Auspiciousness

In the news again, although the clock is ticking loudly regarding this particular issue- mortality duly considered- WW2 Nazis. The topic of conversation? Should WWII Nazi war-criminals still be hunted and finally brought to justice? What do the readers/listeners/tabloid-consuming reactionaries think?

Sticking my neck out, I'd be prepared to commit to an opening gambit of, "It's a bit of a tricky bugger," working inexorably towards the far less fence-straddling stance of, "Absolutely, nail the bastards!" 

But, having thus committed, I've also come to recognise the immense part that context must necessarily play in such matters. Should, for example, the age, or the ailing health of the alleged perpetrator be considered, when 'justice' is about to be doled out? * Exactly where to draw that super-sensitivity line?

Draw it in the wrong place and Lord alone knows what might transpire. And who gets to pick the particular brand of Nazi/fascist/war-criminal anyway? Recalling the relatively-recent conflict in the former Yugoslavia, one camp's ‘solution’ swiftly and seamlessly managed to create the opposing camp's 'perfect' model of hunted and hated war-criminal. Undoubtedly, this is not the type of synchronicity we're aiming for!

Many thanks to Danny Sullivan

And, did the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions, purportedly aimed at bringing certain individuals to task, even half-pretend to feign an attempt at creating greater harmony? Or did these actions simply transpire to fuel bucket-loads of anti-Western sentiment for generations to come? Indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets is never going to be a huge vote-puller, regardless of the volumes of oil concerned, or indeed the misdeeds of the hunted.

Again, with regards to the Iraq and Afghanistan situations, I'm once more prepared to stick the ol' neck out and contest that very much more of the latter appears to have resulted.

I think that it would be more than fair to presume  that any individual's ‘informed’ and stated opinions upon any afore-alluded-to 'war-criminal', is frequently going to offer more than a huge insight into that same individual's own particular value system. Even more so the methods that might be employed, should they ever find themselves with the thankless task of having to unravel the consequences of any national or international conflict.  

Thatcher’s admiration for the genocidal General Pinochet (incidentally installed care of a US-aided coup in 1973) was well known, as was her opinion of Nelson Mandela. Which, I would contest, aligned her far more readily with something Nazi-slantish than anything aspirational-one-nation-thinkerish.

Sadam Hussain, way, way before he became US public enemy number one, was handsomely supported by the USA, through both Ronald Reagan’s and George Bush Senior’s terms in office.  He was deemed a valued US 'friend'- also buffer zone- to the ‘more-unpredictable’ Iran. Did Sadam’s nature really change that much, during his reign? And, if not- latterly tried and executed as a war-criminal- where does that place his most robust supporters?

Thank you, Patrick

‘Honest’ Ronald Reagan developed quite a taste for covert intervention, during his demonic reign, funding the deaths of thousands in Central America. This ‘lovely’ man used illegal funding to disrupt the democratic processes in Nicaragua, much preferring the dictator, Anastasio Samoza, and his Contra supporters, to the democratically popular Daniel Ortega’s Sandinistas. In 1984 (very Orwellian!) the CIA quite brazenly supervised the mining of Nicaraguan harbours. Ron, of course, was merely following an age-old tradition of very-hands-on US foreign policies.  War crimes, what do we think?

In the face of the growing Anti-Apartheid Movement, the UK Government (including Thatcher’s) unilaterally ‘supported’ the South African Government, almost to the point of farce, rather than sanction the abolition of this virtual-slavery endorsing system. Husband, Dennis knew where to invest his dosh, and human rights were never going to be permitted to eat into ‘this particular investment.' I don’t think her son ever quite accepted the concept of democratic representation, either.

Thanks, also to Andrew

Once, finally elected, Nelson- Thatcher’s ‘terrorist’- Mandela, certainly recognised the sensitivity required to finally dismantle the abhorrent, and embedded, Apartheid system. His Truth and Reconciliation Commission proved infinitely superior to the Yugoslavian-style genocide that might otherwise have resulted. Thus, if I were required to choose between the Thatcher and Mandela ideologies, I don’t think I'd need long to consider.

Much insight into the minds of those who might choose to ‘sleep with’ brutal dictators can also be gleaned from many Western Governments’ tacit support for all manner of dubious Middle Eastern Countries; highly questionable human rights but surprisingly cosy relationships to be had with ostensibly oil-seeking Westerners. Where to start with this tangled web?

So yes, absolutely, bring those ageing Nazis to justice. But why not, while we're at it, also all manner of minor and major cogs, who are/were also responsible for unspeakable global suffering in more recent years? And, if hunting the Nazis is still pertinent today, how come we missed so many of the buggers in the first place, way back in 1949?

Many thanks to  Premasagar Rose

Approximately, how many escaped to South America, thus having to seriously compromise their, somewhat misguided, Aryan Race ideologies? And how many were welcomed, supposedly with open arms, into the US of A, where they could more 'happily' continue to pursue their former military ambitions, in the development and production of arms? Which is fact and which, fiction?

In 2007 Google Earth sleuths found that San Diego’s Coronado Naval Amphibious Base resembled a swastika, when viewed from the sky. One wonders how such an oversight might have slipped past the planners. Perhaps there were no plans. Perhaps they just made it up, at ground level, as they went along; "Shall we build in a bit of a bend here?" sort of thing. No architect's plans that might afford the opportunity for one last moment to ponder and, perhaps, rethink?

There again, maybe the plan sought to conjure up much more of a Sanskritish 'auspiciousness,' or one of 'higher thinking?'

And, finally, thanks to Sam Teigen

The swastika had been reproduced and revered through history for over 5,000 years, before the Nazis went and buggered things up. Maybe, in due course, this fact will come to (happily) usurp and overwhelm the swastika's far more sinister, 20th Century, connotations. Perhaps the St George's Cross might also, one day, be liberated from today's, more educationally-compromised, Nazis.

Somewhat mysteriously, if one studies a map of Norwich, factoring in all of the various Tesco stores (Superstores, Metros and Expresses), one becomes gradually aware that they form an almost 'perfect' swastika. A sense of 'auspiciousness,' or one of aspirations towards world dominion? What do we think?

I'm edging strongly toward the latter...

* Did the Nazis consider any of their victims too old or too young for persecution? I don't believe they did.