Tear it down or leave it up?

[Tiki Tom]

It's a tricky question. Tear down the old inn where Hitler was born? Or leave it standing? Being a Fedora Lounger, I am normally for preserving the past. However, after having lived in Austria for many years now, I am aware that the house has a tendency to draw skin head fans from across Europe and beyond (especially on his birthday). I might also add that, in Austria, buildings of that age/style are quite common and this one is pretty nondescript in appearance. In the end, it is a decision for the Austrians to make. I do accept that there is room to be ambivalent. "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it" and all that.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37682298

 

[Bigger Don]

It's a tricky question. Tear down the old inn where Hitler was born? Or leave it standing? Being a Fedora Lounger, I am normally for preserving the past. However, after having lived in Austria for many years now, I am aware that the house has a tendency to draw skin head fans from across Europe and beyond (especially on his birthday). I might also add that, in Austria, buildings of that age/style are quite common and this one is pretty nondescript in appearance. In the end, it is a decision for the Austrians to make. I do accept that there is room to be ambivalent. "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it" and all that.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37682298

Turn it into a museum showing the atrocities of the Nazis, from the socialism-inspired destruction of the German family to the Holocaust. Include mention that, at the end, he abandoned his followers by committing suicide.

For his birthday, have an all day sing-along of the WWII version(s) of Colonel Bogey's march on his birthday.

 

[MisterCairo]

A museum to honour the dead would be a good idea, and perhaps keep the Romper Stomper brigades away.

 

[Edward]

In Berlin, the exact location of Hitler's bunker is known to the auhorities, but it has been left quiet and the buildings over it undisturbed for fear of attracting the Wrong Sort. A shame (it would be a place of genuine historical interest otherwise), but sometimes some places are too symbolically dangerous. I hear Austria is now considering not destroying it, but making it unrecognisable from the exterior. Either is fine by me - unlike the bunker, which had a very specific and significant role in the war, the simple fact of birth here doesn't really leve anything to learn from it. As long, of cours,e as they're not falling into the trap some Austrians do of trying to pretend that Hitler was German, and the Anschluss was never greeted by cheering crowds.

 

[Edward]

A museum to honour the dead would be a good idea, and perhaps keep the Romper Stomper brigades away.

You'd like to think so, though sadly they have been known to show up at even Auschwitz...

 

[MisterCairo]

I hear Austria is now considering not destroying it, but making it unrecognisable from the exterior.

So long as the street corner exists, it will attract the loons as the birthplace of their "hero".

 

[Stearmen]

Turn it into a museum showing the atrocities of the Nazis, from the socialism-inspired destruction of the German family to the Holocaust. Include mention that, at the end, he abandoned his followers by committing suicide.

For his birthday, have an all day sing-along of the WWII version(s) of Colonel Bogey's march on his birthday.

Hitler was as much a Socialist as Kim Jong Un is the head of a Democracy! Hitler killed socialist, including the founder of his own party Gregor Strasser. That was during the infamous Night Of The Long Knives. Then he went after Russia, not a very good socialist? Hitler was an opportunist, and the NAZI party was the easiest to take over. He has no bearing on modern right, left politics in the West!

 

[Bigger Don]

Hitler was as much a Socialist as Kim Jong Un is the head of a Democracy! Hitler killed socialist, including the founder of his own party Gregor Strasser. That was during the infamous Night Of The Long Knives. Then he went after Russia, not a very good socialist? Hitler was an opportunist, and the NAZI party was the easiest to take over. He has no bearing on modern right, left politics in the West!

Easy, there. I chose my words carefully, trying to stay out whether Hitler was a socialist. The idea that children are the property of the state is one that could still be found in the Cuban constitution when Elian Gonzalez was returned from the US.

As to "democracy" the definition has different nuances based on whether one's leanings are Marxist or Jeffersonian.

When we get to whether one is a good socialist based on whether there are violent rivalries, we can look to the history of those inspired by Marxism to find a number of purges and cross-border actions, e.g. Czechoslovakia 1968. It's like saying a member of a royal family has killed a rival to take a throne they are not good monarchists.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Knock it down & build a McDonald's.....capitalism rules.

 

[Tiki Tom]

Knock it down & build a McDonald's.....capitalism rules.

We have a winner! A McDonalds would be perfect. Very funny. I shall alert the Planning Board.

 

[MisterCairo]

We have a winner! A McDonalds would be perfect. Very funny. I shall alert the Planning Board.

Perhaps with a Starbucks on top?

 

[Touchofevil]

Perhaps with a Starbucks on top?

Howabout a Wal-mart?

 

[Bamaboots]

Having first hand experience, the "Romper Stompers" will show up at any site where they might be noticed.

 

[Monsoon]

In Berlin, the exact location of Hitler's bunker is known to the authorities, but it has been left quiet and the buildings over it undisturbed for fear of attracting the Wrong Sort.

When were you there last? I was in Berlin in 2008. True, there are buildings over the old bunker (apartment blocks, one apartment was Katarina Witt's), plus a small parking lot and playground, but there's also a large sign telling visitors about the bunker and the entire government quarter that was in that area during the war. Here's the Wikipedia link about the bunker. At the end it has a picture of the sign:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Führerbunker

 

[BlueTrain]

For what it's worth, Karl Marx's house is still standing in Trier. I even visited it year before last, although that wasn't the reason for my going to Trier.

 

[MisterCairo]

When were you there last? I was in Berlin in 2008. True, there are buildings over the old bunker (apartment blocks, one apartment was Katarina Witt's), plus a small parking lot and playground, but there's also a large sign telling visitors about the bunker and the entire government quarter that was in that area during the war. Here's the Wikipedia link about the bunker. At the end it has a picture of the sign:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Führerbunker

You had me at Katarina Witt...

 

[Tiki Tom]

Holy cow. This kid has a screw loose. Seriously. I wouldn't do a Hitler impersonation on Halloween, let alone make an everyday habit of it. But as he is hanging around Hitler's birth house, it illustrates the argument that its necessary to tear the place down, and start work on the McDonalds/Wal-mart/Starbucks/Disney complex. Immediately.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38960193

 

[MisterCairo]

Holy cow. This kid has a screw loose. Seriously. I wouldn't do a Hitler impersonation on Halloween, let alone make an everyday habit of it. But as he is hanging around Hitler's birth house, it illustrates the argument that its necessary to tear the place down, and start work on the McDonalds/Wal-mart/Starbucks/Disney complex. Immediately.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38960193

A single loon dressing up means a building needs to be torn down?

You actually think if the building's gone, this kid and others like him will suddenly go "oh, what were we thinking"?

This goof's problems go beyond the building. And recall, the building may one day be gone, but the street corner where it was will remain.

You cannot knock down geographic locations!

 

[Colonel Adam]

The photo I saw of it looks to have a huge stone in front of it, with a lot of writing on it. The pic's so small I can't make out what it states, but if it's letting people know it's Hitler's birthplace they should certainly remove that!
Otherwise I say let it stand. When all the skinheads and the like show up, throw'em in a bunch of cattle cars, throw'em in a work camp for five years, then deport them to Iran!