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Originally Posted by Iliak
Citizenship and many other social characteristics happen by default, so why should you be ashamed of the actions by other countrymen? There's no need to be ashamed of that. The Americans, for example, are clearly proud of their country although it is the result of organized, authoritative massmurder and endless expansion. But it's all history now. I would never hold any American responsible for his ancestors actions; that would be foolish. Similarly, I would never dream of judging an Austrian or a German for the actions of Hitler.
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I am not ashamed of my country or do the best to talk it as bad as possible. After all I am not German
I disagree slightly with parts of your post above. Noone that did not live back than is responsible for the crime his fathers or grandfathers committed back than. Exceptional crimes however bring the obligation to remind them exceptionally long.
Nie wieder Faschismus! Should be no empty phrase. But for preventing it to happen again, you also have to hold the remembrance of its results alive. That has pretty less todo with judging in Austrian for Hitler.
Its not the fault of anyone living today and not back than those things happened. But its the responsability of all of us that they do not happen again. Therefore I would also encourage Americans to have a realistic views on the crimes their anchestors committed too.
Ignoring history like some do, is not really a good thing IMHO. History just too easily takes revenge for that otherwise.
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Austria had to settle for a small state option, giving up any pretence to even a regional role. That was my point.
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Well, ehm, yes.... and?
What are you aiming at with this statement?
After all it was the emperor who pretty much fucked it up himself (Franz Josef). If he would have shown just a little more respect and understanding for the ideas and the person of his eldest son, history might have taken another course... and WW1 would have started due to a completely other reason and who knows on which side any of the players would have been than....