Everything Ulster - Election 2005

I just caught a discussion this morning on BBC Radio 5 about a rally being held today in Berlin by neo-Nazi/neo-fascist groups. It's a bit sickening really but one thing that stuck in my mind was a comment from a German citizen there who was disgusted that some people in Germany were trying to portray the Nazis as victims! That's right, the Nazis are the new MOPEs. It seems that it doesn't matter whether you're in Northern Ireland or Germany, victimhood is central to nationalist socialist mentality.

[More:]

Up until the mid-1980s Germans tended to view VE Day as a day of surrender, but a recent poll found that 80% of Germans see the day as one of liberation. Most Germans now remember VE day not as a day of defeat, but that 8th May 1945 was a turning point for Germany representing the rebirth of freedom, democracy and human rights.

But this doesn't sit comforably with some of the lunatic fringe in Germany. You see, according to these right-wing nutcases, Germany wasn't liberated by the Allies and they want to "put an end to Germany's guilt culture." Neo-Nazis intend to remember 8th May as a day of defeat for Germany. Let's face it they wouldn't be the only group in the world that remembers wars and battles where they were beaten, would they?

Hearing the above I began to wonder if the rise of Sinn Fein is a way for republicans in Northern Ireland to comfortably sweep any guilt they might have under the rug. Is this victim mentality a way to justify every bomb, every murder and every act of wanton destruction of Northern Ireland by amplifying their own MOPEry?

Tens of thousands of people are said to have taken part in a candle-lit protest against the rally last night, also held in Berlin, so thankfully there is just as strong feeling against the facsits as there is within their ranks. The Germans seem to have overcome the challenge of recognising that Hitler was a monster without continually blaming themselves or letting it tarnish their identity as Germans. Perhaps there's a lesson here.

Tomorrow more than 50 world leaders will arrive in Moscow for further commemorations, in an event designed to pay tribute to the enormous human sacrifice paid by the Soviet Union. Almost 27 million Soviet citizens, soldiers and civilians, died in the war.

At the same time, in Prague, a re-enactment will today be held of the battle for Czech radio, which happened near the end of the war. However, the Czechs would have to undergo another 40 years of their history being misrepresented by Soviet occupying forces until the truth could be told openly about this event. The Soviets tended to overstate the Red Army's involvement and play down that of the USA and Czech resistance forces.

Finally, I want to say thank you to all Britain's servicemen and women who fought in the World War's to give us the freedom we have today. There's still time to pledge a donation to the British Legion to help ensure these ex-soldiers can live out their lives in dignity.