From: Steve Grammont (islander@midmaine.com)
Date: Thu Jan 16 2003 - 15:15:21 PST
It is one thing to not understand why someone would want to collect such
a thing, it is another to support banning their option to do so. And who
is to say what should be banned or not? You say you think it is OK to
collect, display, and enjoy the vehicles of the most murderous regime of
the 20th Century, but not the uniforms? I think you are simply using
selective morality (i.e. you like German vehicles so you exempt them from
the same standards you apply to German uniforms). The problem is that
such selective reasoning leads, step by step, to broader censorship.
Interestingly enough, I went to a private collection museum yesterday.
Lots of rare stuff, including one of Hitler's SA uniforms and some mint
condition early SS (black) uniforms. These were displayed in their
historical context, right next to a Buchenwald concentration camp
inmate's uniform (political prisoner, Belgium) and lots of stuff from
concentration camps. The "power" of these "evil" uniforms hits you much
more between the eyes than a fuzzy black and white 2x2" photo in a school
text book. But eBay wouldn't care if this guy was looking to add to his
excellent museum *or* was interested in prancing around in it at a Neo
Nazi rally. I find that to be rather stupid. Stopping a Neo Nazi from
getting a $5000 uniform on eBay won't make the world a better place.
Sensitivity towards others can not, and should not, be regulated.
Everybody has their own list of "beefs", and if all these were treated
equally society would cease to exist. I'm not saying that Dave's
comments DIRECTLY advocate censorship, but the ambivalence it displays
towards the rights of others is EXACTLY how censorship takes root.
Steve
>You are obviously not part of the moral majority out of respect for those
>that lost loved ones or even whole families (German concentration camps and
>Americans held by the Japanese or killed instead of. ) it is not politically
>correct to show, sell or parade Axis contraband or equipment.
>My Mom lost some Brothers in WW2 one her twin which I am named after and I
>don't feel this way I love the German vehicles but that is were it stops I
>have a real dislike for there uniforms specially SS or Death Squad gear
>sorry these are my feeling this is America and you can do what you want but
>I do not understand why someone would dress up in Black SS gear and walk
>around what is the point... history Evil History.
>I love the quality of the German Tanks and trucks and even the Swimwagon
>(spelling) they are over built and over engineered a tribute to engineering
>I see them as equipment they could be used for peace keeping as well as war.
>Now a black hat with a skull on the front that makes me wonder why.
>
>My 2 cents
>
>Dave
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Demonware Restorations" <INDYN@xtra.co.nz>
>To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
>Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 1:52 PM
>Subject: Re: [MV] Ebay Items disappear
>
>
>
>
>
>
>It was a Nazi item, which are largely banned.
>
>Well i must say this kind of discrimination would not be tollerated in New
>Zealand. It is about time that people recognise these items as historical
>and nothing more.
>I was recently involved in an airshow (with ground forces) and a couple of
>us built a full size panther tank for the show. We received NO negative
>comments, and got only good comments from the public and WWII Vets alike.
>One old guy was so thrilled to see it and after we told him it was fake, he
>was amazed at the time and effort we had put into it. Everyone was more
>impressed that we had spent the time, money and affort in getting things
>right, rather than worrying about what it did in the past (which is exactly
>right... THE PAST) and as far as i'm concerned it doesn't matter if it's a
>vehicle or a book, coin or a uniform, each has it's part in our history and
>should therefore be treated with respect and not discriminated against.
>Or if they are going to discriminate, then ban all militaria (I'm not for
>this bye the way). One life or 10000 lives during war is a great loss for
>someone.
>
>Enough from me.
>Adam North
>RNZAF Police Ret.
>1941 M741B RNZPC
>
>=Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list=
>To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
>To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
>To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
>
>===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
>To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
>To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
>To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Wed Apr 23 2003 - 13:24:59 PDT