Moral Dilemma Assignment

Felicity Sawyer
142 Green crt V2A 7K5
Penticton BC
John Smith
Mayor
City Hall 568 Main Steet
Small Village, B.C.

Dear Mr.Smith,

     This is concerning the Gunter Grass "war criminal" case. I do not believe that Mr.Grass should be exposed of things that happened during the second world war for a number of reasons. The propaganda during that time would have influnced him to join the nazi party in the appalling actions that took place. Hitlers propaganda influencing people to join the war was convincing and hard to resist. During the war Mr.Grass was young and impressionable making him a easy target to draft. Finally I believe he should not be exposed do to his contributions in the community.
     During the second world war Gunter Grass may have been apart of war criminal actions, but that was due to the fact that the propaganda was very convincing. Hitler's propaganda made war seem "cool" and hip, almost as if it were a game. What Gunter was doing at the time seemed appropriate, him and probably all of his friends join the Nazi's in the atrocities. Mr.Smith, did you ever think even just for a second that maybe what he was seeing on the television, newspapers and billboards, could not only be threatening Jews and minorities? But that maybe Hitler's propaganda was threatening, making people believe their families would be safe if they joined. You cant just look at what he did, there are factors to put into consideration.
     When Mr.Grass was a commandant in a concentration camp, he was fairly young, probably in his early twenties. War was a new "fun" exciting thing, possibly he regretted joining as he matured and realized the truly horrific things happening. But since he was so young and impressionable, and he is now an elderly man, Why expose him? I believe we should just let him live the rest of his life in peace.
     Since the war Gunter Grass has been a mentor in this town, helping the other families in town make ends meet, he was the mayor of this very town from 1962-1998. These families, not only his own family's, lives would be upside down. It would be hard on the members of your own town. People in town could retaliate to him being exposed. So, Mr.Smith, I think you should keep not only Gunter in your best interest but the people of your town. Let them appreciate Mr.Gunter for what he is now, not what he used to be.

Sincerely, Felicity Sawyer