"The White Rose" was the name and symbol of a core group of college students and professors who wrote and distributed resistance literature against the Nazi regime in 1940's Germany. The leaders of the group-brother and sister Hans and Sophie School-were caught and executed by the state. May their perhaps prohetic words serve as inspiration and challange to all who will read. The following is an excerpt from the first leaflet of the White Rose, 1942.

"Nothing is so unworthy of a civilized nation as allowing itself to be "goverened" without opposition by an irresponsible clique that has yeilded to base instinct. It is certain that today every honest German is ashamed of his government. Who among us has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall us and our children when one day the veil has fallen from our eyes and the most horrible of crimes--crimes that infinitely outdistance every human measure--reach the light of day? If the German people are already so corrupted and spiritually crushed that they do not raise a hand, frivolously trusting in a questionable faith in lawful order of history; if they surrender mans highest principal, that which raises him above all of God's creatures, his free will-if they abandon the will to take decisive action and turn the wheel of history and thus subject it onto their own rational decision; if they are so devoid of all individuality , have already gone so far along the road toward turning into a spineless and cowardly mass--then yes; they deserve their downfall. Goethe spoke of the Germans as a tragic people; like the Jews and the Greeks, but today it would appear rather that they are a spine-less, will-less herd of hangers-on; who now--the marrow sucked out of their bones, robbed of their center of stability--are willing to be hounded to their own destruction.So it seems-but it is not so. Rather, by means of gradual, treacherous, systematic abuse, the system has put every man into a spiritual prison. Only now, finding himself lying in fetters, has he become aware of his fate. Only a few recognized the threat of ruin, and the reward for their heroic warning was death....If everyone waits until the other man has made a start, the messengers of awaiting Nemesis will come steadily closer, then even the last victim will have been cast senselessly into the maw of the insatiable demon....Offer passive resistance--resistance--wherever you may be, forestall the spread of this atheistic war machine before it is too late, before the last cities; like Colonge, have been reduced to rubble, and before the nations last young man has given his blood on some battlefield for the hubris of a sub-human. DO NOT FORGET THAT EVERY PERSON DESERVES THE REGIME IT IS WILLING TO ENDURE.

-- Beth Weber (talmidim88@hotmail.com), September 15, 2000

Answers

Timeless Truth. Thank you, Beth.

The German people were lulled into following Hitler by the promise of prosperity and things were accepted for "the good of the German people."

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), September 15, 2000.

Those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), September 15, 2000.

Thank you Beth, let's all redistibute this.

-- Doreen (liberty546@hotmil.com), September 15, 2000.

actually Doreen thats what the White Rose did! They would print up tons of leaflets...like the one you had just read...and mail them from randomly chosen addresses throughout Germany. They were eventually caught throwing them from the roof of--I believe--their university when they were caught and then executed. I misspelled their last name--it's Scholl--and their sister wrote an excellent book about the movement titled....guess...The White Rose (smile). They also said, "We will not be silent...we are your bad conscience..."

-- Beth Weber (talmidim88@hotmail.com), September 15, 2000.

Most Excellent ! Truly, they were masters of lanquage and I hung on every word. I am in awe of this and I'm definetly going book shopping. Thank You ! WOW ! Didn't they sound alot like Patrick Henry ? This goes in my save catergory, Immediately.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), September 16, 2000.

http://www.historyplace.com/pointsofview/white-rose1.htm

A history written by a member of "The White Rose". Very interesting.

-- Tammy Hall (gregandtammy@interbel.net), September 16, 2000.

I'm with Joel -- WOW! We know a lot about what the Nazis did, but so little about those who resisted -- probably because they didn't last very long. It's a good wake-up call to us to do something before we are a fast-caught in the same situation as they were and can't do anything about it. The only thing I want to know, and I've been asking this, I guess, though perhaps not well-worded, is what to do, and who to do it with. There seem to be a lot of little fractionated groups around, but insufficient unity of purpose or organization to really accomplish anything. At least, as far as anything I've heard of. If anyone knows anything different, please say so!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 16, 2000.

I must say that our attempt to unite the militia's is/was a dismal failure,Imho. Much good came out of the meeting at Monticello but no merging. My losing my temper with Michigan and Montana didn't help things one bit ! Pompous, egotistical @#$$$%%# is the best I can say about them. We got more members, no, we were first--they sounded like children, so I treated them like they were.

Most people picture a militia as camo wearing, gun bearing rednecks, living in compounds. That is the way of some extremists. However, many militia's are more like a fire and rescue team. When called upon they arrive in bibs, jeans, slacks an some in underware. Such is the Posse Comitatus. Highly secretive ? Yes, to a point that is required to mantain the underground and hide patriots that are "wanted" for crimes that we do not consider crimes. Mostly, we are farmers, although that is not a requirement.

Many ask me--How do I join ? You don't ! We ask you ! So, how will I know when it is time to fight ? That is a personal decision. I was shocked when 1800 men joined me in Miami. Pleased, but shocked. I would submit to you that when you find an issue worth dying for that you have just begun to live ! (paraphrased from Dr. King). When that moment comes, you won't ask who ? or how many ? or, will I be killed ? You quite simply storm the gates of Hell, even if your only weapon is a squirt gun. I doubt seriously if you will be alone !

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), September 16, 2000.

Holy Parking Meters Batman!! Joel; who are you? 1800 hundred people? wow! I have another article on the White Rose that I ran about 6or 7 years ago. If you're interested I'll post it tomorrow!

-- Beth Weber (talmidim88@hotmail.com), September 17, 2000.

Beth, please do!! Thanks! God Bless! Wendy

-- Wendy@GraceAcres (wjl7@hotmail.com), September 17, 2000.

Hi Beth, great post! We had a German exchange student stay with us a few years back. One of the things that most amazed her was, the display of the American flag here in this country. She would always say of how proud and demonstative we Americans were of our country. She was amazed that we had the flag flying in businesses, government buildings and homes and we made no apologies for it. They (the average German) did not want to show any outward "symbolic" pride in their country. The reason? The world would then critize them for their love of their country and try to tie it with Naziism. Even though the present Germany she knows is far from what it was, the people and youth are, still to this day, emotionally feeling the repercussions of Hitler and his policies.

We, the American people, must always fly our flag high and realize how lucky we are, to be able to do so. And never feel foolish for our patriotism and never too lazy to keep this country "for the people". For even after bad regimes are long gone, some of the residue lingers on.

-- Annie (mistletoe@earthlink.net), September 17, 2000.