I’m not sure what I would do with such a typewriter. One of my students once wrote about an instance in which she and the members of her temple found swastika graffiti on the wall of their temple. Rather than erasing the hateful images, they painted a mural around the swastikas. The mural portrayed jews dancing in defiance of the swastikas, the message being that love defeats hate. I can imagine someone using this typewriter to write philosophy or poetry to spread peace and tolerance, reclaiming the machine for good purposes. Still, I think the machine would give me the creeps—bad mojo—which is not a judgment on the collector who retains it for its historical reality. Just my own personal reaction. It certainly does look militant.
I find your attitude thoughtful and sensitive, for the most part. I have to say that I think you slip when you say the machine "served Germany well." That depends on how one defines Germany and "well" — and I would disagree with you.
I think you're feeding into the controversy by even mentioning it. 10 years ago I don't think most people would have much of an opinion either way -it's just a machine. They probably would have had opinions about owning one themselves, but would have no need to air it nor judge others who own one. But in this post-PC world as we move into a culture of victimhood it becomes trendy to find things to bicker about. I'm kind of guessing everything I just said based on trends I think I have seen -I could be wrong.
I don't believe I have seen half a slug changed like that! That is very very cool. I have seen filed slugs and entirely replaced ones a handful of times.
I’m not sure what I would do with such a typewriter. One of my students once wrote about an instance in which she and the members of her temple found swastika graffiti on the wall of their temple. Rather than erasing the hateful images, they painted a mural around the swastikas. The mural portrayed jews dancing in defiance of the swastikas, the message being that love defeats hate. I can imagine someone using this typewriter to write philosophy or poetry to spread peace and tolerance, reclaiming the machine for good purposes. Still, I think the machine would give me the creeps—bad mojo—which is not a judgment on the collector who retains it for its historical reality. Just my own personal reaction. It certainly does look militant.
ReplyDeleteMcFeats (Untimely Typewriter)
I find your attitude thoughtful and sensitive, for the most part. I have to say that I think you slip when you say the machine "served Germany well." That depends on how one defines Germany and "well" — and I would disagree with you.
ReplyDeleteMaybe "served Germany effectively" would be better, and it probably what was meant.
DeleteMark, that would make sense only if Germany = the Nazi party.
DeleteI think you're feeding into the controversy by even mentioning it. 10 years ago I don't think most people would have much of an opinion either way -it's just a machine. They probably would have had opinions about owning one themselves, but would have no need to air it nor judge others who own one. But in this post-PC world as we move into a culture of victimhood it becomes trendy to find things to bicker about. I'm kind of guessing everything I just said based on trends I think I have seen -I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I have seen half a slug changed like that! That is very very cool. I have seen filed slugs and entirely replaced ones a handful of times.