Thought control in West German Berufsverbote! The harsh German word offends the ears like the bark of a stormtrooper. Literally it translates as “profession forbiddance’’ but in the official parlance of the Federal Republic of Germany it means the barring from social productivity of those professionals whose ideologies do not conform to the rightist standards of the state. Berufsverbote is the subject of a scholarly paper entitled “Sciences and Political Discrimination’’ written by Hans Mausbach of the Bund Demokratischer Wissen- schaftler, the Federation of Democratic Scientists. “What the expression ‘Beruf- sverbote’ means,”’ he writes, “‘is known throughout Europe and other countries: Discrimination and. oppression of active Democrats, Communists, Socialists, Social Democrats, members of the trade unions, progressive liberals and non-party members. .. .” Hans Mausbach’s - warning is intended for all of us. He writes as ascientist — his sober dissertation is as carefully. annotated as an academic thesis. His analysis of Bruefsverbote commands at- tention precisely because of its dispassionate presentation. He is a physician calmly informing his patient of a grave malady. While Mausbach sympathizes with the individual victims of ideological repression, he and his associates are especially con- cerned over the debilitating effect on science itself. When highly qualified — professionals are classified as radical extremists by the inquisition in the FRG, they are then barred by law from productive activity in their fields. Deprived of its most progressive thinkers, the official state science cannot function. “In the field of social sciences,” Mausbach observes, ‘‘a maze of irrationality develops between describing social facts and analyzing their causes ... if the acknowledgment of objective laws in history and society can no longer find a firm place among the philosophical currents tolerated in higher education.” An example of this phenomenon is evident on this continent today. The U.S. suffers from a_ sick economy that cannot be rationally explained by the official family of economists because any diagnosis suggestive of Marxism is “‘ver- boten.” In an impressive table of statis- tics appended to the document, Mausbach reinforces his con- clusions. He quotes from the files of the political police: in one area, 800,000 investigations took place from 1972 to 1976; a list of civil -_ ER bine service occupations under scrutiny - includes professors, engine drivers, cemetery gardeners and swimming attendants. From the Indices of the Ministry of the Interior, under the heading, Organizations of Concerned Members, the German Communist Party (DKP) is the first in the place of honor followed by the Social Democratic Party, Free Democratic Party, Socialist German Working Youth, Young Socialists, Young Democrats, Marxian Students Association “Spartakus,”’ Socialist University Association, Liberal University Association, Trade Union “Education and Science,” United Democratic Lawyers; Conscien- tious (war service) Objectors and acategory loosely described on the police blotter as ‘‘other organizations and non-organized.”’ It is the FRG version of the U.S. attorney-general’s List of Sub- versive Organizations. It’s hard to say which regime learned the most from its partner in neo-Nazism. ae ba es ae More than thE KZ-HAFILINEE OTESTIEREN VERBO N BER) 5,000 civil rights advocates including former inmates of Nazi concentration camps (top, in striped uniforms) marched in Stuttgart earlier this month to protest the Berufsverbote. Below, art teacher Gisela Sprenger-Schoch, a victim of the ban, marches with a gag over her mouth, symbolizing the_repressive Berufsverbote. . —Tass photos -Heinemann, identified himsel The report ends with a selection of bloodcurdling questions which applicants for professional jobs have been summoned to answel before:a tribunal: What is youl opinion of property? What is your view of Marxism? Have you evel used the term “imperialism” i the Federal Republic of Germany: What do you understand by the term “‘scientific socialism?” What is your definition of the state? Have you ever given a lecture of an introduction to political economy? What do you understand by the term ‘‘dictatorship of the proletariat? What does the term “transformation”? mean to you! As dramatized by the photographs here, the Berufs verbote is being hit with sub stantial protest, both spontaneous — and organized. Scientists in West Germany have organized against Berufsverbote and have receiv encouragement from intellectuals in France, Italy and _ the Netherlands. 