Ruth Deutschmann

Benjamin Epp

Wien

2008-04-29

Sylvia Manning - Baumgartner

Nicole D´Incecco

1933

I'd like to say, I was very aware that democracy before 1933 wasn't really ideal. I remember in primary school we were delighted when we heard that they were throwing ink wells in parliament. We only had slates to write on. And that they rattled their desk tops. That was my first impression of conditions in parliament. You didn't hear anything good about parliament. Even though my father always said: "Stop criticising, it's no use" and so on. "It has to be done differently." But democracy itself, as it was presented didn't have a good name. When I look at it today, I always say: In the 1930s there was a left wing and a right wing militia in Austria. They were heavily armed and well organised. Major Eifler, a former commanding army officer from the time of the monarchy, was in charge of the socialist militia. He was an excellent organiser. He also was a brilliant tactician, especially for small-scale war ideas. He had everything it took. So ? What kind of a democracy can it be if there is militia on both sides? Today I would say it's more like Lebanon than central Europe. You can't overlook that. But I always believe even if a democracy is not well developed it shouldn't be destroyed but should be allowed to evolve. I experienced something like that in Greece, in my time. There were always discussions that the democracy there would lead to chaos. The way democracy was practised. Then we say: "I don't need a government. What I need is a messenger, a postman who brings me my mail." If it gets to that point, it's really serious. You shouldn't destroy democracy but try to change it. That's easier said than done.