Four dangerous little words: ‘It can’t happen here’
During one of its earliest manifestations, the Tea Party’s Web site, in what I think were called its “principles,” said something to the effect that they believed the Founders would agree with their contention that the president of the United States was justified in overthrowing tyrannical foreign governments.
I believe many members of the Tea Party still support that idea. I knew many of the people who screamed “coward” and “liberal” at me and others when we urged restraint in the rush to war in Iraq, and these people are now members of the Tea Party.
In his 1955 book “They Thought They Were Free,” Milton Mayer describes his attempt to learn from typical, garden-variety Germans how they came to support Hitler.
Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2010/09/29/2515755_p2/sept-30-letters-to-the-editor.html#ixzz1128mX7Xu
During one of its earliest manifestations, the Tea Party’s Web site, in what I think were called its “principles,” said something to the effect that they believed the Founders would agree with their contention that the president of the United States was justified in overthrowing tyrannical foreign governments.
I believe many members of the Tea Party still support that idea. I knew many of the people who screamed “coward” and “liberal” at me and others when we urged restraint in the rush to war in Iraq, and these people are now members of the Tea Party.
In his 1955 book “They Thought They Were Free,” Milton Mayer describes his attempt to learn from typical, garden-variety Germans how they came to support Hitler.
Mayer points out that it wasn’t the “socialist” aspect of “National Socialism” (Nazism) that was so pernicious, but the “nationalist” part, since it enabled many Germans to justify the socialization of the economy and the invasion of neighbors in the belief that they were “protecting the Fatherland.”
Some other things Mayer pointed to that made it easy for many Germans to fall for Nazism were:
n Its early calls for “positive Christianity.”
Some other things Mayer pointed to that made it easy for many Germans to fall for Nazism were:
n Its early calls for “positive Christianity.”
n Its condemnation of “educated elitists.”
n Complete distrust of all political parties, including calls to “throw all the bums out” and the rejection of “politics as usual.”
n Willingness to hear only what they wanted to hear regarding their cause.
n The ousting or destruction of anything determined to be “non-German.”
n Disdainful disrespect for all opposing viewpoints.
n Their view of Hitler as a “commoner” or “little man,” like they were.
n The general consensus that “It can’t happen here” concerning the possibility of a Stalinist-style dictator- ship emerging from the Nazi movement.
WAYNE L. PARKER
n Complete distrust of all political parties, including calls to “throw all the bums out” and the rejection of “politics as usual.”
n Willingness to hear only what they wanted to hear regarding their cause.
n The ousting or destruction of anything determined to be “non-German.”
n Disdainful disrespect for all opposing viewpoints.
n Their view of Hitler as a “commoner” or “little man,” like they were.
n The general consensus that “It can’t happen here” concerning the possibility of a Stalinist-style dictator- ship emerging from the Nazi movement.
WAYNE L. PARKER
Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2010/09/29/2515755_p2/sept-30-letters-to-the-editor.html#ixzz1128mX7Xu
