Recently, I had a weird experience following a conversation with a new friend from Argentina. She told me that her grandfather was born in Belgium. When I researched his name, a shady past emerged from various sources. I assumed she knew. She did not, despite some family rumours.
She loved her grandfather a lot and was astonished to hear “my” version of the truth. Her family’s version of the truth is the very opposite. Given my surprise, I decided to check the internet information with some Belgian friends. So far, one friend confirmed those WW2 facts.
I told her that I do not believe that the sins of the (grand) father taint the legacy of the (grand) children. Still, I was however reminded of the following ancient saying:
For the sins of your fathers, you – though guiltless – must suffer.
or the original (translated) version:
An excerpt from the poem Odes (Book 3, poem 6, verse 1) by the Roman poet Horace (65 BC – 8 BC)
“Romans, though you’re guiltless, you’ll still expiate
your fathers’ sins, till you’ve restored the temples,
and the tumbling shrines of all the gods,
and their images, soiled with black smoke.”
Ever since, I’m wondering how I would feel myself about such news. A part of my family emigrated from pre–WW2 Germany to earn some money by working in (pre-war) Dutch infrastructure projects (eg, Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal). Being poor (probably) helps in not having a tainted legacy.
I hope my new friend and I will overcome the above.
If not, we will have a tainted memory about each other.
Tainted Love (1981) by Soft Cell
band, lyrics, video, Wiki-band, Wiki-song
[Chorus]
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now, I’ll run from you
This tainted love you’ve given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that’s not nearly all
Oh, tainted love
Tainted love
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
0 Comments