Ethical Diversions

[Paul Mackin]

On Jun 30, 2006, at 3:10 AM, mikebailey at speakeasy.net wrote:

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Paul Mackin [mailto:paul.mackin at verizon.net]
>>> In another twist to the story, Dallas argues that the "event  
>>> decisive
>> for the fate of the Jews" was initiated not by Hitler but by Stalin
>> when he deported the Volga Germans to Siberia in September 1941.
>> Alfred Rosenberg, the Nazi minister for the eastern territories, told
>> Hitler that virtually none would survive. "It seems that it was
>> between late September and October 1941 that Hitler, not a forgiving
>> man, decided to exterminate the Jews of Europe in return." Thus the
>> two regimes' policies were linked in a murderous tit for tat. The
>> acceleration of Hitler's extermination program in 1942 was a reaction
>> to a war that was being lost. After the defeat in front of Moscow,
>> Dallas argues, Hitler "was obliged to imagine ways in which his Nazi
>> ideology could survive.... The Jews, all the Jews, would have to be
>> murdered while he still had control, before the war was ended."
>>
>
> that's how Weissmann symbolizes the Holocaust to me: a leader so  
> out of touch as to make batshit decisions that are obviously wrong  
> and evil (ja, let's send you up in one of those V-weapons,  
> Liebchen, and blow up a bunch of people to whom we've not even been  
> properly introduced), and followers crazy (apathetic? habituated to  
> obedience? Stockholm Syndrome?) enough to carry them out.
>
> I'm probably not totally synched with Pynchon's intent, but I get  
> rather frothy at the mouth about Weissmann.
> As to how I might conceptualize Weissmann more in line with  
> Pynchon's calm depiction of him, I'd welcome any clues.

Hard to see Weissmann as standing for what Hitler and Stalin were  
about--mass murder as a means for advancing  political or cultural  
goals.

Better to read the 00000 project as part of the subordination of  
humanity to technology theme.