Patrick Moore: "The only food Kraut is a dead Kraut

[sp1814]

Is there a time limit for hatred?

Let's bring race into it (hoorah, I hear you cry)...if a black chap from the Deep South who'd witnessed lynchings in the 40s and 50s had said, "The only good white man is a dead white man", would that be more or less shocking than what Mr Moore had said?

Indeed - should we be shocked at all?

http://www.dailymail....b-killed-fianc-e.html

[sp1814]

Durr...for 'food' read 'good'.

[d9f1c7]

No time limit, I know a lot of old people who'd say the same about the the Japs. I understand his anger and his loss, he clearly has never been able to let it go and get on with things.

[naomi24]

Likewise, I know a few old German people who feel the same way about the British. The scars run deep on both sides.

[douglas9401]

I can see this dividing down the usual line but let's see. Could just be a maasive case of sauer grapes.

[ludwig]

It's a silly thing to come out with, but that's easy for me to say, as I haven't lived through a world war and had anyone I love killed by an enemy bomb.

[jno]

He's welcome to his bitterness against those who killed his fiancée, but he might like to acknowledge that very few Germans alive today had anything whatever to do with it.

[hc4361]

In fact the average German at the time had nothing to do with it, just like our men were following orders and had no choice.

[anotheoldgit]

If some still cannot shed off the shackles of slavery which after all happened almost 200 years ago, then why is it not equally acceptable for Patrick Moore to hold a personal grudge towards the Germans after only 70 years?

[anotheoldgit]

/// Let's bring race into it (hoorah, I hear you cry). ///

Oh I don't know about that SP, just be careful you are not classed a racist. :0)

[sp1814]

AOG

Not comparing what Mr Moore said to slavery, but to lynching which were a regular occurrence in the Deep South up until the 50s...yet, one would be horrified to hear an elderly Kentuckian say, "The only good white man is a dead white man".

So why the leniency with Mr Moore?

[bazwillrun]

Its his opinion and he is entitled to it, if people dont agree with it then thats their problem.

[Booldawg]

I believe he was shown leniency because of the colour issue; It seems to be ok to slate off a race as long as you share their colour.

I expect Patrick Moore would have got in alot of bother if he'd said 'the only good black man is a dead one'

[FredPuli43]

Using the past tense would have been better. He's entitled to his feelings, whatever language he chooses.
The feelings are not universal. My mother lost her brother in action, killed by Germans, and never said a word against Germans. My father didn't either but you should have heard what he said about 'Japs' ! He respected the Germans, but hated the Japanese for what they did to prisoners of war.

[Zeuhl]

shed off the shackles of slavery

Sorry Old Git but that is a meaningless concept.

What do you actually mean?

It is (artfully but not helpfully) vague when compared with sp's very clear analogy with people alive today who saw loved ones killed by whites in the 1950s.

The key thing about Patrick Moore's comment is the stupidity of the generalisation.

He should be able to distinguish between the people and circumstances that led to the death of his fiancee and the majority of Germans alive today.

My father had every reason to hate or mistrust the Japanese of the WW2 generation but he recognised that the subsequent generations were not the same people and his attitude toward them was very generous and welcoming.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably not wisest to express one's feelings like that, but understandable. Emotions are not removed just because one can explain why you experienced what you did on an intellectual level.

It is unreasonable to expect this to be so. But as for comparing it with "the Deep South"; well yes again we could understand the reason for feeling that way, but it doesn't make it any more logical. And again it is probably unwise to express those feelings. Feeding the anger prevents healing the anguish.

[Canary42]

Moore's too dumb to recognise the the extremist Nationalism he exhibits is just what sparked the two wars in the first place.

[Zeuhl]

I've only met him the once over 30 years ago and he was a thoroughly unpleasant, grumpy and rude sod.

[naomi24]

I've never met him - but I can believe that Zeuhl.

[Postdog]

Just to say I personally wouldn't eat a live Kraut.

My mum never had time for any Japanese ever since her brother got killed in the war. It happens with some people.

[Zeuhl]

naomi - indeed

The worst thing was it was a signing for one of his kids' books we'd published.

At several points I was afraid he was going to tell the 'little darlings' to "bu99er off!" and leave him alone.