Recently German security authorities held a meeting with the Berlin Opera Company to discuss the security ramifications of staging "Idomeno" - the controversial Mozart opera with the inclusion of a new scene depicting the severed heads of several god/prophets including Mohammed. The Berlin Opera has attracted much criticism from across Europe and the United States for kowtowing to fears of Islamic reprisal attacks/protests.
It is interesting that there is such widespread support for free speech and anti-censorship when German culture is anything but truly free nor is their political philosophy so self-confident enough that they can truly be free.
It remains today that several symbols, actions, and political affiliations are stricktly verbotten, illegal and punishable under German law. That of course are all things Nazi related. The fascist hand salute, various Nazi symbology, the Nazi Party, neo-Nazi movments, expressions, etc.
Not to say that Nazism and fascism are not abhorrent social and political movements, but if the German people truly belive in the open debate of ideas and that Western principles of civic responsibility, liberal political philosophies will carry the day on the basis of their political/philosophical merit, then why not move beyond the Nazi shadow and into the light of a truly free society?
Just as Europe is besieged by fears of a restive and hostile Islamic population both at home and camping outside the gates of Vienna, so too is Germany still beseiged by archaic fears of a disproved and defeated ideology.
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