4 In the past five years, ever sinc® the decree of 1972, a counter movement in defence of the com stitution and democratic rights has” developed. Local civil right’ organizations, with the support of the trade unions, professional and scientific associations, youth and church organizations, are cam _ paigning with a breadth of vision and effectiveness that 3 remarkable. The late president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gustav W. with the defenders of civil right The church figures Helmuth Golt witzer and Martin Niemuller ant the writer Heinrich Boll are repre “sentative of the many nation@ - figures demanding the abolition of the Berufsverbote. E | : —Robert E. Halt Daily World [abridged] — Hearings reveal Responding to widespread concern about the effects of television violence, the Parent- Teacher Associations in the United States have initiated series of eight hearings into the subject, the first of which opened recently in Pitt- sburgh. Initial testimony revealed the seriousness of the problem and while the hearing focussed on the American experience, it has equal relevance for Canadians. The following article is excerpted from a story written by UPI education editor Patricia McCormack which appeared in the Daily World. OD) These days. many youthful of- fenders who maim or murder don’t weep in court when details of their crimes are repeated to them, said judge Patrick R. Tamillia. At one time, the accused used to cry,” he said. Tamillia, a juvenile court judge in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania, was among a number of people who testified before the 12-hour hearing on television and violence which attracted doctors, ministers, teachers and parents from several centres in the US. Tamillia’s report on the “‘hard hearts’’ among juvenile offenders linked the problem to television violence which. he argued, desensitizes youths who are in- clined to anti-social acts. As a result of the desensitization, when a youth commits an offence against another person, he loses sight of the fact that another human being is involved. “It's as though they struck something inanimate,”’ he said. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JANUARY 28, 1977—Page 10 Tamillia’s testimony was reinforced by Dr. Albert Bandura who told the hearing that viewing violence blunts the child’s sen- sitivity to it. Children condition themselves so that they do not become upset by the gougings, smashings and stompings which they see on television, the Stanford University doctor emphasized. Dr, Frederic Werthem, a psychiatrist, also noted that some who watch television violence become accustomed to it. “What this attitude really signifies is a devaluation of human life.’ he stated. Among the teachers testifying before the hearing. Camille Faith spoke for the 6,000-member Teachers Association of Baltimore. She said: “Tn the past, family goals and morals played a dominant role ina child’s formation. “Today in some ways, the ex- tended family -is made up, not of relatives, but of the Fonz, Steve Austin and Wonder Woman, since children spend as much time listening to these television characters as they do to their parents. “The average American child will have viewed some 15,000 hours of television by the time he has graduated from high school — compared with his having been exposed to some 11,000 hours of HENRY, MIONIGHT — YOUVE HAD ENOUGH EXCITEMENT FOR Topay ! IT'S J dangers of TV violence | formal instruction,” Faith said. The teachers’ representative also noted that seven-year-olds in her school want to be Lassie, Giant Robot or a bionic person when they grow, a phenomenon which is attributable to the fact that the youthful mind is able to judge that most human television characters do not have much to offer in an ordinary existence. “Mechanical persons,” she said, “and animals are the best role models presented to our children. Is it a surprise that the American Medical Association has diagnosed television violence as a risk factor threatening the health and welfare of young people?”’ Several other teachers appeared before the hearing including: one ‘unrestricted viewing is limiting Fil kindergarten teacher who said: “I! is really sad to see kindergarte! children choking other five-yeal olds in imitation of something see! on Kojak.” a Another commented: © ‘‘Thé interests to the cops and robbers simplistic programming. We call definitely see the effect of vocabulary, interests and so for thes : | The Washington, D.C. Teachers Union, in a prepared statement, made this point: “Even though there have been a definitive conclusions drawn tha! violence on television is aprimé factor in the rising crime an violence in American society today, one can’t help but feel that if has played a significant role.” One key study cited during thé hearing was that prepared for th® American Medical Associatio? Journal. “Tn 1973,” the report stated: “1g 032 young Americans, 15 to 2!) died in motor vehicle accidents: 5,182 were murdered and 4,09 committed suicide. “The death rate for this ag’ group was 19 percent higher i 1973-74 than it had been in 1960-6!) owing entirely to deaths by violence. ; “For a considerable proportio! of American children and youth the ‘culture of violence’ is now bot! a major health threat and a way life. “One contributing factor } television’s massive daily diet symbolic crime and violence if entertainment programs.”