| Just going to pop this here... 14:54 - Sep 21 with 3502 views | Zx1988 |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 16:55 - Sep 21 with 3241 views | lowhouseblue |
equally, i will pop this article here in case anyone is at all interested:
"A decade ago, I spent some time in Germany with an English historian whose field of study was the Second World War, the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. He and I travelled together around Munich, where he explained how Hitler first came to prominence in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Later, we went to Obersalzberg and toured the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps. Over lunch in the cafeteria at the Dachau concentration camp (yes, there is a café with outdoor seating there now), my guide provided a detailed analysis of Hitler and his personality, how he actually functioned on a daily basis and how he dealt with domestic protests.
I thought about all this again recently, when a video emerged last week of US president Donald Trump and his White House entourage being confronted by activists from the radical feminist group, Code Pink, at a steakhouse in Washington, DC. The protesters, who had camped out at a neighbouring table in anticipation of the president’s arrival, shouted ‘Trump is the Hitler of our time’, ‘Trump is literally Hitler’ and ‘Free Palestine’. Trump stood opposite them, bemused, before telling his security to ‘Get them out of here’. After a couple of awkward moments they were escorted out of the restaurant by members of what was presumably the Secret Service. No one was arrested or charged.
I reflected on what my guide had told me about Hitler all those years ago, and imagined what the Führer might have done if his own dinner had been interrupted by a group of protesters. It seems that if ever there was an episode that proved that Trump was not the ‘literal Hitler’ of our time, that dinner confrontation was it.
Had the same inconvenience occurred to Hitler at the zenith of his power, his first order would have been for SS bodyguards to take the protesters to secret jails. Would they then have been sent to concentration camps? Not even. Their imprisonment would not have been long. They would have been interrogated by the Gestapo, which would have involved torture for perhaps 24 hours. Following the torture, no trial. The fortunate ones would have been lined up and shot to death. The less fortunate would have been paraded, perhaps naked, in a public space – somewhere like DC’s Lafayette Square, except with gallows. There, they would have been garrotted, probably with piano wire. When all the prisoners were dead, the bodies would have been removed from the gallows and incinerated, before their ashes scattered – or dumped – at an anonymous location. They would have been sure to leave no trace whatsoever of the protesters.
All this would have been filmed, so Hitler and his inner circle could enjoy the footage later on over tea and cakes. Although television was not a mass medium in the Third Reich, if it had been, the whole spectacle likely would have been televised, too.
The retaliation would not have ended there. The Gestapo would have summarily rounded up friends and family of the protesters, as well as anyone else mentioned during their torture. Those ‘collaborators’ would have been tortured themselves. Very likely, they too would soon cease to exist. That is more or less how Hitler would have handled the affair.
Compare this with what we saw last week. The protesters were able to confront Trump – he even acknowledged them – before they were sent on their way. Headlines, but no violence, bloodshed or arrests.
The most obvious point of all to make in this counterfactual is that there were not many protests in Nazi Germany. People were too scared, and understandably so. Protesters were killed, whereas in America they are protected.
So the next time someone accuses Trump of being the ‘Hitler of our time’, remember the Code Pink steakhouse episode. Some people may interpret this observation as an apologia or even a paean to Trump, but it is neither. It is merely objective evidence of the difference between Hitler’s totalitarian state and America, a democratic republic. Code Pink, or for that matter any citizen, may view Trump as a megalomaniac authoritarian and a narcissistic, vulgar control freak. Which he may well be, and we all have a constitutional right to say so. But under no circumstances is he ‘literally Hitler’, any more than you, I or his critics are." |  |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 17:46 - Sep 21 with 3016 views | Plums |
| Just going to pop this here... on 16:55 - Sep 21 by lowhouseblue |
equally, i will pop this article here in case anyone is at all interested:
"A decade ago, I spent some time in Germany with an English historian whose field of study was the Second World War, the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. He and I travelled together around Munich, where he explained how Hitler first came to prominence in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Later, we went to Obersalzberg and toured the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps. Over lunch in the cafeteria at the Dachau concentration camp (yes, there is a café with outdoor seating there now), my guide provided a detailed analysis of Hitler and his personality, how he actually functioned on a daily basis and how he dealt with domestic protests.
