This is a strawman, we agree on this and this discussion is about someone being investigated in Germany for using Hitler's picture to attack and criticise another dictator. (Though to be true, I am more concerned about people acting as nazis, whatever songs from whatever country they might be chanting).
> People are rediscovering fascism and nationalism as seducingly simple answers to complex questions
I agree, but I think that this is, also, the result of turning the memory of the past in a set of empty rituals that are used to secure the exact opposite of their stated goal: continued support for the oppressors of today and open, shameless contempt for their victims.
I'm not sure we are, given that this specific thread is about some people claiming Holocaust remembrance (and German limits to free speech when it comes to that topic) is akin to a religion, which doubts it at best and mocks it at worst.
> someone being investigated in Germany for using Hitler's picture to attack and criticise another dictator.
That is not what happened though. The Swastika is a prohibited symbol in Germany for a reason. Also, this investigation is pretty much guaranteed to be dropped because it's obvious to any sane person that Mr. Zitelmann did nothing wrong.
But using this incident to drag down any and all nuance around the German way of remembering the Holocaust isn't appropriate either.
tell me how that is different from any other religion with customs in staunch religious countries.
Everything you try to frame as some perversion of a religion here is an attempt of ensuring the memory of this is being kept alive, even after those responsible and their victims are gone. There is nothing to believe here, because in contrast to religions, this is about preservation of the actual past. It’s provable.
That is exactly the whole reason for the existence of religion. Passing down history, stories, events, social norms and opinions. I guess this kind of fanatical knee-jerk reaction is to be expected on here.
I do agree that there's a certain amount of ritualism around it, but that doesn't even remotely equate to a religion. Suggesting so also implies whether the Holocaust actually happened is up for debate, or merely indoctrination. Refuting this isn't a knee-jerk reaction, it's annoyance over a shallow dismissal by an edgy arm-chair expert.
