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A reader writes:
I’m informal associates with a pair who’re each lecturers at a public highschool. At some point whereas catching up, they informed me that they discovered one in every 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 discovered, and I don’t know if the college knew this earlier than Jane was employed. My associates stated that Jane didn’t volunteer this info and has by no means talked about it, and she or he has by no means proven any assist for Nazi views or any type of hate.
Although Jane is a pleasing and competent coworker, they each expressed sturdy discomfort with working together with her due to her familial connections and stated 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, and so they stated, “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 lecturers have entry to youngsters, and the state the place they reside which is a little bit of a sizzling 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 however it appears a bit unfair that somebody needs to be ostracized solely as a result of they’re associated to a horrible individual. I do know you’ve had letters earlier than from individuals who have kinfolk who did horrible issues; is that this the identical or does the Nazi side take this to a special degree?
I’m totally in favor of firing Nazis. (I’m favor of a bunch of further issues worse than firing for them as effectively, in each their unique incarnations and their modern-day ones.)
However we shouldn’t be firing folks for being the descendants of Nazis. Or the descendants of slave homeowners or mass murderers or little one abusers or Pol Pot. You don’t deny folks employment due to the sins of their ancestors.
Legally, no, “associated to a Nazi” shouldn’t be a protected class. However not solely would firing them –or refusing to rent them — be unethical and unfair, it will 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 regarded 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? Truthfully, yeah, in all probability, till and until they gave me purpose to not. (Different Jews won’t; we’re not a monolith.) However “I really feel a bit uneasy round this individual” isn’t wherever close to “and thus they need to lose their job.”
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