Posted on 07/08/2009 9:55:55 AM PDT by JoeProBono
JASLO, Poland (Reuters) – An oak tree planted in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War Two to mark Adolf Hitler's birthday may soon face the axe if the local mayor has her way.
Authorities in Jaslo in rural southeastern Poland discovered the origins of the tree when plans were lodged to fell it to make way for a traffic roundabout.
"We obtained information that this is no ordinary tree but was put here to mark Adolf Hitler's birthday," said Jaslo's mayor, Maria Kurowska. "So should I try to improve our town's communications or should I allow a memorial to that criminal to remain standing? The choice is simple for me."
Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, triggering World War Two and beginning more than five years of occupation. Six million Poles died, including almost all of the country's three million Jewish citizens. Not everybody in this town of 38,000 shared Kurowska's view that the tree must go.
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If they need to cut it for a roundabout fine, but don’t punish a tree for something in the middle of the last century that the tree did not know about?
is the tree going to invade the next town?
Does the tree have a swastika in it?
maybe the tree provides shade and is of some help.
It’s just a tree.
Sometimes people need to discover their brains... and use it.
Your clear thinking deserves applause.
If the symbolism concerns the good mayor, she can arrange with the local Catholic church to exorcise it, bless it, and re-dedicate it to the deserving cause of their choice.
The tree is innocent. If they cut it down, it will simply go down as the latest innocent victim of Nazism.
“There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of men for this treachery!” - Treebeard
Damn Fascist oaks shading out the elms...
That tree is making the V for victory sign with its branches, must be a fan of winston Churchill.
Seems kind of small for an oak tree that was planted so long ago. I have oak trees on my property that are quite a bit younger and bigger than that tree.
Hmmm...remove the Confederate flag because of what it stands for??
What to do about this tree...
liberal dilemma?
...and the trees were all made equal...by hatchet...axe...and sword.
If the Deadites capture the Necronomicoak, a terrible evil will befall all mankind.
I don’t believe that tree was planted 70+ years ago. If it is that old its growth has been severely stunted for some reason.
And here Al Gore was saying the anti-tree people are the Nazis. I’m confused.
Free Republic is so cool!
In the place of the tree, I'd plant a beautiful oak with an inscription on it, “To the memory of 6,000,000 Poles, murdered by Germans in years 1939-195”, and encircled it with a row of White-Scarlet flags proudly waving to honor it.
Matt from Poland
Just put a plaque in front of it that calls it the freedom tree. The town can use it as a place to celebrate their liberation from Germany.
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