Posted on October 1, 2012 by Epaminondas

epiminondas writes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/world/middleeast/with-tattoos-young-israelis-bear-holocaust-scars-of-relatives.html?hp&_r=0

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5 Responses to How many think this is a good idea? Why?

  1. Fenster's avatar Fenster says:
    October 1, 2012 at 11:43 pm

    As usual I am of at least two minds about it.

    The young people argue it is a way or remembering the past. The old say it is a way of forgetting it, or at least misremembering. I suspect there are good faith feelings on both sides. That is, I think it is fair to assume both young and old are motivated by a desire to see that proper respect be shown. But what constitutes proper respect?

    Is it possible that one side is “right” and one “wrong” about the proper showing of respect? For that to be the case, there would have to be some objective standard supporting one of the views, something that would trump each side’s subjective experience that it supported respectfulness.

    In the end I don’t side with the young, exactly. But I do think each generation needs room to interpret in its own way. I am not going to be too hard on anyone whose practices are ultimately motivated by respect and for a desire to send a signal about common humanity.

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  2. Toddy Cat's avatar Toddy Cat says:
    October 2, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    I find this oddly disturbing, for reasons I can’t quite put my finger on.

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    • Epaminondas's avatar epiminondas says:
      October 2, 2012 at 6:04 pm

      Like rubbing salt into a wound before it can heal? I’m not trying to be flippant. If the purpose is to prolong the pain, it is a good analogy. Is that the purpose? And then the question arises: for whom is the pain intended? The bearer of the tattoo or the casual observer? Instead of wearing your opinion on your sleeve, you are literally imprinting it on your skin and asking casual observers to comment on this. Again…is this a good idea? Why?

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  3. Blowhard, Esq.'s avatar Blowhard, Esq. says:
    October 2, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    Blogger Dave Pell wrote: “I am the son of holocaust survivors and I’m pretty sure my parents would punch me the face if I did this.”

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