Kieran McConville
ONE love, blood, life
Godwin's Law, in my humble opinion, is looking more than a little motheaten. Yes, sure, you'll always have the internet commenter who thinks anyone rightwing is Hitler: that kind of commentary can be safely disregarded.
But if the death of six million of (insert despised minority here) is the yardstick for useful analogies to a certain toxic twentieth century political movement, then, well, yeah. God help us. It took even the Nazis quite a few years to get the machine oiled and running, and elections had been cancelled long before that point. The point about fascism, or fascist-like movements, is that once you can actually point to a death camp or suspicious looking train cargo, it's far, far too late.
And I'm not sure political life in America isn't very nearly as polarised as during the sorry days of the Weimar Republic. Not sure of that at all. If there is a crucial difference it is the economic situation - which is hardly fantastic, merely not Weimar-style catastrophic.
Hitler was widely regarded as a joke in the 1920s, though he talked quite openly about what he wanted to do. It took the control of a state apparatus and thirteen years in power to acquire the aura of unique evil. In Trump's case, where he absolutely differs is that I don't think he believes strongly in anything at all except Trump. But you know, that may not be clear to everyone saluting at the rally.
But if the death of six million of (insert despised minority here) is the yardstick for useful analogies to a certain toxic twentieth century political movement, then, well, yeah. God help us. It took even the Nazis quite a few years to get the machine oiled and running, and elections had been cancelled long before that point. The point about fascism, or fascist-like movements, is that once you can actually point to a death camp or suspicious looking train cargo, it's far, far too late.
And I'm not sure political life in America isn't very nearly as polarised as during the sorry days of the Weimar Republic. Not sure of that at all. If there is a crucial difference it is the economic situation - which is hardly fantastic, merely not Weimar-style catastrophic.
Hitler was widely regarded as a joke in the 1920s, though he talked quite openly about what he wanted to do. It took the control of a state apparatus and thirteen years in power to acquire the aura of unique evil. In Trump's case, where he absolutely differs is that I don't think he believes strongly in anything at all except Trump. But you know, that may not be clear to everyone saluting at the rally.
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