Thursday, July 10, 2014

Why not?

Without a doubt it is one of the most horrible books ever written. It is the rantings of a deranged maniac. I feel repulsed even looking at it. Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf has been banned from publication in Germany since 1945. In 2015 its copyright and ban will expire. German politicians are debating whether or not its publication should be permitted from 2016.

Munich's Centre for Contemporary History plans to publish an annotated critical edition of the book. While this is understandably a very sensitive issue for victims of the Nazi regime, their descendants, and the German people in general, a critical edition seems to me to be a great idea.

Mein Kampf is a historical document that should inform part of the collective memory of Germany's past, and needs to be studied, engaged with, and shown for the work of evil that it is.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mein-kampf-returns-german-ministers-prepare-to-lift-ban-on-publication-of-adolf-hitlers-controversial-manifesto-9562903.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/08/opinion/should-germans-read-mein-kampf.html?_r=0

1 comment:

Scottyboy said...

People can study Mein Kampf.

If it shocks, repulses and disgusts those who read it, then that would be a good thing.

Is it not said about the study of history, is that it helps to ensure that the mistakes of the past, are not repeated?