Category: Scrutinized
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Gun-ownership wouldn’t have prevented the Holocaust
American historian Stephen Halbrook states on the History News Network that Jewish gun-ownership could have prevented the violent outburst against Jews during the Kristallnacht. He states that a gun law facilitated the unprecedented violence of the nazi’s – a law that was created in the last year of the democratic Weimar-Republic in 1932. According to…
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NSA’s long history of illegal eavesdropping
As Edward Snowden showed the world to what extent the American National Security Agency has been tracking emails and phone-calls, a worldwide public outcry for more privacy protection followed. It is likely that most political leaders (friend or foe) were surveyed by the NSA’s Prism Program, as were all major companies. Moreover, public websites, like mail-services and social…
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What did the real Jesus look like?
Our image of Jesus is that of a bearded, masculine figure. A man in agony, hanging on the cross, crucified for the sins of humanity. This rather gloomy presence is quite different in comparison to the Jesus from early Christianity. This original image of Christ is much debated lately, mainly by art historians. Recently, a…
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Does ‘Black Pete’ have racist roots?
The recurring discussion about the Dutch Sinterklaas-celebration has culminated this year, as even the United Nations investigates this age-old tradition. The main issue is the possible racist background of the celebration, where a white-bearded bishop gives presents to children, as he is assisted by his black-skinned helper called Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete. The UN…
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Charlemagne not so great after all
The historical image of Charlemagne, of Charles the Great (747-814) is as positive as it gets for a medieval king. Charlemagne was one of the most striking personalities throughout the Middle Ages. He was a tough warrior, but especially a man of the church, a state-builder and cultural reformer. He won most battles he fought, so he…
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Putin’s letter may mark the end of American hegemony
At first sight Putin’s letter in the New York Times criticizes America’s meddling in the affairs of sovereign countries. Closer reading shows that the writing is meant as an eye-opener for the American public, to show a truth they will not like: that the era of America’s hegemony has ended. The short lived ‘pax Americana’ The letter…
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The secrets of Rosenbergs diary
On the 13th of June the long lost diaries of Alfred Rosenberg (1893-1946) were revealed. What may be unveiled in the 400 pages of Rosenberg’s gift to posterity? The finding of the diary is a real treat for historians while the debates on the Second World War are undiminished. Still, the diaries are ‘only’ from…