews told me that I should feel guilty about hating Germans. They passionately explained that the present generation of Germans had nothing to do with Hitler’s Third Reich, and that it is wrong to blame them for something that happened before they were born. I could only shake my head at their muddled compassion, because I know most of their European relatives had been exterminated in German concentration camps, and that some of those around the table had parents and grandparents who still wore concentration camp numbers tattooed on their arms. Their compassion is ridiculous considering Jews are still pissed about being slaves in Egypt 3000 year ago, although there is not one historical record to confirm the Exodus ever took place. I also know from previous conversations they all believed we owe Blacks and Indians compensation for the injustice done to them more than 150 years ago. In fact, something that happened while their ancestors were being persecuted in Eastern Europe for being Jewish.

I have traveled in Germany, although it gives me the willies to be anywhere near that country. I have even met individual Germans, whom I like, and I am very fond of my ancient BMW motorcycle, but I will hate Germans to the day I die. I was born during the German occupation of Denmark, and grew up in a Country Impoverished because the Germans dismantled and stole its infrastructure, so I believe I have earned that right. My Gods are not forgiving, and do not consider forgiveness or compassion to be virtues, unlike the one who got himself nailed to a cross.

Gråulf.