Sunday, October 19, 2008

On the danger of developing a nationalist "stabbed in the back" mythos

From "The Revolt Against Civilization" (1934) by Ludwig Lewisohn

The whole thing would be more like a ghastly farce if it did not constitute so grave a danger for human civilization, if it were not corrupting the souls and hopelessly addling the brains of a whole generation of the German people. For it is clear today that they will act according to their myths. They have begun. The scapegoat is being slain; the Jew is crucified.
As quoted by Daniel Goldhagen in Hitler's Willing Executioners.

The "whole thing" Lewisohn alludes to is the dolchstoss legend of post WWI Germany.

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