GRGR(5) Katje and the Nazis

[Michael Perez]

Doug wrote:
"Given GR's many allusions and direct references to the Holocaust, it
seems safe to read Frans and his dodo killing as an allegory for the
Nazi Holocaust."

While I may again argue with there being MANY "allusions and references
to the Holocaust," I will grant you that, yes, in the case of Frans and
the dodos, it is "safe" to assume we are to think of the Holocaust. 
Most of the other bits "evidence" supporting this claim are, indeed,
stretches, though.  The mention of "passing-over" does also seem to
reference the Jews, but remember that the Elect believed themselves to
be the chosen people, too, and pre-Vatican II (and post J-P
II)catholicism was notorious for considering that its sheep were the
only ones worthy of the pastures of heaven.  So, while there are SOME
direct references to THE Holocaust, there are also references, as we
have mentioned before in the case of the Hereros, to other or, more
accurately, ALL holocausts, historical or potential.  This includes
those involving America's first immigrants, its forced immigrants from
Africa, the two atomic attacks in Japan, the war in Indochina
(naturally), those perpetrated by the British Empire and other European
power jockeys, and those involving flora (moreso in _VL_) and
(non-human) fauna.  The 1960s and 70s, when, as we endlessly feel it
necessary to point out, _GR_ was written continued the Beats
(particularly the Ginsberg of "Howl") rejection of automatic patriotism
and national chauvinism.  The time during which _GR_ was written was a
period in American history when the ability to point out the atrocities
and lesser evils of our country and its allies was liberated.  It did
not have to be everyone else's fault but "ours," to whatever "our" you
belonged or even what side your "our" was supporting.  THE Holocaust
was not the only holocaust and the good guys were and are as evil as
the bad guys.


Michael


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