And Nobody Came

Back in the days of the Vietnam War there was a poster that was famous.

It read: What if they gave a war and nobody came.

Yesterday’s massive march for the right wing made me think of that poster.

You see, yesterday was the one year anniversary of the Charlottesville Nazi and KKK march. It was during that march that a young woman was murdered by a coward driving his car into her. It was that march that prompted Mr Trump to say that there were fine people on both sides. A whole lot of fine Nazis. And Klan members.

For the Trump-Nazi-KKK coalition this was just the first step. The new movement was taking hold. A new wave of ultra right wing White Power bigotry was going to sweep America.

So, a year later, we have the right wing setting out to demonstrate at out nation’s capital. To demonstrate the strength of the “movement”. We all braced for the thousands of racists and white “nationalists” intent on the show of power. Intent on making America White again . (Of course, anyone with a 4th grade education knows America was never “white” to begin with).

The great “Unite the Right” (or more aptly “Unite the White”) rally was held yesterday. And in a nation of 330,000,000 or so people the rally attracted thousands. Well, the thousands were actually protesting the rally.

The “Unite the White’ rally ended up with not even two dozen men and one woman. Fewer than 25 people marching for racism and White Power. There were 3 times as many journalists covering the non-event. So much for the “mass movement” of hate they hoped to engender. Americans are better than that.

So, what if they gave a White Power rally and nobody showed up…except the press and protesters against the rally? Must have some very sad racists hanging their heads today. The balloon of racism they hoped to share with other , decent Americans, was POPPED. Some very, very sad racists. And at least one lives in the White House.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/unite-the-right-fizzles-amid-a-boisterous-counter-protes/567374/

 

Understanding the Nazis

One of the great mysteries for normal people is how Nazism grew and eventually dominated Germany. 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 Jews, gays, intellectuals, journalists, gypsies, etc murdered. All due to one man, Adolph Hitler.

Yet, to the best of our knowledge, Hitler never murdered a Jew. Never sent a Jew to the gas chamber. Never extracted a tooth from a living Jew without anesthetics. Never separated children from their mothers and exterminated them.

All this was done by German citizens. Volunteers. You see, the Nazis did not force anyone to work at the camps. The death camps were staffed by volunteers. True believers.

Normal people wonder at this. Normal people cannot understand.

Yet, history is full of human behavior which is both cruel and vile. Savonarola and the bonfire of the vanities as he cleansed Florence of decadence. The Spanish Inquisition aimed initially at Muslims and Jews, then expanded to include all who may not be true believers. Pol Pot and his wholesale slaughter of millions of Cambodians. Wearing glasses was enough to get you executed. The Hutus murdering Tutsis and vice versa. The extermination of the Native Americans by the European invaders. The Bible tells us of the justified genocide by the Jews of the Canaanites. Not just victory, but complete extermination of a people. The Armenia massacres. Etc. etc.

Hitler was not alone. The history of the world is filled with stories of people executing each other based on ethnic origins. Or language. Or skin color. Or religion.

It seems as though this is a rather regular occurrence. It seems as though at least some people are easily influenced to murder, torture and degrade. It must be somewhere in the genes.

But what triggers it? In all cases it is the demagogue. The man or small group of men who lead others. They use fear of the “other”. The “other” is out to get you. The “other” is the fault of all of your problems. Fear is the strongest emotion.

And, if the “other” is a danger, what is the next step? Dehumanization. People don’t kill people except in self-defense. But the “other” is not a person. The other is less than a person. The other is sub-human. It (not he or she) can be dealt with. Confine the “other”. Deport the “other”. Exterminate the “other”. Spray the hornet’s nest. Set out the mouse traps. Shoot the varmints. The other is not worthy of life.

Understanding Hitler. Hitler understood the power of the “other”. The power of propaganda. The power of labeling. The power of prejudice. The power of hatred. He understood the very small step to dehumanization. He understood that people will do what is necessary if you can convince them to cross the line. The line of viewing other humans as less than human. As vermin.

So, watch the Trump rallies. Watch the snarls. Watch the hatred displayed toward the “liberals”. Listen to the “Lock Her Up” chants. Watch the leader foment hatred . Encourage hatred towards the other. And a candidate talks about roughing those who disagree with him.

