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Don't Mention the War

We have a couple of questions about this BBC report from Holland:

Nazi-era singer returns to stage

A 104-year-old Dutch cabaret singer who once performed in Nazi Germany has given a concert in the Netherlands for the first time in four decades.

There were protests and tight security around the theatre in Amersfoort where Johannes Heesters appeared.

Although Heesters insists he never espoused Nazi politics, he performed for Adolf Hitler and visited the Dachau concentration camp.

Correspondents say many Dutch people have never forgiven him.

"He kept singing for the Nazi regime, for the Wehrmacht, and he earned millions," said Piet Schouten, representative of a committee formed to protest against Saturday's performance.

The whole story lives here, sans any explanation of why people would pay to hear a guy who's 104 years old sing, or why Mr. Heesters should be treated more harshly than, say, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, who spent World War II fighting in Hitler's Wehrmacht. We can't shake the suspicion that there's more to this story than a return to the stage by a superannuated cabaret singer who did some things 60 years ago. Does the controversy somehow play in to the troubles they're having over there with neo-Nazis, the Islamo-fruitcake element and the never-far-from the surface current of anti-Semitism? Or would that be to confuse the Danes with the Dutch?
Warning: inappropriate and offensive pop cultural reference follows.

Basil: So! It's all forgotten now, and let's hear no more about it. So, that's two egg mayonnaise, a prawn Goebbels, a Hermann Goering, and four Colditz salads.

[The younger Frau is sobbing openly now, consoled by the elder Herr.]

Basil: Now, wait a minute. Well, I got a bit confused here. Sorry! I got a bit confused, 'cause everyone keeps mentioning the war. So, could you? what's the matter?

Elder Herr: It's all right.

Basil: Is there something wrong?

Elder Herr: Will you stop talking about the war?!

Basil: ME?! You started it!

Elder Herr: We did not start it!

Basil: Yes you did ? you invaded Poland.

From Fawlty Towers-The Germans

Full post as published by West Neanderthal Drive on February 17, 2008 (boomark / email).

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