I thought about all this again recently, when a video emerged last week of US president Donald Trump and his White House entourage being confronted by activists from the radical feminist group, Code Pink, at a steakhouse in Washington, DC. The protesters, who had camped out at a neighbouring table in anticipation of the president’s arrival, shouted ‘Trump is the Hitler of our time’, ‘Trump is literally Hitler’ and ‘Free Palestine’. Trump stood opposite them, bemused, before telling his security to ‘Get them out of here’. After a couple of awkward moments they were escorted out of the restaurant by members of what was presumably the Secret Service. No one was arrested or charged.
I reflected on what my guide had told me about Hitler all those years ago, and imagined what the Führer might have done if his own dinner had been interrupted by a group of protesters. It seems that if ever there was an episode that proved that Trump was not the ‘literal Hitler’ of our time, that dinner confrontation was it.
Had the same inconvenience occurred to Hitler at the zenith of his power, his first order would have been for SS bodyguards to take the protesters to secret jails. Would they then have been sent to concentration camps? Not even. Their imprisonment would not have been long. They would have been interrogated by the Gestapo, which would have involved torture for perhaps 24 hours. Following the torture, no trial. The fortunate ones would have been lined up and shot to death. The less fortunate would have been paraded, perhaps naked, in a public space – somewhere like DC’s Lafayette Square, except with gallows. There, they would have been garrotted, probably with piano wire. When all the prisoners were dead, the bodies would have been removed from the gallows and incinerated, before their ashes scattered – or dumped – at an anonymous location. They would have been sure to leave no trace whatsoever of the protesters.
All this would have been filmed, so Hitler and his inner circle could enjoy the footage later on over tea and cakes. Although television was not a mass medium in the Third Reich, if it had been, the whole spectacle likely would have been televised, too.
The retaliation would not have ended there. The Gestapo would have summarily rounded up friends and family of the protesters, as well as anyone else mentioned during their torture. Those ‘collaborators’ would have been tortured themselves. Very likely, they too would soon cease to exist. That is more or less how Hitler would have handled the affair.
Compare this with what we saw last week. The protesters were able to confront Trump – he even acknowledged them – before they were sent on their way. Headlines, but no violence, bloodshed or arrests.
The most obvious point of all to make in this counterfactual is that there were not many protests in Nazi Germany. People were too scared, and understandably so. Protesters were killed, whereas in America they are protected.
So the next time someone accuses Trump of being the ‘Hitler of our time’, remember the Code Pink steakhouse episode. Some people may interpret this observation as an apologia or even a paean to Trump, but it is neither. It is merely objective evidence of the difference between Hitler’s totalitarian state and America, a democratic republic. Code Pink, or for that matter any citizen, may view Trump as a megalomaniac authoritarian and a narcissistic, vulgar control freak. Which he may well be, and we all have a constitutional right to say so. But under no circumstances is he ‘literally Hitler’, any more than you, I or his critics are." |
At the zenith of his power, Hitler had already benefitted from the work of Hans Frank to ensure his actions were legitimate in the eyes of the law. Trump is only just beginning that process, along with the oppression of the press and other similar actions.
You may be drawing some comfort from your equivalence but just because things are happening in a different order, it doesn't mean they aren't troubling, sinister and neo-fascist.
I really hope you're correct on your final statement - but the signs aren't great. |  |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 23:47 - Sep 21 with 2365 views | Whos_blue |
Watching the Trump speech live.
It's truly awful.
He's all over the place and keeps returning to himself.
He's now just announced the biggest press conference ever tomorrow regarding autism and how they're going to stop it.
Edit:
Topics covered so far.
The stolen election
MAGA
Taffifs
How Kirk pleaded wirh him to clean up Chicago
How big the stadium is.
Jimmy Kimmel
Basicially it's a chart rundown of Trump's greatest hits.
It sounds more like a Trump campaign event than anything remotely like a thanksgiving for someone. [Post edited 22 Sep 0:06]
|  |
| Distortion becomes somehow pure in its wildness. |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 08:25 - Sep 22 with 1808 views | BrandonsBlues |
and this is one of the intelligent posts that make me read TWTD. | | | |
| Just going to pop this here... on 09:11 - Sep 22 with 1710 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 23:47 - Sep 21 by Whos_blue |
Watching the Trump speech live.
It's truly awful.
He's all over the place and keeps returning to himself.
He's now just announced the biggest press conference ever tomorrow regarding autism and how they're going to stop it.
Edit:
Topics covered so far.
