For Rudolf Rezsohazy, History cannot justify everything

Rudolf Rezsohazy, professor at the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), considers that we cannot resolve all of Europe's historical injustices and that some countries should drop their demands to do so. "To want to straighten things out generations, or centuries after the events, will cause more harm than good. ... Two principles are opposed to one another: the right to land based on parentage and the rights of current inhabitants. Inhabitants should clearly be given priority over those who idolise land. The right to land is an ideology created by nationalist who venerate the land of ancestors, cherish it, sing its praises, and lend it virtues, calling it 'Father', or 'Mother'. It is even kissed as if a crucifix. And yet land, in itself, is a neutral, material reality. It is given its significance by men who establish themselves on it and value it. However, reason unfortunately has little influence over mysticism."

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