WRITTEN BY DANA BARBEE AND JADEN FISKE In the year 1920, two years after the First World War, a man named Adolf Hitler created the “Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei” or “Nationalist Socialist Workers’ Party” in English, for which “Nazi” is the shortened term. Though World War II was resolved 75 years ago, that did not stop a group of people from reviving the movement and creating a new term, calling themselves “Neo-Nazis”(neo meaning new). Their motives and reasoning aren’t far from the original German Nazi Party; harmfully addressing anyone who does not believe in the movement, and targeting those who identify as different from them, primarily Jewish people. Recently, we conducted an interview with Jeff Schoep. Mr. Schoep used to be a part of a Neo-Nazi movement, and was the leader of the National Socialist Movement starting in 1994. According to Mr. Schoep, the Neo-Nazi movement is a white supremacist movement based on German-Nazi and Hitler ideology. He even referred to the feeling of being within the group as cult-like, or an echo-chamber. Despite what you may be thinking, Mr. Schoep’s reasoning for joining the movement wasn’t in a negative way at all. He has a historical family connection to WW2 as his grandfather fought on the German side of the war. Mr. Schoep had a fascination with the topic and wanted to be involved. While growing up, he was never taught racist or anti-semetic ideas, rather he adopted those views through his own curiosities and was taught (what he didn’t see as) hateful behavior when first joining the movement in 1992. Mr. Schoep’s reason for joining the movement was different from most of the others who found their paths to joining through family propaganda and frequent exposure to the behavior. They had joined due to their similarities with the movement in terms of belief systems, disagreements with minority groups, or even a single bad experience with one person that led them down the path of ‘‘That’s how they all are.’’ Those within the Neo-Nazi movement were seen as people who wanted to partake in oppression, and though that is true for some, it was mainly due to fear. Some members fear a minority being stronger than them just as minorities may fear the same thing from them. In some cases, members of the movement were in the lower economy or working classes, so the term ‘White Privilege’ angered them as they were certain they had no such thing. They wanted to retaliate against the minorities for using this term and stereotype. They didn’t view themselves as oppressors due to them fighting for a cause and defending their people. They never viewed it as hate. Though he realizes now that was a mistake. His group used different social media platforms like podcasts, music, video games, and publications to spread their ideas. When he joined the movement, websites were just barely starting out. “It’s a double edged sword,” said Schoep. He then went on to explain how hate groups can spread their ideology with a simple click of a button. If people started to question or had some doubt they could look to the Internet for someone who may agree. However, counter messaging also exists. There are groups out there that spread positive ideas. While Mr. Schoep didn’t believe it at first, after leaving the movement he came to the realization that the motive behind the movement was fear. Jeff Schoep deradicalized his ideas and began to change his perspective while still involved with the Neo-Nazi movement. When asked why he decided to leave the movement, he said “For me it was seeing the humanity of the people I once vilified”. Though for others involved, it’s harder for them to leave, like those raised in that environment, or have family involved. Mr. Schoep tries to reach those he worked with, or who are involved with the movement and help them change their ways. He disengages them prior to attempting to change their ideology. During Jeff Schoep’s presentation at the Museum of Tolerance: Combat Hate presentation here at VAAS (which you can read more about in the article linked below this paragraph) and during our interview, he mentions speaking to a Muslim woman and a Black man. He explains how rather than them (the man and woman) lecturing him about his wrongdoings, they tried to understand his perspective. They wanted to elucidate how they felt about his actions and how his words made them feel. “When you’re dehumanizing someone else you lose your humanity in the process,” said Jeff Schoep. He mentioned that dehumanizing another person doesn't revolve around only race, but can include things like “I’m not going to talk to this person because they’re a democrat/republican.” (Not a direct quote from Jeff Scheop). Mr. Schoep voiced how closed minded you become within that environment. He added that once you’re in that cult-like mentality your ability to have an open mind becomes ‘‘slammed shut”. He told us that a lot of members had been in gangs and viewed this as their ‘last chance’. Mr. Schoep said, “What matters is that we’re all human beings.” Mr. Schoep also verbalized how emotions weren’t acceptable and seen as a weakness or not being normal, as well as group members within the movement shaming others for showing emotions. “When I speak about some of the sad things I did like that, it slows me down a little bit because I feel bad.” and “I carry a lot of shame, and guilt, and regret like that.” said Jeff Schoep. He told us that due to emotions being repressed for so long, they became more powerful. Since Mr. Schoep was running the group; he never showed any emotion because it would’ve sent a panic through the group. However, after leaving the movement, his children seemed surprised that he ‘had emotions’. Schoep’s skill set was having the ability to motivate people, and they would listen and follow him. Though those were good skills he used in the movement, he wanted to figure out a way to use those skills for a better purpose. He wanted to prevent people from going down the same path he did. “It’s not about saving that one guy here, that one lady there. It’s about the innocent people they could damage.” Examples he included were those who had the mental ability to take things to the extreme, shooting churches, synagogues, and mosques. Saving those people from the movement meant saving hundreds, even millions of lives. He believed that by participating in the movement he was doing something good and noble, but now he realizes that he wasn’t and that what he’s currently doing is actually good and noble. Jeff Schoep left off with some kind reminders for us all to follow. We should be upstanders (someone who speaks up in support) rather than bystanders (someone who watches and remains uninvolved). If we were to see someone getting bullied or harassed, we should stand up for them instead of looking the other way and thinking that someone else will help them. He said that, not only to prevent hate, but during life in general. We should be positive and try to bring people together. Try to temper yourself during conversations, and try to refrain from saying things like “You’re an idiot” or “You’re wrong”. While what Jeff Schoep did, in the beginning, was wrong, what truly matters is that he was able to see past those fixed points of view and changed himself for the better. Jeff is an amazing example of how anyone can overcome hate. WRITTEN BY MELINA DE LA CRUZ AND NAM THAI
In Mexican history, Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday. Cinco de Mayo, or “Fifth of May” in English, is a holiday celebrating Mexico’s victory in the Battle of Puebla against the French forces on May 5, 1862. The holiday is commonly mistaken as Mexico’s independence day, which is celebrated on September 16. In 1862, French forces gathered troops to invade Mexico and marched toward the small town of Puebla in central Mexico seeking control. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army battled against the French forces in the Battle of Puebla. While this holiday is very present in the state of Puebla, Mexico, it is not celebrated as much in the rest of the country. America adopted this Mexican holiday in the 1860s to help raise money and recruit men to aid in the continuing fight against the French. It is said that thanks to Jeffrey M. Pilcher, a professor of history at the University of Toronto, Cinco De Mayo is very present in The United States. Some ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to eat popular Mexican food like mole poblano, white rice, nopales salad, fried beans, and molotes de plátano (stuffed plantain patties). While this is a primarily Mexican holiday, it is also an acknowledgment of culture and freedom, bringing different people and families together in celebration. |
AuthorDana Barbee Archives
May 2023
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