A reader writes:
I’m informal buddies with a pair who’re each academics at a public highschool. At some point whereas catching up, they advised me that they came upon certainly one of their recently-hired colleagues (“Jane”) is the direct descendant of a Nazi. I don’t know which Nazi, I don’t understand how they came upon, and I don’t know if the college knew this earlier than Jane was employed. My buddies mentioned that Jane didn’t volunteer this data and has by no means talked about it, and she or he has by no means proven any help for Nazi views or any form of hate.
Although Jane is a pleasing and competent coworker, they each expressed robust discomfort with working along with her due to her familial connections and mentioned they wished that the college district would terminate her employment due to it. I requested them in the event that they thought that nobody ought to ever rent Jane due to this, they usually mentioned, “I’m not saying that no person ought to ever rent her, it simply shouldn’t be right here.” I disengaged from the dialog at that time, however my sense is that by “right here” they meant each a college the place academics have entry to youngsters, and the state the place they stay which is a little bit of a scorching spot for white supremacy.
Is it authorized to fireside (or refuse to rent) somebody as a result of they’re associated to a Nazi? It doesn’t sound like a protected class to me, however alternatively it appears a bit unfair that somebody must be ostracized solely as a result of they’re associated to a horrible particular person. I do know you’ve had letters earlier than from individuals who have family who did horrible issues; is that this the identical or does the Nazi facet take this to a unique degree?
I’m totally in favor of firing Nazis. (I’m in favor of a bunch of extra issues worse than firing for them as properly, in each their unique incarnations and their modern-day ones.)
However we shouldn’t be firing individuals for being the descendants of Nazis. Or the descendants of slave homeowners or mass murderers or baby abusers or Pol Pot. You don’t deny individuals employment due to the sins of their ancestors.
Legally, no, “associated to a Nazi” is just not a protected class. However not solely would firing them –or refusing to rent them — be unethical and unfair, it could additionally open up a can of worms about who else we would determine to fireside or not rent as a result of we don’t like one thing their great-grandparent did. And I’m fairly assured that if we appeared into everybody’s ancestors, we’d discover a complete lot of issues.
And look, I’m a Jew. Would I be uncomfortable discovering out a colleague’s grandparent or great-grandparent was a Nazi? Actually, yeah, in all probability, till and until they gave me motive to not. (Different Jews won’t; we’re not a monolith.) However “I really feel slightly uneasy round this particular person” isn’t wherever close to “and thus they need to lose their job.”
