TemekuT: My grandmother had a scathing putdown for anyone she perceived as being spineless, or a moral coward (which she considered the worst sin of all): She would tell them to “be a good German”, the clear implication being that it’s easier to turn away and do nothing or pretend as though nothing is going on, versus taking a stand on moral or ethical grounds.

The Holocaust could not have happened without the duplicity of the German people, and, to an even larger extent, their willingness to accept the Nazi’s abuse of the “untermensch”, those they found subhuman, such as Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, the infirm and the retarded.

What makes this incident truly repulsive is it’s proximity to the Christmas season. Hell, the writer even references the Christmas season! Put down your eggnog and let’s have a pogrom!