This is just fucking stupid. Is it the Cardinal's fault that the German term for "degenerate art" is the same as it was back in the Third Reich? Am missing something here?

BBC NEWS | Europe | Cardinal in 'Nazi art term' row

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I am quite concerned for the Germans who are steadily losing freedom of speech at the cost of political correctness - for example, banning holocaust denial and the such (yes, it's stupid, but it is still speech), getting approval for a child's name, and this example. I understand that Germany has a strong desire to distance itself from anything Nazi, but their legislated efforts to do so seem more nazi-esque than simply allowing free speech, IMHO.

And, if we look at the history of fine art during the WWII years, I bet the term "entartete Kunst" was made an official term so that the Nazi big whigs could have legitimate reasons for acquiring additional works of art. Taken in that sense, maybe the Germans could better deal with the term for degenerate art.

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I don't see the link with freedom of speech. The cardinal clearly is an asshole, and people are expressing their indignation. Big deal.

How is he an asshole? Because he doesn't like some types of modern art? Guess I am an asshole too.

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No, that's not why. Anyway, the point was, he has freedom of speech, but he should use it more carefully if he doesn't want to be criticized, which is free speech just as much as his stupid use of nazi terminology.

That is my point though. Is it his fault that the German phrase for degenerate art hasn't changed since the war?

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There is no "degenerate art". The word was coined up by the Nazi to designate art they disagreed with. Using the word is a tacit endorsement of at least some of their ideology. That's no news, anticommunists and Nazis share many values.

I disagree. The German language, along with the their words for both "degenerate" and "art", were around long before the Nazis. Besides, there is plenty of art I would call degenerate. Does that make me a Nazi, or in agreement with their ideology?

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Depends. How would you define "degenerate art"?

It is all personal opinion. IIRC, some time back there was a painting of the virgin mary created using feces. I am by no means a religious person, but I would label that piece "degenerate art". I guss I know "degenerate art" when I see it.

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Gosh, the Soviets used the same term (in Russian of course) for art they didn't like.

Everyone always calls the art they don't like "degenerate". Nothing 'Nazi' about that word.

And I agree - what's up with Germany getting all totalitarian about this shit? That is very disturbing.

I'd call it shit on a canvas, personally.

It's not such a big deal imho ... Meisner got some media attention, and that is probably exactly what he wanted.

Are you Germanes supposed to tiptoe around your own language now, avoiding any word uttered by a Nazi boss? Ridiculous

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Don't startle him, Joe - it's almost full!

Really sorry for my ignorance of German - thus, unable to comprehend thoroughly the discussion.

I just want to contribute my criticism on the prohibition of usage of old regime language.

The current German statemen have a clear determination to stay away from the Nazi, and wipe out all its legacy. I really share this motivation. But banning a term generally used during the Nazi period is not a consistent measure.

In my point of view, the usage of a term is linguistic only, and concerning the richness of that language. It's a German term, thus, that term belongs to German language, then, it's the property of all German-spokers. The question is who authorizes the German statemen to deprive German language of its property. I will say, it's an arbitrary action based on no authority.

The similar story is occuring in my country. The old-regime has fallen 30 years ago. And during its existence, this regime contributed to the richness of our language due to their intensive interaction with international community, technology and governance. But, the collapse of such regime brings about the end to such linguistic contribution. Indeed, the reigning regime expects the people to forget all old language.

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