Hi Jeff

Submitted by Sarah (Australia), Mar 22, 2010 at 02:57

Hi Jeff,

I will find both books because I genuinely want to understand- Thank you. I like to think we are encouraged to question in Australia but it is not always the case. I read Mein Kampf and at Uni I suggested that we have alot to learn from Hitler and there was a huge blow out. I do not agree with much of his philosophy but there were some things he achieved that we struggle with in many parts of the world still, such as his inital health care reforms- he managed to make huge strides in decreasing the number of smokers, but many people still throw the baby out with the bathwater. He did horrific things but that does not mean by default he did nothing we can learn from yet even in Universities any suggestion that Hitler was not without redeaming aspects warrants going before the disciplinary committee to prove you were not making inflamatory anti-semantic comments.

I dont understand how we can move forward if some things are still taboo to intellectual observation. Despite my resentment at having my intellectual curiosity curtailed I know that I am lucky I am in Australia, in many parts of the world I would pay far more heavily for wanting answers to questions and for my thoughts on controversial subjects. I am an archaeologist and my boss refuses to let me go to the middle east for work because he says my big mouth would cause an International diplomatic incedent :) I had to leave a dig in asia because I asked a person from a nobel family why upper class people think that limiting their gene pool by only including nobels is a positive thing.

The government department funding the dig suggested I had called the man an in-bred, I was nearly flogged in Asia so I don't think the middle east could cope with me :) Some times you have to dig through a whole heap of emotional reactions to get an honest intellectual answer so its nice when someone will answer with information not emotion. Incedentally if anyone has any idea why a limited gene pool would be a source of pride I still want to know :) and while Im at it Human beings are the only animal to have a backside that protrudes beyond to digetive tract ending I assume it is because it provides some advantage relating to predominant bi-pedalism and sitting perhaps to protect nerve endings but if someone else has a better explanation I would love to know :)

Thank goodness for the internet, I can sit in my home and ask questions with out having to take a full frontal assault of wrath from someone who mis-interpreted my intent. Websites like this will have their share of the illogical and irrational but sometimes do more to educate people than more direct or orthodox sources. The simple logic of your reply was a better explanation than any emotionally charged response could have been.

Thank-you.

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