Amidst acts of nationalism and racism, it can be difficult to see the fundamental goodness of humanity – but it’s there
Nov. 9 marked 80 years since Kristallnacht, loosely translated as “the Night of the Broken Glass.” On this horrendous night, rampaging Nazis destroyed Jewish businesses, synagogues, homes and other properties in what was then German territory. There were many deaths and arrests of innocent people in this precursor to the Holocaust. It would nice to…
The demise of the German Hohenzollerns led to Hitler, while the collapse of the Austrian Habsburgs gave rise to malignant nationalism
November marks the political demise of two imperial dynasties, the German Hohenzollerns and the Austrian Habsburgs. Like the Russian Romanovs and the Turkish Ottomans, they were casualties of the First World War. The Romanovs were the first to go, upended by the war-induced 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Of course, the case can be made that what…
Government green programs impose costs on third parties. Consumers and taxpayers must pay for those policies, and the environment actually suffers
In a 1999 interview, the late Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman remarked that there were good arguments for having government take action to reduce pollution, like smoke from power plants. That’s because the smoke imposes costs on third parties – for example, by dirtying property as well as surrounding public spaces. A power plant produces…
The Second World War movie Darkest Hour raises questions about perspective and reality
Gary Oldman’s riveting portrayal of Winston Churchill leaves no doubt as to who is the hero of the new film Darkest Hour. But apart from the off-screen Adolf Hitler, does the movie really have a villain? Thanks to the way the narrative unfolds and the carefully-chosen camera shots, casual viewers might be tempted to ascribe…
Populist right-wing parties with surprising sticking power are on the rise
With votes in Norway, Germany and New Zealand, September has been an interesting month for general elections. And while each had its own characteristics, it’s fair to say the stories have something in common. First, though, let’s take a look at them one by one. When Norway went to the polls on Sept. 11, the…
The AfD has its share of political troglodytes but they are not Nazis
By all accounts, Germany’s elections on Sunday turned out exactly as expected. Angela Merkel cruised to an easy victory. Her fourth term puts her on track to be the longest serving chancellor in the post-Second World War period and second only to Otto von Bismarck as Germany’s longest serving leader. Beneath the surface, however, the…
Germany must exit the increasingly dysfunctional eurozone to allow its other members to benefit from a cheaper euro
It’s time for Germany to abandon the euro – to save the European Union. The euro is the official currency of the eurozone. It’s used by the institutions of the European Union (EU) and by 19 of its 28 members. It’s the currency of around 400 million people – the second most traded money and reserve…
Barring the release of some smoking gun document buried in intelligence archives, the question of whether Hitler died in his bunker will probably never be settled
The Second World War ended 72 years ago. Historians have produced a voluminous history chronicling its course. Yet almost three-quarters of a century later, there are still many unanswered questions about the war, and there is considerable material about wartime military and intelligence operations that, inexplicably, remains classified. Not surprisingly, those unanswered questions have given…
Germany has rebuilt itself after the chaos of the Second World War and the division of the Cold War by being resolute and thoughtful
Germany is a nation with a profound sense of duty and leadership. As a German teacher, I've watched with interest from afar as Germany has evolved after the horrors of the first half of the 20th century. The nation's prevalent can-do attitude has made it an economic powerhouse and a true positive world leader. While certain individuals…
Canadian officials are working diligently to ensure that all Syrian refugees approved to enter our country are properly vetted
Even the most compassionate Canadians acknowledge that with an influx of refugees there will be some social challenges. No one, however, expects to see the grief that Germany is dealing with after a spate of incidents on New Year’s Eve. A series of assaults against women – as many as 500 – in Cologne is…
