May | 2015 | History Chick in AZ

Examining the history of the Ottoman Empire, Eugene Rogan concludes: “With the fall of the Ottomans after the First World War, the Arab world entered a century of conflict. Caught between foreign domination and the rival appeals of nationalism and Islamism, the Middle East has yet to emerge from the shadow of jihad. But perhaps there is a caution in this narrative. In a striking parallel to events a century ago, the threat of far-reaching jihad — most recently in the name of the Islamic State — continues to play on the minds of Western leaders. But it does so far beyond any evidence of wide appeal among a vast majority of the globe’s Muslims. So Western leaders can learn from the experience of a century ago. When they overreact to the threat of religious war, they concede power to the very enemies they seek to overcome, with consequences impossible to predict.” Read the entire article here:

A War to End Jihad – NYTimes.com.

Reflecting on the current trial of the Nazi Oskar Gröning, who is accused of complicity in the murder of 300,000 people at Auschwitz, Anna Sauerbrey wonders, “How will he understand his own responsibility, as a German, to combat ideologies of hatred and prevent crimes against humanity?” And concludes that “[w]e must find a new narrative, a new way to ensure “never again.” Not through ideology, but through action — for example by more generously helping the refugees that seek asylum in our country. Instead of trying to transfer a vague feeling of inherited guilt to yet another generation, we should change from remembering what we must never forget to knowing why.” Read her thoughtful piece here:

What Old Nazis Make Us Remember – NYTimes.com.