The stolen election
MAGA
Taffifs
How Kirk pleaded wirh him to clean up Chicago
How big the stadium is.
Jimmy Kimmel
Basicially it's a chart rundown of Trump's greatest hits.
It sounds more like a Trump campaign event than anything remotely like a thanksgiving for someone. [Post edited 22 Sep 0:06]
|
He’s not well. Did you see his rant about Sadiq Khan where he discussed him alongside the mayor of Chicago as the worst mayors ever? I think he was talking to reporters on his way home on Air Force 1. He’s a bitter and slightly insane person. |  |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 09:30 - Sep 22 with 1649 views | Guthrum |
| Just going to pop this here... on 16:55 - Sep 21 by lowhouseblue |
equally, i will pop this article here in case anyone is at all interested:
"A decade ago, I spent some time in Germany with an English historian whose field of study was the Second World War, the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. He and I travelled together around Munich, where he explained how Hitler first came to prominence in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Later, we went to Obersalzberg and toured the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps. Over lunch in the cafeteria at the Dachau concentration camp (yes, there is a café with outdoor seating there now), my guide provided a detailed analysis of Hitler and his personality, how he actually functioned on a daily basis and how he dealt with domestic protests.
I thought about all this again recently, when a video emerged last week of US president Donald Trump and his White House entourage being confronted by activists from the radical feminist group, Code Pink, at a steakhouse in Washington, DC. The protesters, who had camped out at a neighbouring table in anticipation of the president’s arrival, shouted ‘Trump is the Hitler of our time’, ‘Trump is literally Hitler’ and ‘Free Palestine’. Trump stood opposite them, bemused, before telling his security to ‘Get them out of here’. After a couple of awkward moments they were escorted out of the restaurant by members of what was presumably the Secret Service. No one was arrested or charged.
I reflected on what my guide had told me about Hitler all those years ago, and imagined what the Führer might have done if his own dinner had been interrupted by a group of protesters. It seems that if ever there was an episode that proved that Trump was not the ‘literal Hitler’ of our time, that dinner confrontation was it.
Had the same inconvenience occurred to Hitler at the zenith of his power, his first order would have been for SS bodyguards to take the protesters to secret jails. Would they then have been sent to concentration camps? Not even. Their imprisonment would not have been long. They would have been interrogated by the Gestapo, which would have involved torture for perhaps 24 hours. Following the torture, no trial. The fortunate ones would have been lined up and shot to death. The less fortunate would have been paraded, perhaps naked, in a public space – somewhere like DC’s Lafayette Square, except with gallows. There, they would have been garrotted, probably with piano wire. When all the prisoners were dead, the bodies would have been removed from the gallows and incinerated, before their ashes scattered – or dumped – at an anonymous location. They would have been sure to leave no trace whatsoever of the protesters.
All this would have been filmed, so Hitler and his inner circle could enjoy the footage later on over tea and cakes. Although television was not a mass medium in the Third Reich, if it had been, the whole spectacle likely would have been televised, too.
The retaliation would not have ended there. The Gestapo would have summarily rounded up friends and family of the protesters, as well as anyone else mentioned during their torture. Those ‘collaborators’ would have been tortured themselves. Very likely, they too would soon cease to exist. That is more or less how Hitler would have handled the affair.
Compare this with what we saw last week. The protesters were able to confront Trump – he even acknowledged them – before they were sent on their way. Headlines, but no violence, bloodshed or arrests.
The most obvious point of all to make in this counterfactual is that there were not many protests in Nazi Germany. People were too scared, and understandably so. Protesters were killed, whereas in America they are protected.
So the next time someone accuses Trump of being the ‘Hitler of our time’, remember the Code Pink steakhouse episode. Some people may interpret this observation as an apologia or even a paean to Trump, but it is neither. It is merely objective evidence of the difference between Hitler’s totalitarian state and America, a democratic republic. Code Pink, or for that matter any citizen, may view Trump as a megalomaniac authoritarian and a narcissistic, vulgar control freak. Which he may well be, and we all have a constitutional right to say so. But under no circumstances is he ‘literally Hitler’, any more than you, I or his critics are." |
That's not a particularly accurate parallel. What is being described there is the treatment meted out to the July 20th bomb plotters and their associates, people who had made a serious (and nearly successful) attempt upon Hitler's life*. The Scholls/White Rose, the Hampels and others were executed for distributing anti-government literature during wartime. None of these were for shouting insults from an adjoining table in a restaurant.
