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  • From: Alex Wilson <alex AT awstudios.net>
  • To: "Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/" <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Bush comparisons to Hitler/Nazis
  • Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 17:53:00 -0400

On 7/7/04 3:30 PM, "Jeremy Portzer" <jeremyp AT pobox.com> wrote:

> Why should I not react a little strongly when people make the comparison
> that Bush is a Nazi? What can I do to debate this characterization
> politely?

I think there's a danger in assuming that no action and no person today is
comparable to the monstrosity that was Hitler or the Nazi party of Germany.
When modern genocides are compared to the Holocaust, there are always people
who say, "no, this isn't THAT terrible." By viewing them as monsters and not
as humans turned monsters, there's a chance that we'll forget that we can
become monsters too. Throwaway remarks, though, like "Bush is a
Nazi/fascist" or "Kerry is a communist," just aren't helpful.

The only comparison I've seen so far (and I haven't been looking, so there
could be more) that mildly interested me is in looking at how Hitler got
such popular support. He took advantage of a terrorist attack against
Germany and fed the fear of the people to gain popular support and
justification for his ideas and methods where he previously had little.
Critics of Bush argue that Bush had little popular support (after his first
eight months of office) until September 11, after which his administration
pushed unrelated policies through as quickly as possible and called
detractors unpatriotic. The comparison breaks down quickly given the scope
of what Bush has "gotten away with" vs. what Hitler did, but mild
comparisons are, I believe, worth looking at.

When Goering was asked at the Nouremberg trials how the country could follow
such insanity, he answered: "This is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism
and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."

I don't believe those who look at (or for) such comparisons necessarily
believe that Bush or anyone else in his administration is as monstrous as
Hitler. They're just keeping their eyes open so there's less of a chance we
can ever become so monstrous.

Alex.






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