----- Original Message ----- From: "J. van Baardwijk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 3:46 PM Subject: Re: Scouted: Commentary: Why Europe Sides Against the Jews / time.com
> At 10:06 28-04-2002 -0500, Robert Seeberger wrote: > > > > First they went after the Native Americans, > > > but I did nothing because I was not a Native American. > > > > >There were people who championed the native Americans. > > > > > Then they enslaved the blacks, > > > but I did nothing because I was not black. > > > >And there were those who worked to free the slaves. > > That is exactly my point. There *were* Americans who risked a lot for > others, just as there were Europeans who risked a lot for the Jews in WW2. > But why should I accept (without criticising it) American criticism about > Europeans "not doing enough" when that very same thing can be said about > Americans? There is a clear twofold answer 1) Americans on the list have repeatedly acknowledged that what was done in the past has often not been enough. I can quote numerous posts where Americans have referenced the shortcoming of the United States in race relations and past sins with regards to various ethnic groups. I for one would be extremely pleased if you took the same type of approach. 2) "Not doing enough, like the word "some" covers an overwhelming range. For example, it is possible to say "some Americans supported that attack on the WTC and "some Americans were shocked and horrified by the attack. But, it is not reasonable to equate the two because both statements are true. It is fair to say that the people of Europe did little to stop the Holocoust. It is not fair to say that the people of the United States did little to stop slavery. It is fair to say that neither has done enough to adress their origional sins. But, again, not enough covers a broad territory, and it is extremely useful to narrow things down a bit. Dan M.
