Radio War Nerd EP 531 — What's The Matter With Germany? feat. James Jackson

This book examines the complex dynamics of Holocaust memory in Germany, particularly how Muslim Germans are positioned within these narratives. It critiques the phenomenon of 'subcontracting' guilt to Muslim immigrants, highlighting the tensions and paradoxes this creates within German national identity. The work is based on extensive ethnographic research and offers insights into the role of marginalized communities in national reconciliation.

In 'Unorthodox', Deborah Feldman recounts her childhood and teenage years within the strictly regulated Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism. Raised by her grandparents and aunt due to her mother's departure and her father's cognitive disability, Feldman grew up under stringent customs that governed every aspect of her life. Despite the repressive environment, she developed an independent mindset, influenced by secret readings of literature by authors like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott. The book chronicles her journey from a forced marriage at 17 to her eventual escape from the community, highlighting the psychological, financial, and intellectual control exerted over young women in such sects.

In 'Learning from the Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil', Susan Neiman explores how Germany has come to terms with its Nazi past through a process known as Vergangenheitsbewältigung, or 'working off the past'. She argues that this process offers valuable lessons for the United States in confronting its own history of slavery and racism. Neiman discusses the challenges faced by both East and West Germany in acknowledging their past and how these efforts can inform American discussions on reparations, Confederate monuments, and racial justice.