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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Kati Marton
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April 2 - June 9, 2022
More than seventy-five years have passed since the end of World War II, but a question haunts Germany to this day: Can a country that produced Auschwitz and engineered the most ruthlessly efficient, systematic genocide in history ever be “normal”? Angela Merkel would likely answer in the affirmative—but with qualifications. Yes, but only if Germany continues to shoulder its responsibility as the perpetrator of one of history’s darkest chapters. Under her leadership, she has been determined to ensure it has. As a pastor’s daughter, she believes in the quiet and persistent work of everyday
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Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” —Marie Curie (1867–1934)
In her experience, language cannot be trusted. Words are weapons to be deployed cautiously. Merkel prefers being the uninspiring but wise custodian of the liberal West to playing with the fire of demagogy.
“Never hate your enemies; it affects your judgment.”
I wish we could all follow this advice.
He who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. —Voltaire (1694–1778)
How very true and relevant to what we see in politics today.
Trump’s aides had advised Merkel’s team, Don’t lecture him. He’s a half-page man with a very low attention span. No details, no background, nor too many facts.
Yikes. This is not what I would expect from our President.
It happened. Therefore it can happen again. —Primo Levi, Italian Jewish Holocaust survivor and author
We can never forget.
Fear is among the most easily exploitable human emotions.
💯 in agreement.
“These days it is necessary to say this clearly: We must confront those who stir up prejudice and incite hatred against people of different faiths and origins. Auschwitz was a German death camp, run by Germans. We Germans owe it to the victims, and to ourselves, to keep alive the memory of the crimes committed, to identify the perpetrators, and to commemorate the victims.… This is not open to negotiation. It is an integral part and will forever be an integral part of our identity.”
How different from what is happening in the US.
