If Ignorance is Bliss, then guest column was almost heavenly
A couple of weeks ago, a reader submitted a column which among other things, compared the rise of President Obama to that of Hitler, and contained so much other absurdity that it warrants a formal rebuttal.
First, let’s settle the faulty historical comparison. Hitler rose to power from the right, with a vigorous call for Germany to become “great again”. He invoked many historical myths and half-truths about the greatness of Germany in the past and convinced millions that he and the National Socialists (actually German fascists) would restore Germany to the forefront of culture and indeed, power. At the time, Germany was suffering the ruinous consequences of the Treaty of Versailles, chronic inflation and of course, the Great Depression. No aspect of the election of Barack Obama really compares to this historic scenario, and the comparison is frankly, blatantly borne of a disastrous lack of historic knowledge. Last week a reader wrote in that he found it offensive. I disagree. I think it is worse than that – it is ignorance, and out of ignorance, grows hate. Not really an American value we should encourage.
Secondly, there is the tone that someone “took America back” and a message was given. I agree that a message was given. It was the same message that placed the Democrats in power. The message is that we are tired of ANYONE in Washington who cannot resolve the true issues that plague our country. Since we are only really given the choice between Democrat and Republican, we swing wildly back and forth looking for salvation and finding none. Obviously, the rise of such groups as the Tea Party is cause for concern, because they do, in fact recall the rise of extremist parties during economic hard times and have plagued this country since its founding. Fortunately, we have the constitution, which keeps the pendulum from falling off at one end of the swing or another. As for “taking back America”, I despise the concept that if certain sectors to the right loose an election, they say that it is America that is lost. Somehow, if you don’t agree with the Republicans or the Tea Party you are somehow less American. How dare you, sir. I became an American by choice and by dint of hard work, not geographical accident. I have as much right as you do to choose and I would never dream of saying that any opponent in a fair election was less American, less of a believer in freedom or less of a patriot because they have different beliefs about the direction of the country, or indeed about God, religion or healthcare. Inherently, people have different ideas and this is what makes America great – we can share them, discuss them, and ultimately vote on them. Shame on you for inferring that unless you believe in your particular brand of Right Wing Conservatism, you are less of a citizen.
The column that appeared in this column a few weeks ago was so flawed as to be embarrassing. It does show us that a lack of historical knowledge, coupled with nostalgia for simpler times can bring about extremist views. We have seen this before, and will see it again. But as the Nobel Literature Laureate, Elie Wiesel said “When you see evil, and do nothing, say nothing…then you are as evil as the one who pulls the trigger”. Speak up America.