I agree with the principle concern of this article, but please do bare in mind, this exert: "The east German successor party, "the Left," has managed to become widely popular because it did what the other parties neglected to do - it showed interest in the moods and sensitivities of the population." which basically implies that at the core of the German psyche is a drive toward fascism and antisemitism whenever true moods or sensitivities are invoked. While I have heard that Neo-Nazis do exist in some pockets of Germany, and in some cases they exist in numbers large enough to be considered a recognizable threat to peace and justice, I think it is unfair, unjust, and frankly immature to suggest that without Fascism and Antisemitism the German psyche is incomplete. And while I myself have Jewish ancestry, I also know that at times some people in the Jewish community turn a deaf ear toward truths that don't fit their concerns of self interest, which invokes anger as a result of misrepresentation or an over active imagination, or paranoia or most importantly a focus on the worst of the worst in a society or social group and then the tendency to generalize this reality to a much larger population. In similar cases labeling dissenting points of view as racist or antisemitic is also damaging when in fact their is much room for serious diplomacy, discussion, and resolutions. The kind of aloofness implied in this article can in a very real way inspire and expand an adversary who previously had existed to a lesser extent, giving it life and at least a fraction of a percent of legitimacy. This is just basic human logic. And NO I am not anti Jewish. I have many great friends who are Jewish and I respect the great accomplishments that have come from the Jewish community over the years. But it is just this intolerance and selective self-education that I despise. The vast majority of Germans in the 21st century are good people and they are proving that every day if you take the time to pay attention. Why not strengthen their plight rather then focus on what could be perceived as a small group of radicals who could easily be the subject of ridicule and humiliation. Don't inflame your enemies. Isolate them. In the long run it works better. Even when some people never learn to think like adults.
