We sadly live in an era now with Donald Trump as president where white supremacists and bigots are free to speak whatever they want and be bold enough to do so. Grand Valley State football Offensive Coordinator Morris Berger is now in hot water after comments made to the school newspaper, The Grand Valley Lanthorn, about Adolf Hitler.
Berger was asked which three people in history he’d like to have dinner with and he listed Hitler as one of them. He explained how he knew Hitler had bad motives but he rallied a group and had a great following. Berger added that you can’t deny that Hitler was a great leader.
KV: So you graduated from Drury with a degree in History, you’re a history guy. If you could have dinner with three historical figures, living or dead, who would they be? And I’m ruling out football figures.
MB: This is probably not going to get a good review, but I’m going to say Adolf Hitler. It was obviously very sad and he had bad motives, but the way he was able to lead was second-to-none. How he rallied a group and a following, I want to know how he did that. Bad intentions of course, but you can’t deny he wasn’t a great leader.
Berger was originally asked this question because he graduated from Drury University with a degree in History. He mentioned President John F. Kennedy and Christopher Columbus as the other two figures he’d eat with. In the end, this was a very, very bad choice. Nothing about Hitler should be praised, even leadership. His role in the Holocaust was horrific and these comments by Berger were very insensitive. He has since been suspended. A “through investigation” is now ongoing.
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