Received Tuesday, November 18, 2008. - Perspective & Opinion
I have a question about some Nazi memorabilia I found in my employer's home. My employers have a huge attic with clothing racks and chests and old toys up in it. I was snooping around and found a whole corner of the room that has swastikas on it. Weird things like toy trucks, planes and dolls. Then there are some weird posters. I don't want to describe the content because even though it is old, it is ugly and hurtful. Why would a family collect this sort of thing? Does it mean that they have these sort of beliefs somewhere in them? The children don't go up in the attic, it's not like they play with the toys, but one or both of the parents have a big collection going on. Ever since I came across it, I am kind of shaken and confused.
23 comments:
My grandfather came back from WW2 with a lot of things as a way to remember what horrible things hate can do to a world. He was half jew, and although not raised Jewish, he knew that keeping the evils of the Nazi's alive would serve as a reminder. There's a fine line between being a Nazi and preserving history. Is there any indication that they might be white supremacists? That would be more of an indicator of what they believe than some part of history.
I actually know a guy that collects these sort of items, too. Although it bothers me, he is a great person and it's just a part of history some people are fascinated with. I also know of someone that likes to collect old pieces/figurines of black americana such as mammy cookie jars and salt and pepper shakers.
I myself have read and seen every photo I can get my hands on regarding the Holocaust. I don't believe in any of the hatred it stood for, but with me, it's more about curiosity.
Hopefully OP, it's just harmless collecting. Especially if you've never heard him say anything derogatory about another race. No matter how careful some people are, if they really feel that way, it'll come out one way or another in time, believe me.
you shuld not have beeen snooping
I agree with nomdeplume and shocking...unless they're showing signs of anti-semitism and/or white supremacy, I wouldn't be concerned. If I got my hands on rare, historical items like that, you bet I'd keep them. Ignoring history, no matter how horrible it may have been, doesn't serve any good purpose.
I wouldn't worry too much about it. I too have read everything I could get my hands on about the Holocaust since I first learned about it, just because I am interested in learning more about why these people felt the need to do the horrible things they did (I am very interested in psychology). I personally wouldn't collect Nazi artifacts but it is probably just for historical reasons that they have them.
Why were you up in the attic? and why were you snooping? There are a lot of reasons people collect those items. and I wouldn't be worried about them being neo nazis because they would have made that very clear to you and they would raise their children to be the same ignorant ass wipes.
Shame on you for snooping....
I agree with all here. (And, yes, what were you doing up in the corner of the attic?)
If my family had WWII memorabilia of any kind and it was passed down to me, I would certainly keep it...and I do not agree with one single Nazi sentiment that I have ever heard.
If they were exceptionally proud of these artifacts, which are probably worth a great deal of money, some of them, they would probably have them on display in the house...particularly if they were white supremicists, since true white supremicists think they are in the right and there is nothing wrong with their views.
Don't snoop. If you were my employeee and I found you had been in my attic without a good reason I would probably let you go.
Some people don't like to advertise that they collect such memorabilia, especially if it is as controversial as these items.
At least it's in the attic, and not displayed throughout the house.
I would not read too much in to it, unless it was propaganda for a rally next week, if you know what I mean.
People collect different things for different reasons. It could be from a deceased family member, not to mention how much you could sell these bits of history for. Some people are just history buffs.
It wasn't displayed loud and proud on the main floor and you really should not have been snooping.
As someone with a degree in History and Psychology, I would hope people would keep such things as these. History has a tendency of repeating of itself, and if more people kept these sorts of reminders in our society, we may not have the problems that we do with mass genocide, in other parts of the world, now. Do you know there family history, OP? Do you know if they had Jewish family members who perished in the Holocaust or veteran relatives who liberated these camps? The answer is probably no. You should not make rash assumptions on things you found, which you probably should not have found in the first place!! My relatives were pro-Nazi Germans, and yet my grandmother fell in love and married an American soldier. She has memorabilia of Nazi Germany to remind her of the horrors her family participated in. Maybe you should stop snooping. You are an employee, not a member of the family!
These are collectible items and they have every right to have them. It does not say anything about them as people or about their morals and values. Maybe these items belonged to another family member and have bee long forgotten or hold some personal sentimental meaning for the adults in the house.
Just because I am interested in Chinese hostory and Art and Culture that certainly does not make me a Communist or Socialist. Does not mean that the Great Leap forward should be repeated.
Stop snooping and relax. It is not your house. It is not in your face on a daily basis and does not effect the children.
I agree with the above posts. In fact, many US soldiers brought back Nazi artifacts, in part because little was known about the atrocities(in the US) until after the war.
I would not be that concerned unless as other say, this family starts exhibiting behavior such as talking about white supremacy, etc.
It sounds like you are trying to start a race war on this board.
Hmm. While I can easily understand you feeling shocked and disturbed at finding these items, this is no different than the nanny employer who was shocked at her nanny's "double life" after reading her diary and searching through the nanny's belongings until she found a sex toy. If they are real neo-nazis, you could probably smell it a mile away. These are probably just historical or family artifacts.
TC
That sure came out of left field. Seems to me not one argument has come of this post, and the answers have all been calm and articulate.
Maybe YOU are trying to cause problems?
don't....
Nope not in the least. I'm saying the person is trying to, looks like no one took the bait.
TC
I found this post quite intriguing. It's definitely one we've never seen! And it opened up a very mature and honest discussion. I'm kind of surprised that there wasn't any ugliness, too. I'm so proud of everyone! :D
If they driver mercedes benz, then they are probably nazi sympathizers.
I guess I spoke too soon. Nenah, you are a flipping idiot.
My former brother in law has a sword from his grandfather from when his grandfather was a baron in germany. His grandfatehr decided to fight against the nazi's and thus lost his land and title and life.
The sword still has blood on it and even though it is a family piece, it is now kept in a museum.
This does not mean he hates germans/nazis.
This is just a valuable family piece with historical value. People keep stuff from that era.
I know a racist white woman who has a hand print of nelson mandela in her house..... she lives in the US. It's valuable.
So how did you end up in the attic?
nenah may actually believe that is true!
My son's had a girlfriend who had a very hard time with their daughter dating my born-in-America son to born-in-America parents of born-in-America parents and grandparents, because of his partial German ancestry. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that we have a slew of German made cars.
They felt this placed us just too close to the Third Reich, which victimized some distant relative of theirs.
Correction: Just one of my sons had that girlfriend. They didn't share her! Hehehee
Hee-hee, cute mom. Hey, you never know in this day and age!
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