The actual reaction, from the time when opponents could still get that close to Hitler, would have been his SA entourage beating them up and throwing them out of the cafe.
A closer parallel is the case of Hans Litten, who prosecuted nazis and, on one occasion, gave Hitler a very hostile witness cross-examination. He was arrested, thrown into concentration camps, harshly treated and eventually committed suicide. Trump is now demanding his Attorney General pursue and prosecute those involved in his own trials while out of power
( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1wgg4vgeedo ).
* Additionally, the method of ececution and film thereof were secret at the time, not for public consumption. The nazis were very careful to maintain a veneer of legality. |  |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 10:04 - Sep 22 with 1525 views | lowhouseblue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 09:30 - Sep 22 by Guthrum |
That's not a particularly accurate parallel. What is being described there is the treatment meted out to the July 20th bomb plotters and their associates, people who had made a serious (and nearly successful) attempt upon Hitler's life*. The Scholls/White Rose, the Hampels and others were executed for distributing anti-government literature during wartime. None of these were for shouting insults from an adjoining table in a restaurant.
The actual reaction, from the time when opponents could still get that close to Hitler, would have been his SA entourage beating them up and throwing them out of the cafe.
A closer parallel is the case of Hans Litten, who prosecuted nazis and, on one occasion, gave Hitler a very hostile witness cross-examination. He was arrested, thrown into concentration camps, harshly treated and eventually committed suicide. Trump is now demanding his Attorney General pursue and prosecute those involved in his own trials while out of power
( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1wgg4vgeedo ).
* Additionally, the method of ececution and film thereof were secret at the time, not for public consumption. The nazis were very careful to maintain a veneer of legality. |
the point that apples are still being compared with oranges. there are many more apt historical comparisons, yet people only ever use one which verges on the hysterical. [Post edited 22 Sep 10:12]
| |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 13:16 - Sep 22 with 1231 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Just going to pop this here... on 10:04 - Sep 22 by lowhouseblue |
the point that apples are still being compared with oranges. there are many more apt historical comparisons, yet people only ever use one which verges on the hysterical. [Post edited 22 Sep 10:12]
|
You are basing that, seemingly, on one article which you have quoted as the definitive truth on the matter, without naming the author or citing the reference.
Umberto Eco wrote an essay on the steps to Fascist Authoritarianism, which has become influential.
The steps are summarised as:
The cult of tradition. “One has only to look at the syllabus of every fascist movement to find the major traditionalist thinkers. The Nazi gnosis was nourished by traditionalist, syncretistic, occult elements.”
The rejection of modernism. “The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity. In this sense Ur-Fascism can be defined as irrationalism.”
The cult of action for action’s sake. “Action being beautiful in itself, it must be taken before, or without, any previous reflection. Thinking is a form of emasculation.”
Disagreement is treason. “The critical spirit makes distinctions, and to distinguish is a sign of modernism. In modern culture the scientific community praises disagreement as a way to improve knowledge.”
Fear of difference. “The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus Ur-Fascism is racist by definition.”
Appeal to social frustration. “One of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.”
The obsession with a plot. “Thus at the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the obsession with a plot, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged.”
The enemy is both strong and weak. “By a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus, the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak.”
Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy. “For Ur-Fascism there is no struggle for life but, rather, life is lived for struggle.”
Contempt for the weak. “Elitism is a typical aspect of any reactionary ideology.”
Everybody is educated to become a hero. “In Ur-Fascist ideology, heroism is the norm. This cult of heroism is strictly linked with the cult of death.”
Machismo and weaponry. “Machismo implies both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality.”
Selective populism. “There is in our future a TV or Internet populism, in which the emotional response of a selected group of citizens can be presented and accepted as the Voice of the People.”
Ur-Fascism speaks Newspeak. “All the Nazi or Fascist schoolbooks made use of an impoverished vocabulary, and an elementary syntax, in order to limit the instruments for complex and critical reasoning.”