And watch as “normal” people separate 3 year olds from their mothers . Watch as a judge passes judgment on  a 5 year old who doesn’t even speak English and sits alone in a courtroom. Watch as unarmed men are shot down in the street because their skin color tells you they are dangerous. Listen as the president’s spokesperson calls members of the FBI “crooked”. Wonder as the president of the United States call a free press the “Enemy of the People”.

Consider.

Are you really still confused about how the extermination of the Jews was carried out? Do you think that some of the citizens of the industrialized nation of Germany in the 1930s are somehow any different than some of the citizens of the United States today? Have people evolved to a higher plane in 70 years?

You want to understand the Nazis? Look around you.

 

The Trump – Mueller Interview

Many folks do not know it but Mueller has already interviewed Donald Trump. The interview was held in private . Mueller had a stenographer take notes. Mr Trump demanded that a Russian interpreter be in the room as well. With my inside contacts, I have obtained part of the transcript.

Mueller: Good morning. For the record, can you state your full name and position.

Trump: Yes. I ..uh.. my name is ..uh…Donald Dennison…no…uh David Douchemugger…uh…wait…Drivel Bongbaker…uh…wait…I have it…uh… let me look in my wallet here. Uh. Donald Trump. Yes. Donald Trump.

Mueller: OK. And your position?

Trump: My position is the best. Best position. i have always been the best, hired the best people. The best. My position is the best position ever.

Mueller: To be more specific. What is your job?

Trump: My job. Yes, I have a job. Is this a trick question? My job is the best president. best president ever. I won the election. I beat Crooked Hillary. Best election ever. Most votes ever for a president since Honest Abe. More popular than Honest Abe. All the polls show it. Fantastic job. I am doing a fantastic job.

Mueller: OK. Let the record show that Mr Trump is the President of the United States.

Trump: I object, your honor. I am the BEST president of the United States. I won the election fair and square. No collusion. No collusion. Witch hunt.

Mueller: OK. Now. In June of 2016 were you aware of the meeting between Paul Manafort, Donald Trump, Jr.,Jared Kushner and 3 of Putin’s agents from the Kremlin? Were you aware they were meeting one floor below you in Trump Tower?

Trump: No contacts at all between my campaign and any Russian. None. Witch Hunt. No collusion. Maybe a completely unimportant meeting one time. So unimportant I don’t remember it. Meeting? What meeting. About adoptions. I love kids. Love adoptions. Meeting about adoptions. No Russians there. Never in Trump Tower. I never heard of Russians. Who is Manafort. Worked for me for a day or two. Never heard of Trump Tower. Where is it? Jared? Jared who? Who am I?

Mueller: OK. Uh. Shortly after being told that the Russian government had derogatory information about the Clintons, you stated that you were going to make a speech about the Clinton -Russia connections. But you never made such a speech. What was the basis of your original claim and why did you not make the speech about the Clinton-Russian connections?

Trump: A great speech. I made a great speech. Everyone said so. That’s not what I say, it’s what everyone says. So many speeches. Great speeches. Crooked Hillary and Russia. So much collusion. If people only knew. It would be the biggest scandal ever. Bigger than the Apprentice. the rating would be amazing. Amazing ratings. No collusion. Lock Her Up. Why aren’t you going after Hillary. Waterboard her. Not torture.

Mueller: Uh. Mr Trump. You seem to be evading all my questions. Can you answer this directly. While you made many statements that you had no contact with Russians, we have  signed contract with Russians to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. You negotiated with the Russians while you were a candidate for president, yet denied any connections with Russia. Can you explain that, please?

Trump: Yes. I will be happy to answer directly.  No collusion. Fake news. Witch hunt. Trump Tower is a fantastic building. WOW. I built it myself. Fine piece of architecture. best ever. I don’t say so. Everybody says so. Trump Tower is in Moscow. Uh. Oh. There is no Trump Tower in Moscow? Wait. Let me make a phone call. Oh. Later? Vlad assured me I could build one in Moscow. That’s in Russia, right? See. I know a lot . No collusion. No hookers in a Moscow hotel. That is fake. I never met Putin. Never saw him. Next question.

Mueller: (sigh). Let the record show the interview has ended.

Trump: Great job. Best interview ever. My answers were fantastic. The best answers ever. No collusion. Crooked Hillary.