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Tolerance and the Social Divide

This photo was taken on May 8, 2010 using a Sony DSC-F828.

Bitter History

In Germany, the Jews and the rest of German people share a bitter past. The world has changed much from the time of Hitler and the Third Reich but the wounds to the psyche and communal consciousness of the Jews and Germans alike still persist. It has taken years and a great war to bring a resolution to the “Jewish Question” of Germany. The divide created during the Age of Nazism is not easily bridged, and reconciliation does not readily take hold. The atrocities most especially the attempted extermination of the Jewish people at the hands of Nazi Germany forces these two apart.

Social Dynamics Of Intolerance

The Germans ostracized, segregated and attempted to kill all Jews in Germany and in the whole of Europe. This tends to sow the seeds of conflict and establishes a lasting enmity. On the socio-emotional level mutual hatred has been established and reinforced by psycho–cultural experiences of each. The divide that separates Germans and Jews  has been built on notions that are partly true yet also outdated. The contempt each has for the other seems to have drawn up an almost surreal turn of events, devoid of social relevance in the 21st century. After all this is the age of integration and interdependency. Modern society has begun to cast off the prejudice of past epochs in favor of global togetherness.

Acceptance And Reconciliation

The Germany of today has perhaps come to terms with the horrors of its past. There has been a mending of the social divide in Germany, particularly its rift with the Jewish people. Recently, a Jewish leader said that he is okay with an exhibit about Hitler, Germany’s foremost Jew hater. This is symptomatic of the kind of restoration Germany has achieved. As a modern society it is apparent that the former intolerance and racial divide in Germany have been substantially eroded. The open acceptance of the past, its horrors, atrocities, and harms are a significant first step towards complete reconciliation and integration. The German people acknowledge their crime to the Jews, and the Jews have arrived at a deeper understanding as to what drove Germany to exterminate the Jews. This understanding of their shared past enables co–existence. This is the most striking basis of this phenomenon. That Germany has, by itself, settled the matter about the Jews.

Model Of Peace

What Germany achieved and its lesson for humanity is priceless. They have found the keystone for peace. They have overcome the hostile divide and entrenched prejudices, that were deeply rooted. It is a lesson that other societies could greatly learn from. Human conflict has been based on these and Germany cast it off. Nevertheless, Germany has not forgotten. Most importantly, it has learned from its dark past and now treads carefully. Peace building becomes more attainable with Germany’s example.

References:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ing-WWBZgH_9TmzAIh057E_h6isw?docId=f8e284fbfd30444289d985c30abe9fb40

http://www.ibcr.org/editor/assets/thematic_report/5/2003_tolerance_peace.pdf

October 20, 2010 - Posted by livian payne | New, Society | Acceptance and Reconciliation, Bitter History, Model of Peace, Social Dynamics of Intolerance, Tolerance and the Social Divide