The parallels that exist between the rise of the 3rd Reich and the Bush administration, are unavoidably apparent. Yet over half of the country
appears to be completely oblivious to it. The following is taken from an essay which discusses to similarities between the two.
**
It's easy to look back and realize what a jerk Hitler was. But at the time, Hitler looked pretty good to the German people, with the help of the
media. He was TIME Magazine's Man Of The Year in 1938. The German people assumed they were safe from a tyrant. They lived in a Republic, after all,
with strict laws regarding what the government could and more importantly could not do. Their leader was a devoutly religious man, and had even sung
with the boy's choir of a monastery in his youth.
The reality was that the German people, as individuals, had lost their courage. The German government preferred it that way as a fearful people are
easier to rule than a courageous one. But the German people didn't wish to lose their self-image of courage. So, when confronted with a situation
demanding individual courage, in the form of a government gone wrong, the German people simply pretended that the situation did not exist. And in that
simple self-deception lay the ruin of an entire nation and the coming of the second World War.
The reality is that the American people, as individuals, have lost their courage. The government prefers it that way as a fearful people are easier to
rule than a courageous one. But Americans don't wish to lose their self-image of courage. So, when confronted with a situation demanding courage, in
the form of a government gone wrong, the American people simply pretend that the situation does not exist.
**
When the Reichstag burned down, most Germans simply refused to believe suggestions that the fire had been staged by Hitler himself. They were afraid
to. But so trapped were the Germans by their belief in their own bravery that they willed themselves to be blind to the evidence before their eyes, so
that they could nod in agreement with Der Fuhrer while still imagining themselves to have courage, even as they avoided the one situation which most
required real courage; to stand up to Hitler's lies and deceptions. When Hitler staged a phony invasion from Poland, the vast majority of the German
people, their own self-image dependant on continuing blindness to Hitler's deceptions, did not question why Poland would have done something so
stupid, and found themselves in a war.
When the World Trade Towers collapsed, most Americans simply refused to believe suggestions that the attacks had been staged by parties working for
the US Government itself. Americans were afraid to, even as news reports surfaced proving that the US Government had announced plans for the invasion
of Afghanistan early in the year, plans into which the attacks on the World Trade Towers which angered the American people into support of the
already-planned war fit entirely too conveniently. But so trapped are Americans by their belief in their own bravery that they will themselves to be
blind to the evidence before their eyes, so that they can nod in agreement with the government while still imagining themselves to have courage, even
as they avoid the one situation which most requires real courage; to stand up to the government's lies and deceptions. The vast majority of the
American people, their own self-image dependant on continuing blindness to the government's deceptions, never question why Afghanistan would have
done something so stupid as to attack the United States, and as a result, Americans find themselves in a war.
**
When Hitler requested temporary extraordinary powers, powers specifically banned under German law, but powers Hitler claimed he needed to have to deal
with the "terrorists", the German people, having already sold their souls to their self-delusions, agreed. The temporary powers were conferred, and
once conferred lasted until Germany itself was destroyed.
Now the US Government has requested temporary extraordinary powers, powers specifically banned under Constitutional law, but powers the government is
claiming they need to have to deal with the "terrorists". The American people, having already sold their souls to their self-delusions, are
agreeing. The temporary powers recently conferred will be no more temporary in America than they were in Germany.
**
Hitler knew he ruled a nation of cowards, and knew he had to spend the money to make the new war something cowards could fight and win. He decorated
his troops with regalia to make them proud of themselves, further trapping them in their self-image. Hitler copied the parade regalia of ancient Rome,
to remind the Germans of the defeat of the legions at the Tuetenberg Forest. Talismans were added from orthodox religions and the occult to fill the
soldiers with delusions of mystical strengths and an afterlife if they fell in battle. Finally, knowing that it takes courage to kill the enemy face
to face, Hitler spent vast sums of money on his wonder weapons, airplanes, submarines, ultra-long range artillery, the world's first cruise missile
and the world's first guided missile, weapons that could be used to kill at a distance, so that those doing the killing need not have to face the
reality of what they were doing.
The US Government knows they rule a nation of cowards. The government has had to spend the money to make the new war something cowards can fight. The
government has decorated the troops with regalia to make them proud of themselves, further trapping them in their self-image. Talismans are added from
orthodox religions and the occult to fill the soldiers with delusions of mystical strengths and an afterlife if they fall in battle. Finally, knowing
that it takes courage to kill the enemy face to face, the United States government has spent vast sums of money on wonder weapons, airplanes,
submarines, ultra-long range artillery, cruise missiles, and guided missiles, weapons that kill at a distance, so that those doing the killing need
not have to face the reality of what they are doing.
**
It is naive, not to mention racist to assume that tyrants appear only in other nations and that somehow America is immune simply because we're
Americans. America has escaped the clutches of a dictatorship thus far only through the efforts of those citizens who, unlike the Germans of the
1930s, have the moral courage to stand up and point out where the government is lying to the people. And unless more Americans are willing to have
that kind of individual courage, then future generations may well look back on the American people with the same harshness of judgment with which we
look back on the 1930s Germans.
propagandamatrix.com...
There are 2 audio recordings on the above link as well. I recommend listening to the first one, at least. The beginning of it details the burning of
Reichstag and the events which followed. It has a very familiar ring to it.
[Edited on 22-4-2004 by jezebel]