tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36100279.post2302970579649923279..comments2023-11-02T06:18:52.845-05:00Comments on Past Elder : What's An Armistice? Veterans Day / St Martin's Day 2012.Past Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10541968132598367551noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36100279.post-37515485011407192792012-11-11T21:05:06.900-06:002012-11-11T21:05:06.900-06:00Dear Past Elder:
At least for the millions who per...Dear Past Elder:<br />At least for the millions who perished in the Soviet Union, there is a “Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions” which is observed on 30 October every year – unfortunately with more and more opposition from the state. When I was at the memorial to the victims of the Gulag on Dzerzhinsky Square around midnight on 22August 2001, when martial law was first lifted after the fall of the Soviet Union., I could not find words, so “the Spirit himself interceded for me with groans that words cannot express.” These groans were in thanks to God that this monster had finally been brought down, and for the members of my own family, who had suffered in the Gulags, as well as for the millions whom I could not possibly have known, but about whom I had read and been told about by survivors. So if we want to hear, we can hear and acknowledge those who remember the mentally handicapped, the gypsies, the Jews and any other people who were repressed. <br /><br />In all of this my concern is not so much that one event is more important than another, but that both the German and Russian (officially they were Soviet, but I cannot agree with the myth of Good Russians/Bad Soviets, as if the character of the people changed overnight) atrocities were committed in countries that were supposed to be Christian. It is, in my opinion, fundamentally a long term failure of the Church to proclaim the Gospel. It’s “Lord of the Flies” with grown-ups and real life. That’s why I think Kristallnacht is more important than the fall of the German monarchy, or the Wall, or whatever else happened on that day.<br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36100279.post-66604502995377936032012-11-11T11:29:50.167-06:002012-11-11T11:29:50.167-06:00No problem on the goose, brother! Nor am I saying ...No problem on the goose, brother! Nor am I saying Kristallnacht is of any less importance, but rather that it should not be singled out re 9 November. There are even more things associated with that date, the 48ers for example. And Nazi Germany murdered millions more domestically than the 6 million Jews. And our ally Soviet Russia millions more than that. About whom we hear nothing. Where is their "never again"? 9 November is for all events equally.Past Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10541968132598367551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36100279.post-25990995577829715632012-11-11T11:28:55.275-06:002012-11-11T11:28:55.275-06:00No problem on the goose, brother! Nor am I saying ...No problem on the goose, brother! Nor am I saying Kristallnacht is of any less importance, but rather that it should not be singled out re 9 November. There are even more things associated with that date, the 48ers for example. And Nazi Germany murdered millions more domestically than the 6 million Jews. And our ally Soviet Russia millions more than that. About whom we hear nothing. Where is their "never again"? 9 November is for all events equally.Past Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10541968132598367551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36100279.post-30431611644622771652012-11-11T08:52:27.745-06:002012-11-11T08:52:27.745-06:00As I am sure you are aware, the 9th of November is...As I am sure you are aware, the 9th of November is particularly significant for Germany; it is, in fact, referred to as the “Schicksalstag”, “the fated day.” Beside the tragic event I referred to, three other historical events fell on that date in 1918, 1923, and 1989 respectively: the German Revolution that removed the monarchy, the “Bier Putsch”, and the opening of the Berlin Wall.<br /><br />How do you judge whether an event is of more or less importance? Kristallnacht was the precursor for the death of close to 6 million Jews – for those who lived through that night and the following horrors there are probably few more important days. I saw my first Jew in Vienna in the summer of 1942, walking in the street, wearing a yellow star. It was not until many years later that I learned that he was walking in the street because Jews were not allowed to use the sidewalk. On the 9th of October of that year (missed it by a month), Vienna was declared “judenrein”. To me, Kristallnacht ranks right up there in importance. <br /><br />Sorry I preempted you about the goose dinner.<br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36100279.post-17359410910639448652012-11-11T00:23:15.777-06:002012-11-11T00:23:15.777-06:00I do take up the goose thing but in my Advent post...I do take up the goose thing but in my Advent post, along with the St Martin's Fast etc. Kristallnacht is only one of several significant events in German history before and since on 9 November, and is no more important than the others. Always good to hear from you!Past Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10541968132598367551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36100279.post-73379202943404303152012-11-10T15:00:12.117-06:002012-11-10T15:00:12.117-06:00I really enjoy your posts, because they are filled...I really enjoy your posts, because they are filled with so much interesting information. I thought, maybe those of your readers who have strong ties to Europe, might be interested in why the tradition was born to roast a goose on St. Martin’s Day. As it turns out, when the people of Tours came to his home in 371 to try to bring him to Tours by force, in order to making Bishop, he fled his home and hid in the goose shed. The geese, of course, as is their nature, raised a ruckus, and Martin was found, brought to Tours and made Bishop. Ever since, the geese have borne the punishment for their betrayal.<br /><br />Although this is not related to St. Martin, it is related to the 9th of November. It is also the anniversary of Kristallnacht, when, in 1938, Germany officially began the public persecution of the Jews. I am stunned that almost nowhere in any news media is this day remembered. To their credit, Fox News did.<br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com