IBM, Disney, Bush: Nazis?

[jbor]

> But I
> think that the culture of blame which is being perpetuated in these
> so-called "reports" is also quite despicable, and that it is the same
> "culture of blame" on which Nazism thrived, which they exploited,
> manipulated.

A quick clarification. What is despicable imo is the way the "historical
record" is being exploited and distorted to score cheap shots against the
Prez Bush(es) or Microsoft. The legitimate pursuit of war criminals and
lawsuits lodged against corporations who broke actual laws aren't
despicable, though, arguably, they're somewhat hypocritical (as Slothrop
seems to be pondering re. the Nurnberg Trials at 681.30). But it's this
indiscriminate labelling of any convenient contemporary target as "Nazi" or
"war criminal" in order to vilify it and thus usurp its *wholly legal*
political authority or market share which is odious. The reduction of WWII
and its consequences -- including the suffering and humiliation endured by
the victims of the Holocaust -- to the status of a rhetorical ploy is what
is despicable.

Up until 11 December 1941 any U.S.-registered corporation or individual
could have legally engaged in business with the Nazis. Up until 11 December
1941 the American government (and thus the American people) honoured a
pledge of neutrality towards -- if not indeed an actual treaty (i.e. a
signed *business* contract) with -- the Nazi government *and* its war
machine. Up until 11 December 1941 then, *all* American citizens, in the
sort of logical void which is being constructed in the wake of these
"reports", were in complicity with the Nazi program. That would include an
awful lot of the genocide, war crimes etc. What's more, it would be pretty
hard to imagine that not one person who was in some sort of advisory
capacity to the American bureaucracy, or employed in its secret service,
knew of or had reported on what was happening in the Lagers. *This* is the
"historical record". Correct me if I'm wrong on any of it. Please.

By "culture of blame" I am referring to the exploitation of religious,
historical and economic anti-Semitism (for example) by the Nazis in Germany
to co-opt and maintain political power there. This is exemplified in _GR_ in
the story of Leni Pokler's childhood. It is a "culture" which was not begun
by the Nazis and which did not end with them. It has been and still is
perpetuated in arrogant ignorance, craven self-interest and by chest-beating
patriots alike. Hate and discrimination, not "evil Nazis", are what
Pynchon's texts expose. Hate and discrimination no matter whether it is
wrought by a nation on millions of its own people or by one small-minded
secret service agent on John Dillinger.

Your mileage might vary of course -- please insert any other platitude which
assists when an unpalatable opinion is expressed -- but this is something
which I feel quite strongly about. *And* the fact that it is relevant to
discussion of Pynchon's texts and their legacy.

best