On the defense of German war refugees, gun control and abused children

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

New row hits controversial museum for German war refugees

I don't believe that the expulsion of Germans from Eastern Europe in 1945 should be linked to Nazi war crimes. These people were deprived of their homeland through no fault of their own. It is not fair to paint all of these people with Nazi war crimes just because they are German. -- Dave Schaub, US

The crimes of World War II weren't only committed by Nazis. That point should be clear and obvious to all people. And not only the Jews were victims during that war. This point also should be clear in all minds in order to have a realistic and objective view of that period. -- Michel, Lebanon

The Germans' expulsion should be put in the context of the war, but not justified thereby. You don't repair Nazi crimes by Soviet rape; no offense can be justified. It looks like Germans are forbidden to commemorate their suffering because others don't agree. But we're talking about historical truth, not about emotional consensus. -- Tiberiu Nicolescu, Romania

German president calls for firmer gun laws at Winnenden memorial

Obviously, as an American, I am opposed to more gun control. Simply put, I have never met a criminal that obeyed the laws. If someone wants to go on a rage and abuse my second amendment rights by abusing a firearm, then that person should go to jail. In any country, if someone is 'bent' on getting a gun and killing people, no matter how many laws you have against it, that person will get a gun and kill. You can totally outlaw all guns in any form and I am 100 percent sure someone will commit a gun crime. Ben Franklin once said "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” -- Vincent, US

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Some readers think gun ownership should be a right

We here in the US also have the occasional troubled teen who, feeling ostracized by his environment, decides to "take it out" on those he "feels" are the cause. In my opinion, it is a failure on the part of the parents of those who would perpetrate such crimes, though I'd also add that prosecuting the father for the manslaughter charge is not going to change anything. Society will not be improved by it, nor will it make his heart feel worse for having lost a son who will forever be known for his infamous deeds. Removing the instrument is a common remedy advocated by those who aren't addressing the real problem. -- David Tong, US

The good folks should not have to suffer for the crimes of the bad. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. Let the law-abiding folks be armed if they want to be, punish the criminals - not the law-abiding folks. -- Ralph E. Rhoad, US

Gun laws are worthless; criminals laugh at them as they go about selling drugs, stealing and committing acts of violence. Only peaceable people who lack criminal intent bother to obey such laws and they aren't the cause of the crime problems that plague our societies. Germany should learn from the USA and its multiple gun laws: they haven't done a thing to make our country safer. -- Mark Goduto, US

Vatican says bid to link pope to abuse has failed

Thanks for the coverage and for keeping this appalling situation of clergy sexual abuse highlighted. No one will take the Church seriously as long as Cardinal Law remains supported by the Pope and the Vatican. He must go. -- John, Great Britain

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Pope Benedict XVI has become the target of much criticism for his handling of the sex abuse scandal

With a billion members, some sinners are a probability. One in one hundred thousand would still be a huge number. Might not orchestrated attacks on the Catholic Church be intended to distract attention from more deadly dangers? Perhaps if the press considered this, one would be less inclined to think of it as, at the very least, oddly motivated (along the lines of another deadly sin?) -- Thomas Bagot, Australia

I am not convinced. Vatican breaks silence, they say, but how? That they claim there is a campaign to discredit the Church and the Pope. What's that -  now they discredit all the abused children as a part of a discredit campaign against the church? If this is the Church's way to open up now and help to investigate this abuse cases, then it will take very long and, in the end, nothing will really be investigated. -- Gerhard Seeger, Philippines

It seems odd to me that the Vatican would claim the abuse scandals now being discussed in Germany were a "bid to connect the Pope with child abuse." The abuses happened long before Ratzinger ascended to the papacy, so how could someone have planned in advance to tarnish his reputation? No one needs to connect high-ranking Vatican officials to the abuse scandals. Their own behavior over the decades; denying the claims of the children and enabling the violations to continue, does that quite effectively without any help from the outside whatsoever. -- L.F. Velez, US

They should allow marriage. The Bible clearly states that marriage is better than burning with lust, or something like that. Why deny this? -- D. Coon, US

Over and over the Vatican is outraged about the abusive priests. Words and more words, yet not one action over this "outrage". It is a great example of "lip service." -- Rajin, US

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Susan Houlton