As summarised in this essay (from November last year) reflecting on precisely whether we can, or should, talk of Trump, or others, as Fascists or Nazis:
https://www.openculture.com/2024/11/umberto-ecos-list-of-the-14-common-features-
Umberto Eco's original essay is here:
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/06/22/ur-fascism/ | | | |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 13:24 - Sep 22 with 1185 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 10:04 - Sep 22 by lowhouseblue |
the point that apples are still being compared with oranges. there are many more apt historical comparisons, yet people only ever use one which verges on the hysterical. [Post edited 22 Sep 10:12]
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I find it highly notable when you are doubling down on your apologies for Trump and claims that there is no threat of fascism there in the face of a historical correction from Guthers. |  |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 13:50 - Sep 22 with 1103 views | lowhouseblue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 13:24 - Sep 22 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I find it highly notable when you are doubling down on your apologies for Trump and claims that there is no threat of fascism there in the face of a historical correction from Guthers. |
"apologies for trump" is completely dishonest. trump is a right wing demagogue, illiberal, intolerant, an opponent of free speech, and someone who has little respect for the law. i'm equally happy with the quote from the article i posted - a "megalomaniac authoritarian and a narcissistic, vulgar control freak". but discussing whether the term fascist is being misapplied is not defending anyone. if you can only understand such a discussion as being for your side or against your side then that is entirely your problem.
guthrum is intelligent and well-read - i doubt though that he would claim to have the last word on the interpretation of history. | |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 13:58 - Sep 22 with 1063 views | NedPlimpton |
| Just going to pop this here... on 10:04 - Sep 22 by lowhouseblue |
the point that apples are still being compared with oranges. there are many more apt historical comparisons, yet people only ever use one which verges on the hysterical. [Post edited 22 Sep 10:12]
|
Trump is obviously the orange in this scenario, right? |  | | |
| Just going to pop this here... on 13:58 - Sep 22 with 1051 views | lowhouseblue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 13:58 - Sep 22 by NedPlimpton |
Trump is obviously the orange in this scenario, right? |
 | |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
| |
| Just going to pop this here... on 14:49 - Sep 22 with 881 views | Guthrum |
| Just going to pop this here... on 10:04 - Sep 22 by lowhouseblue |
the point that apples are still being compared with oranges. there are many more apt historical comparisons, yet people only ever use one which verges on the hysterical. [Post edited 22 Sep 10:12]
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Yes, I'm not suggesting that Trump's behaviour is identical to Hitler's. Tho I do have my concerns about some of his advisers (Miller in particular). | |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 15:33 - Sep 22 with 772 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 13:24 - Sep 22 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I find it highly notable when you are doubling down on your apologies for Trump and claims that there is no threat of fascism there in the face of a historical correction from Guthers. |
I'm slightly confused here. Lowhouse has referred to Trump as a "a right wing demagogue, illiberal, intolerant, an opponent of free speech, someone who has little respect for the law, a megalomaniac authoritarian and a narcissistic, vulgar control freak". He's done so on numerous occasions. But because he doesn't believe Trump fits the term "fascist" you brand him a Trump apologist.
This is the sort of dishonest misrepresentation that causes unnecessary rows om here. Argue your point from an honest position and with good faith instead smearing Lowhouse as a Trump apologist. |  |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 15:35 - Sep 22 with 761 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 14:49 - Sep 22 by Guthrum |
Yes, I'm not suggesting that Trump's behaviour is identical to Hitler's. Tho I do have my concerns about some of his advisers (Miller in particular). |
I think Musk certainly fits the bill as a fascist far more than Trump. | |
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| Just going to pop this here... on 15:58 - Sep 22 with 691 views | OldFart71 |
| Just going to pop this here... on 16:55 - Sep 21 by lowhouseblue |
equally, i will pop this article here in case anyone is at all interested:
"A decade ago, I spent some time in Germany with an English historian whose field of study was the Second World War, the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. He and I travelled together around Munich, where he explained how Hitler first came to prominence in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Later, we went to Obersalzberg and toured the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps. Over lunch in the cafeteria at the Dachau concentration camp (yes, there is a café with outdoor seating there now), my guide provided a detailed analysis of Hitler and his personality, how he actually functioned on a daily basis and how he dealt with domestic protests.
I thought about all this again recently, when a video emerged last week of US president Donald Trump and his White House entourage being confronted by activists from the radical feminist group, Code Pink, at a steakhouse in Washington, DC. The protesters, who had camped out at a neighbouring table in anticipation of the president’s arrival, shouted ‘Trump is the Hitler of our time’, ‘Trump is literally Hitler’ and ‘Free Palestine’. Trump stood opposite them, bemused, before telling his security to ‘Get them out of here’. After a couple of awkward moments they were escorted out of the restaurant by members of what was presumably the Secret Service. No one was arrested or charged.
