I was at one of my favorite local cafes, Java Shack, and some people at the next table were talking about how, years ago, it used to be the headquarters of the American Nazi Party. If I were still back home in Germany, I wouldn't have been surprised, but I was in liberal Arlington, Virginia a few minutes from home.
I'm not sure how I feel about that. I can't blame the owners of Java Shack. Whether or not they knew the history of their building when they opened years ago, I have no idea. What disturbs me is that, when I go there, I breathe the same air as Nazis once breathed. In the 1960s, Arlington was the headquarters of the American Nazi Party. That means that when I walk down the streets and go to the supermarket, I am potentially going to the same places they went to.
For the first time, since we moved to Arlington, I thought about moving. I really feel unsafe. I look at old people in my neighborhood and wonder if they once were Nazis. How can you tell? I'm not Jewish, and I certainly grew up surrounded by ex-Nazis. I didn't like the feeling then and I don't like the feeling now. Are my children going to be safe going to school? One of the reasons I wanted to raise my kids American is because I didn't want them to grow up to become Nazis. Now that I know that there were Nazis here, perhaps even once in my backyard, I am faced with the realization that I may not be able to stop that from happening.
I'm sorry, I really am, if I sound like I am panicking. I don't think I am. All it takes is one person to make the world a worse place. All it takes is one person to disturb the peace. As Swami Jarvis says, "One little fart can stink up the whole room."
After avoiding Java Shack for a couple of days, I decided to go back. By going back, I am taking a stand against racism and Nazism. Hopefully, I can also find a place to sit. Sometimes the place gets a little crowded.
