Hitler, Goebbels ‘non – Aryans,’ Says Dr. Hook

Hitler and Goebbels are “non-Aryans,” declared Dr. Sidney Hook of Washington Square College of New York University, last night in his talk on “The Battlefield of Race” at the Extension School of Adult Education. “Judged by their own criteria of racial purity,” the professor said, “these two fanatics should have kicked themselves out of the Nazi party long ago.”

“Although Fascism would have arisen anyhow,” the speaker continued, “with its dependence on insane racial theories, yet if we had popularized our scientific findings in anthropology it would be much more difficult to broadcast such stupid myths about ‘Aryan’ supremacy.”

Professor Hook derided Oswald Spengler’s theories. “Spengler is more consistent,” he said, “though just as insane as Hitler, in that he admits that the so-called physical basis of the race is a myth. The Nazi apologist admits that even the Japanese could be regarded as belonging to a superior race if only they developed the political trait of Prussianism. Anthropologists have conclusively that there isn’t a single physical characteristic that can be definitely identified as belonging to a single ethnic group. Whatever peculiarities a race possesses are derived through the complex forces of society, history and religion and not from the blood plasm.”

“But even national traits are variable,” the professor continued, “for only a century ago, Germany was regarded as a land of poets and musicians. It was only with the rise of industry in Germany and the imperialistic expansion, that it was transformed into Bismarck’s ‘blood and iron.’ Who would say that the national traits of the Japanese are the same as they were before Commodore Perry opened the door to the East?”

Professor Hook suggested that the Jews either find themselves a place where they will be permitted to develop their own culture–or let them join forces with other groups who are also opposed to virulent Fascism.”