# Going to Germany this summer. How much Neo-Naziism will we encounter? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146 "2014-06-19T15:11:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/161 "2014-08-08T06:02:38Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > No, we call it The Civil War. The only time I’ve ever heard “The War of Northern Aggression” was as an obvious joke. It didn’t look to be a joke to Granny Clampett. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/162 "2014-08-08T06:14:13Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Here is an indication: > > [Antisemitism on rise across Europe 'in worst times since the Nazis' | Hate crime | The Guardian](http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/07/antisemitism-rise-europe-worst-since-nazis) > > In 14,000 hate-mail letters, emails and faxes sent over 10 years to the Israeli embassy in Berlin and the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Professor Monika Schwarz-Friesel found that 60% were written by educated, middle-class Germans, including professors, lawyers, priests and university and secondary school students. Most, too, were unafraid to give their names and addresses – something she felt few Germans would have done 20 or 30 years ago. How was “hate-mail” defined, in this study? ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/163 "2014-08-08T12:42:55Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > How was “hate-mail” defined, in this study? Most likely most of them are something down the line of: “We don’t like that you abuse your power, kill and slaughter people in Gaza.” But since it comes from a German person, it’s straight away anti-Semitic, not every one is happy with the the Israeli do down there. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/164 "2014-08-08T16:04:17Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > No, we call it The Civil War. The only time I’ve ever heard “The War of Northern Aggression” was as an obvious joke. I was just in Savannah and Charleston and it seemed to be delivered in all seriousness - except by one tour guide, who admitted he was a transplanted Yankee and use the term with a definite twinkle. Also heard “The War Between the States” - never heard Civil War. And they said it in serious contexts - like “during the War of Northern Aggression, this area was spared by the Union troops because they used the town to store arms.” ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/165 "2014-08-08T18:02:40Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > How was “hate-mail” defined, in this study? A lot of that article is really vague. The Guardian loves to disguise anecdotes as data. The author of the article also did a pretty good job of skirting around the issue of _who_ is responsible for the attacks, chants, etc. mentioned, and what their motives are. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/166 "2014-08-09T01:00:31Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > I was just in Savannah and Charleston and it seemed to be delivered in all seriousness - except by one tour guide, who admitted he was a transplanted Yankee and use the term with a definite twinkle. Also heard “The War Between the States” - never heard Civil War. > > And they said it in serious contexts - like “during the War of Northern Aggression, this area was spared by the Union troops because they used the town to store arms.” Are you familiar with the term “pulling your leg”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/167 "2014-08-09T08:51:31Z")
If I saw a graffiti of a swastika close to an army base, my first thought would be: “Which ignorant soldier did this?”. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/168 "2014-08-09T13:46:17Z")
> [@Doughbag](#): > > I guess, the Romans 2000 years ago must have been Nazi’s as well… the Holy Roman Empire and all. … :eek: At the main airport in Taipei, Taiwan there are prayer rooms for Christians, Muslims and Buddhists… the later has a swastika [http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/84232235.jpg](http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/84232235.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/169 "2014-08-09T15:35:46Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Wrong. You didn’t even open the article, did you? The survey was done in a lot of countries. Germany’s “score” was 27% of the population. US was 9%. UK was 8%. Greece was (brace yourself) 69%. Kinda explains the “Golden Dawn” doesn’t it? So, as a Brit, can I now claim that the US is a festering pit of anti-Semitism, as that study said you are worse than us? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/170 "2014-08-12T18:42:27Z")
In other news: ZOMG Nazis in the US! Get out quick! > **[McDonald’s apologises for swastika hidden inside drive-through](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mcdonald-s-apologises-for-swastika-hidden-inside-drivethrough-chicken-sandwich-9663346.html)** > > Restaurant said employee had been fired over ‘unacceptable’ incident ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/171 "2014-08-12T19:27:26Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Are you familiar with the term “pulling your leg”? 😉 Exactly. That term isn’t used seriously by even the staunchest Civil War buffs. The War Between the States (often typed as “WBTS”) is the term they almost universally use. I’ve heard War for Southern Independence, but not in a long, long time. War of Northern Aggression is totally tongue in cheek. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/172 "2014-08-12T19:39:26Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Exactly. That term isn’t used seriously by even the staunchest Civil War buffs. The War Between the States (often typed as “WBTS”) is the term they almost universally use. I’ve heard War for Southern Independence, but not in a long, long time. War of Northern Aggression is totally tongue in cheek. Civil War buffs don’t use it, but Neo-Confederates (who know less about the CW than the average 5th grader) certainly use the term. Its also problematic when someone uses a term [developed by segregationists](http://deadconfederates.com/2011/06/21/the-war-of-northern-aggression-is-modern-segregationist-revisionism/) as a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146/173 "2014-08-12T20:16:06Z")
Some people way out in the fringe use it, naturally. I doubt they’re the ones leading tours in Charleston and Savannah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-germany-this-summer-how-much-neo-naziism-will-we-encounter/691146.md?page=8)