The Holocaust comes to the US

I posted something similar to this a week before the election. Today, I see a story that The Fascist will try to pass the FMA again. 11 states passed anti-gay laws, including three which banned civil unions. Some at DU blame gays for losing this election because we "should have waited for" our equal rights.

Could we in the US be facing another Holocaust in the US? The rise in unquestioning patriotism, the curtailing of civil liberties, the constant fear of “foreigners” attacking us, the scapegoating of certain groups of people, and the loss of respect worldwide for the United States. History often repeats itself because people fail to see patterns right in front of their face. Could there ever be an American “Holocaust?” Could we really see groups of citizens being rounded up and imprisoned, possibly killed? It happened here with the Native Americans of this country, but could it happen in a “modern” America? Most people say, “No! That could never happen here!” Many say making a statement like that is ludicrous and paranoid. Maybe, but maybe not.

In Nazi Germany, Pastor Martin Niemoeller wrote a famous poem. It has seen many versions, but the pastor wrote it to reflect the culmination of the Nazi advancement. The following is most widely accepted as the poem he wrote:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

He wrote this to reflect that his inactions, and the inactions of others, led to their own “undoing.” Many people saw what was happening, but never thought it would lead to mass extermination.

I have already seen the current administration start stripping basic civil liberties in the name of national security. I have seen shameless propaganda. I have seen the deliberate demonization of people and groups of people. And, I have the word of the current president that he will “hold the course!” What can we do to prevent the further erosion of our civil liberties?

Now that the Fascist has been "mandated from the people," we could see a new version of Pastor Niemoeller’s poem. It may go something like this:

First they came for the “liberals,” by eliminating the right of dissent through “free-speech” zones that continued to get further and further from the administration and grew smaller and smaller.
But I am no liberal! So, I grumble at the TV and on the Internet.
Then they came for the media, by allowing the “Fairness Doctrine” to continue to be non-existent and creating a propaganda machine run by the ruling party.
But I am not a member of the media! So, I grumble at the TV and swear off the “news.”
Then, they get brazen, and come for the gays, by appointing right-wing judges that reinstate the “crimes against nature” and “sodomy” laws; thereby, turning consenting adult relationships into criminal acts, costing people their jobs, homes, and lives.
But I am not gay! So, I grumble at the TV and vow to send money to gay rights groups.
Then they come for immigrants, by making asylum impossible and closing off our borders through legislation.
But, I am no immigrant (at least not a first-generation one)! So, I grumble at the TV and vow to join Amnesty International.
Then they come for me and I can’t speak up for myself because I am not in a “free speech” zone. I can’t get the news to cover my arrest except as a dissident. I find the laws that the right-wing judges have created, now apply to me through vague and unconstitutional language. I can’t even flee the country because the borders are closed!
Leaving me wondering…how did this happen? I didn’t see any “signs!”

It may not be as poetic as the pastor’s writing, and it may even seem a little “conspiracy” oriented, but I believe the “signs” are already here! The Bush Administration and the right-wing controlled Republican Party have shown their true colors and have even warned us that they “will stay the course!” They will never be happy until they have complete control!

Many similarities exist between the Bush regime and NAZI Germany. Divide and conquer. I remember this poem from elementary school. It took a little time, but I do remember hearing it. I just wish others could do the same.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2627031&mesg_id=2627031

I believe we are moving toward a facist/corporatist government, with this particular "American Way" brand relying heavily on conservative Evangelical Christians.

I think this is where we are headed. Reading today about the FMA and creationism being taught in science classes, has led me to believe are heading for a meltdown in this country!

I.e., the frog doesn't know its boiling until too late, because the heat was turned up slowly. Even those who voted GOP will be burned.

I have always been chilled by Pastor Niemoeller's famous quote - it applies perfectly here.

Well, this frog knows the water is getting too hot. Now, what do we do? Our powers are so limited, but there has to be something before we are marched off to our new "work camps!"

Four years ago, I would've been the first to say "it couldn't happen here". Well, that's sure changed...

been so timely and appropriate. I have been telling people for years that this is what we are coming to, and naively they tell me "It can't happen here!"