I reflected on what my guide had told me about Hitler all those years ago, and imagined what the Führer might have done if his own dinner had been interrupted by a group of protesters. It seems that if ever there was an episode that proved that Trump was not the ‘literal Hitler’ of our time, that dinner confrontation was it.
Had the same inconvenience occurred to Hitler at the zenith of his power, his first order would have been for SS bodyguards to take the protesters to secret jails. Would they then have been sent to concentration camps? Not even. Their imprisonment would not have been long. They would have been interrogated by the Gestapo, which would have involved torture for perhaps 24 hours. Following the torture, no trial. The fortunate ones would have been lined up and shot to death. The less fortunate would have been paraded, perhaps naked, in a public space – somewhere like DC’s Lafayette Square, except with gallows. There, they would have been garrotted, probably with piano wire. When all the prisoners were dead, the bodies would have been removed from the gallows and incinerated, before their ashes scattered – or dumped – at an anonymous location. They would have been sure to leave no trace whatsoever of the protesters.
All this would have been filmed, so Hitler and his inner circle could enjoy the footage later on over tea and cakes. Although television was not a mass medium in the Third Reich, if it had been, the whole spectacle likely would have been televised, too.
The retaliation would not have ended there. The Gestapo would have summarily rounded up friends and family of the protesters, as well as anyone else mentioned during their torture. Those ‘collaborators’ would have been tortured themselves. Very likely, they too would soon cease to exist. That is more or less how Hitler would have handled the affair.
Compare this with what we saw last week. The protesters were able to confront Trump – he even acknowledged them – before they were sent on their way. Headlines, but no violence, bloodshed or arrests.
The most obvious point of all to make in this counterfactual is that there were not many protests in Nazi Germany. People were too scared, and understandably so. Protesters were killed, whereas in America they are protected.
So the next time someone accuses Trump of being the ‘Hitler of our time’, remember the Code Pink steakhouse episode. Some people may interpret this observation as an apologia or even a paean to Trump, but it is neither. It is merely objective evidence of the difference between Hitler’s totalitarian state and America, a democratic republic. Code Pink, or for that matter any citizen, may view Trump as a megalomaniac authoritarian and a narcissistic, vulgar control freak. Which he may well be, and we all have a constitutional right to say so. But under no circumstances is he ‘literally Hitler’, any more than you, I or his critics are." |
We should as Brits be more concerned with what is going on here. Police turning up on people's doorsteps about tweets on social media whilst completely disregarding burglaries, shop lifting and even rape gangs in Rotherham.
A government intent on policies that totally go against what a majority of what ordinary working people want to see happening.
An explosion in costs for benefits and looking after illegal immigrants whilst disregarding a sensible approach to immigration that enhances the Country where migrants come here to work and pay taxes and actually contribute to the country rather than being a burden on an already overblown budget spent on supporting people that will in some cases never put a penny into the exchequer.
America is a great country, but like us it has problems. Many such as a right to arms which has seen many people slaughtered by people who should never have access to guns.
But as with our government, whilst it is necessary to intervene into what some countries are doing they/we should concentrate more on where we as a country are heading. | | | |
| Just going to pop this here... on 16:42 - Sep 22 with 585 views | Whos_blue |
| Just going to pop this here... on 15:58 - Sep 22 by OldFart71 |
We should as Brits be more concerned with what is going on here. Police turning up on people's doorsteps about tweets on social media whilst completely disregarding burglaries, shop lifting and even rape gangs in Rotherham.
A government intent on policies that totally go against what a majority of what ordinary working people want to see happening.
An explosion in costs for benefits and looking after illegal immigrants whilst disregarding a sensible approach to immigration that enhances the Country where migrants come here to work and pay taxes and actually contribute to the country rather than being a burden on an already overblown budget spent on supporting people that will in some cases never put a penny into the exchequer.
America is a great country, but like us it has problems. Many such as a right to arms which has seen many people slaughtered by people who should never have access to guns.
But as with our government, whilst it is necessary to intervene into what some countries are doing they/we should concentrate more on where we as a country are heading. |
Maybe so OF, but to be fair the thread is about the US. I think your comments would fit better in one of the many threads talking about the current state (or perceived current state) of the UK and England in particular. | |
| Distortion becomes somehow pure in its wildness. |
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