Arnold Schwarzenegger is a famous Austrian-American actor, politician, and former bodybuilder. He rose to international fame in the 1980s with his roles in blockbuster action films such as The Terminator and Predator. He later served as the governor of California from 2003 to 2011 and has advocated for environmentalism and social causes.
Despite facing language barriers and financial struggles, Schwarzenegger persevered and became a successful actor and businessman. Recently, the ex-governor of California used his family’s past experiences to condemn prejudice and discrimination, specifically targeting antisemitism, to inspire others to follow suit.
Did Arnold Schwarzenegger Call His Father A Loser
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in 1947 in Thal, Austria. He grew up in a Catholic family and had a strict father. At 14, he began weightlifting and bodybuilding, eventually winning the Mr. Universe title at the age of 20. In 1968, he moved to the USA to pursue a career in acting and bodybuilding. Here’s how he described his father during an interview with CNN,
“My father was, and so many other millions of men were, sucked into a hate system through lies and deceit. And so, we have seen where that leads.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger has not shied away from discussing his father, Gustav Schwarzenegger’s affiliation with the Nazi party during World War II, openly addressing the topic on numerous occasions.
“I’ve seen it firsthand how broken this man’s – this man was,” he said. “The kinds of atrocities that happened. How many millions of people had to die, and then they ended up losers … in the Confederacy, losers, as they all have, this just doesn’t work. I mean, let’s just go and get along. And love is more powerful than hate.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger Condemns Antisemitism
Schwarzenegger’s remarks arrive at a time of heightened antisemitism and surging hate crimes across the United States. According to a report by the Anti-Defamation League, incidents of antisemitism in the US have reached their highest point since 1979. Additionally, data released by the FBI in March indicates a rise in reported hate crimes in 2021.
“I think it’s very clear that the more liberal we go with social issues, you see the other side becoming more and more angry, and there’s more and more hate in general,” he said. “There are people who created the insurrection and, you know, went absolutely berserk in Washington on January 6. And it’s just so many people that are angry. Not just angry about Whites against Blacks, or people against Jews and all this, but just angry in general.”
During the forum, Schwarzenegger informed Bash that he was unaware of the underlying cause behind the increase in hateful and antisemitic acts of violence. He said, “I think we have to figure out a way of toning it down.“
Source: CNN
