Implicating history - sensitvity is needed

I have always been clear on the fact that I am a NCIS:LA fan. I think it´s a great show. But sometimes they aren´t too good when it comes to dealing with sensitive matters, particularly when dealing with international matters. I have written about the seemingly obsessive interest they have with Russians. But they also have an obsessive interest in Germans. And unfortunately, in my opinion, they don´t handle it very well.

Everyone is aware of the history of Germany and the terrible things that took place their in WWII when jews, gays, disabled people, roma people, anyone Hitler deemed as unfit to live were marched to camps to be tortured and killed so that Arians could become the dominating race. It´s something that has left a scar on Europe that will never heal. It´s impact is felt very strongly here and will always be. I cannot emphasize enough the effect this had upon Europe. It´s history that makes us ashamed. More ashamed than people realize.

So I was particularly annoyed (well angry) when NCIS:LA so candidly decided to focus on Germany in episode 2x09 Absolution. I know it aired 2 years ago but I still need to criticize it because what was said in that episode was terrible. I have wondered about why they put those lines in. Obviously they were meant to be funny but the point is, you don´t mock certain things, least of all WWII/German history.

Marty Deeks: Then again, they are Germans. They could just be getting their kink on.

Eric Beale: I'm half German.

Sam Hanna: I can see that.

What Deeks says there makes me bristle. Yes, what happened in WWII, everything that Germans have ever done can be related to them "getting their kink on". Because obviously killing millions of people and torturing them is just following a natural urge that Germans have. So, no big deal.

Excuse me! That is not only incredibly offensive but also making fun of what is a tragic history. Germans will never recover from what happened, the shame is very deep and no matter how much they atone it´ll always be there staring them in the face. I am not apologizing or minimizing what they did. I never will. But I know personally about the deep shame they carry. 

And what about Jews? This is history that affected them, systematic killing and torture of people only based on their religion. Jews suffered unspeakably tragedies during this time and they will never recover from it. Anti-semitism is still going strong today and Jews have to live with the fact that only 60 years ago, they weren´t deemed worthy of live because of their religion. 

So go ahead Hollywood. Mock history and make it sound as if what happened was just Germans getting their kink on. How very historically sensitive 

And then there´s this gem of a conversation:

Marty Deeks: Why did the Germans whack him now?

Henrietta 'Hetty' Lange: Ah. One never knows with the Germans.

Marty Deeks: [Deeks scoffs] Right.

Eric Beale: Come on guys! I'm right here!

Henrietta 'Hetty' Lange: Apologies, her Beale.

Eric Beale: Danke.

Yes Hetty, obviously one never knows with the Germans. They are just mindless creatures that go around killing and torturing people for the fun of it. So everything that has happened in German history is related to their biological urges and not something they can control.

This coming from the country that pretty much wiped out Native-Americans. Oh and had slavery until the late 19th century.

Thank goodness that they had Eric Beale be offended and bothered with their insensitive comments and he was vocal about it. I have always suspected that they put those lines in later as to make the effect of what Deeks and Hetty said a little less.

But sorry it didn´t work. 

NCIS:LA has since been a little bit more gentle and tried to even out their criticism of foreign countries. But this was not one of their finest moments.

I know America is a country of free speech but with that also comes the responsibility of not behaving like an absolute twit. With rights come responsibilities. And that includes being respectful and sensitive. Because certain things are not meant be made fun of. 

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