Is history funny?

I wonder, will it ever be okay to make fun of horrific historical events? Should we be so comfortable with the past that we reach a point where "too soon" no longer applies? I'd argue that there are certain things our society now takes lightly that, in my eyes, will never be okay to mock, ridicule or more importantly, forget.

For example, we recently hit the 100th anniversary of the Titanic and it never crossed my mind that our generation--the generation of the Leo and Kate movie--would have been unaware that the major plot twist in that epic love story was an actual catastrophic event in our history. According to a Buzzfeed article in 2012, that seems to be the case.

Of course, someone might argue that it is okay to poke fun at something where all of the survivors of that event (the only people that could directly take offense) have already completely died out, but does that really make it okay? Someone might say yes.

Here is my greatest concern: The Holocaust began in 1933, only months after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, which means that it started 80 years ago. Unfortunately, many of the survivors of the Holocaust have died and the few we have left are, well, really old. Does this mean that eventually it will okay to laugh at the Holocaust? No, right?

Well, because I still have high hopes for humanity, I am going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. But people sometimes forget that Adolf Hitler was an essential puzzle piece--being the mastermind behind the entire operation--so they may find themselves speaking of him in a light or even "funny" situation. To me, if you treat Hitler like a punchline of some joke, you are disrespecting the memory of every person that died because of him. That means the 12 million people that died in labor, death and concentration camps, as well as every soldier that fought in WWII and civilian that was killed because a war was being fought in their front yard. 

**In case you didn't realize, the war in the European front started because Hitler invaded Poland September of 1939. So, Hitler is the reason there was even a WWII in Europe, not to mention the Holocaust. (The Pacific War would have happened anyway, but it probably would not have been considered a Second World War) Therefore, can we really joke about someone so horrific?

I'm sorry if I sound too harsh. Take it easy, Adriana. Don't take things so seriously! You might say this, but I wouldn't listen to you. Let me tell you why:

The Holocaust was devastatingly horrible. Hitler is a monster. The end. 

To me, it is that black and white. Why don't people see it that way? But they do, Adriana. Everyone knows the Holocaust was terrible. You would think that, wouldn't you? Well, this is why I even brought this up. A recent BBC article mentioned a new book called, Er ist wieder da (He's Back) by Timur Vermes. This is what it is about:

"Hitler returns to Berlin and gets mistaken for a look-alike. After nearly seventy years in a coma, he is surprised by the way the modern city looks. Where have all the Russian soldiers gone? And why are there so many cyclists wearing flimsy helmets with holes in them?" (synopsis from BBC)

Alright, as a normal concept, this book sounds very interesting. Almost reminiscent of the 2003 film: "Good Bye Lenin!," a movie about an East German woman who falls into a coma and awakens to a unified Germany. Her son, to avoid causing his mother any more trauma, must recreate the East Germany she remembers and loves. 

Here is my problem: If it were about pretty much anyone else in history, this concept is super creative. There is nothing wrong with historical fiction. But it isn't about just anyone, it is about Adolf Hitler. Therefore, I feel as though it is disrespectful to the memory of all of those people I mentioned before.

My problem is, what are we doing to ensure that the memory of these historical events live on forever and not just in textbooks that are mandatory in classrooms, but in our minds and hearts? As corny as that sounds, I fear that future generations will confuse the cold, harsh facts with funny fiction novels and romantic movies. We need to avoid this fate.

In Mein Kampf (My Struggle), the autobiography (really, propaganda) Hitler wrote while in prison after the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch (attempted coup in Munich), he says:

"The end is not only the end of the freedom of the peoples oppressed by the Jew, but also the end of this parasite upon the nations. After the death of his victim, the vampire sooner or later dies too." (pg. 296)

Yes, Hitler called Jews "parasites" and "vampires" -- Yes, Hitler is a monster. So, no I am not okay with a comedic novel that plays on Hitler's role in history as if it were something to laugh about. 

Feel free to disagree or agree in the comments below! I love a good discussion.

Articles discussed:
BBC Article: Timur Vermes’ Hitler novel: Can the Führer be funny?
Buzzfeed Article: 15 People Who Didn’t Know The Titanic Actually Sank
Sypnopsis: Timur Vermes, "Er ist wieder da"