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ARREST AT
DACHAU |
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The award of this medal, in recognition of the
solidarity I feel toward Israel, has encouraged me to attempt once more a
difficult test of strength to obtain ratification. But the road ahead is a long
one, for ratification will only be the achievement of the political phase: the
consent of the German Parliament that the German courts are competent in regard
to Nazi criminals. Next will come an equally arduous phase, the judiciary one.
But we must face one step at a time. If I thought only about the innumerable
obstacles between me and my objective, I would be demoralized.
We work
out a plan. Each of our actions must include people or places that have strong
symbolic meaning. Such meaning must be present in order that any single and
generally peaceful demonstration may generate unforeseen power, an activating
shock that will make those to whom the demonstration is addressed aware of
their responsibilities. Tomorrow the symbol will be Dachau and my arrest there.
We must set a trap for the German police since, if I am arrested outside the
compound, the desired effect will be lost and I might rot in prison. Yet we
know that no policeman feels that entering a compound where tens of thousands
of anti-Nazis were assassinated will lead to a confrontation with his
conscience. That is one of the problems of the German conscience: the absence
of reflection and comprehension, on both the individual and |
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