Bethel revisited

Bethel was a hospital operated by the Lutheran church in Germany during the 'Thirties for the mentally disabled. Hitler's goons decided that the compassionate, humane thing to do was to off the kids. You know. Sort of like Terry Schaivo.

The record of the German Lutherans in the Hitler era wasn't always anything to be proud of. But Bethel was an exception. For once, the Church stood up to Hitler.

In this country, we only kill sick women who can't speak for themselves, and babies who haven't been born yet. So far. But in the Netherlands, they kill babies who have already been born.

I understand they're considering The Horst Wessel Song as the new Dutch national anthem.

The irony, of course, is that the Dutch had first-hand experience with the regime that originated the concept of "life unworthy of life" back in the 'Thirties. Too bad the Dutch church today doesn't recall the example the German church set for it on this particular issue.

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