Three far-right politicians were reportedly at the funeral where a song glorified by Germany’s Nazi-era SS was sung on election eve. The Austrian Jewish Students’ Union has reported the politicians involved.
I’m always torn on things like this. Yes, the was probably a bunch of Nazi edge-lords choosing an song with imflametory connections. They are signalling to others what and who they are.
However, getting enflamed about it just broadcasts the existence of such groups. The press are amplifying the signal. It’s free marketing.
The song itself is militaristic and nationalistic, but speaks of the Kiaser and the German empire. i.e. what was before WW1. It’s imperialist, as you might expect from something written in 1814. I can see why the Nazis adopted it, but it’s a boring dirge that is from a bygone era. There’s little to get upset about in the song itself. It’s all about the association.
The rise of groups like this is something to be worried about, and Austria does seem to be a focal point. I just think hyping up scandals is fueling the fire.
I’m not torn. In much of Europe, especially Germany, Austria, and Poland, displaying Nazi symbols is illegal. These Nazi edgelords know they are flaunting walking on the edge of those laws. If we don’t fight back, the far right will push us further right. AfD, MAGA, the French National Party are all doing this and succeeding.
Fuck Nazis and their sympathizers, publicly call them out, shame and admonish them.
If they achieve their goals skirting the law, you don’t get to prosecute them. Make them cross the line. Then they go to jail.
Nah, that’s the paradox of tolerance.
Remember: it’s always a good day to punch a Nazi.
That’s just vigilante justice.
No, it’s refusing to extend tolerance to people who subscribe to a fundamentally and irredeemably intolerant ideology.
They should just be publicly ridiculed
Also important
The song was adopted and glorified by the Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS) as a “song of loyalty.” The Nazi resistance sang the song too.
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The SS only used an adopted version.
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It was sang by the resistance.
If we were to condemn all songs that were sang by Nazis we’d have to condemn pretty much all old German songs.
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