Could it be, then, that prejudice is a result of ignorance and is just
as common amongst 'Celts' as amongst 'Saxons'? Just a thought. I would
however dispute the claim that the Erfurt massacre received little
coverage, at least in the UK. It was the lead story on all news
bulletins, and last Saturday it was on the front page of every
newspaper, tabloids included. The aftermath, including Friday's
memorial services, has also been reported, though obviously not in the
same exhaustive detail as in Germany itself. Maybe I'm wrong, but this
is surely no more or less attention than an equivalent tragedy in the
US would receive?
Jon Hughes
-------------------
>Hi,
>this is probably not quite the same thing, but similar. I was
teaching German for 2 weeks at a secondary school for boys in Ireland.
I told most of the classes that I was from Switzerland (and I think my
accent in English is not all that strongly foreign). I had shouts of
"Heil Hitler" in one class (they got into trouble with the school for
that), Hitler was mentioned in some form by most classes. Most of the
students did not know much about the whole subject, and a bit of
discusssion solved it, but I felt distinctly uncomfortable in one
class. They were older, knew more and seemed to be generally very
prejudiced. Some of the worst behaviour happened on my last day at
that school, and they were careful not to be too obvious, so I left it
go, but I felt really stressed out afterwards. (It was the day of the
massacre in Erfurt, which seems to have got very little media coverage
compared to similar incidents in the States.)
>I have come across Nazi scribbling in some official exams and maybe I
better do not mention which ones, as I did not report it then. I will
however raise the question this year to see what should be the
official response, if any.
>Helen Hauser
>
Jon A Hughes
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