That is what they are counting on, by the time the majority of Americans catch on, it will be too late.

But there was nothing anyone could do about it. It was irresponsible of the right-wing to organize the fundamentalists as a single voting block, but guys like Newt Gingrich saw only the personal power they could get.

Obviously we aren't Nazi Germany- not yet at least- but we're running that direction pretty fast now, aren't we?

It is like everyone is setting back and licking their wounds... Was there really a "mandate of the people" or voter fraud?

As a gay American I'm not going to take this!!!

We were not the reason why Kerry lost!!!

but I don't think the parallel works. Read Reck-Malleczen's Diary Of A Man In Despair for an excellent picture of Germany in the thirties. Also, please consider that the structure of the US makes it far more difficult to implement full out fascism than it was for Germany. I'm not saying we're not in a dreadful pickle, just that what you wrote is still (thankfully) hyperbole.

The fact is that history can and DOES repeat itself, but not always in the same fashion. Therefore, people look back and see the similarities, instead of seeing them when they are happening. I equate this to one can see more clearly looking in the fishbowl, as opposed to being IN the fishbowl! We may have some things in place, but we have already seen civil liberties eroded through the "Patriot Act." How many more "late night" sessions will get rid us of our pesky civil liberties?

And though I suppose it's accurate enough to parrot the axiom that hx repeats itself, you have to be able to discern historical parallels and patterns. In any case, I did not say it couldn't happen, I merely pointed out that there are some safeguards that haven't been smashed, that are, in fact, fairly difficult to dismantle. You don't want to believe that, fine.

I am saying there ARE parallels! And I never said you didn't say it couldn't happen. I understand that you think it is next to impossible, but it is still possible. Yes, there are safeguards, but now that the Repugs control everything except the SC (for now), those safeguards may not be as safe as they once were!

... isn't that different from Germany. You have your states and Germany has it's provinces ruled by the equivalent of the governours. The Nazis took over Berlin and subsequently all the provinces.

But you don't have to look at the most horrendous form of Fascism for examples. There are others. Fascist Italy, being closely tied to the Vatican. Or Franko's Spain, also tied closely to the Catholic church. They weren't as rabid as the Nazis, but they sure as hell took away the people's liberties to replace them with what they called values.

All of these regimes had many things in common: The leaders demanding unquestioning patriotism, so called religious values, glorification of the army, creating war heroes and so on.

Anybody see the similarities?

And it scares me to death! I have often wondered if Gitmo is an actual prison or a "work camp." Notice how difficult it is to get info from it and any time something about it comes up, the media spins another story another way? Sounds eerily familiar.

Read Philip Roth's new book, "The Plot Against America." The story starts in 1940, when Charles Lindbergh defeats Roosevelt. Lindbergh was a Nazi sympathizer, and in the story he makes agreements with Germany and Japan to stay out of WWII. So instead of going to war, the government starts marginalizing "assimilated" Jews in a very sneaky way, as by having their employers "transfer" them to designated locations. People who criticize Germany or Hitler end up losing their jobs and are investigated and harassed by the FBI. It's very chilling.

I am wondering now whether gays will be the "new" Jews under the Bush Regime. Once their right to form legally recognized relationships istaken away, what next? No teaching in public schools? Other employment restrictions? Worse?

We have to stay on top of this and never forget that civilizations are not usually conquered by foreign powers; they rot from within.

In Oklahoma teachers can be fired for being gay.

Anybody who thinks it can't happen here better start paying attention. Maybe it will be more difficult than it was in Germany (though remember -- Hitler was elected first), but ti doesn't mean it would be impossible. The notion that it is legitimate to concede that ANY group of people can be deprived of their civil rights is the slippery slope. Best to remember what Pastor Niemoeller said. They could, indeed, come for you.

I am wondering now whether gays will be the "new" Jews under the Bush Regime. Once their right to form legally recognized relationships is taken away, what next? No teaching in public schools? Other employment restrictions? Worse?

As my partner, OKTracer pointed out, it is illegal to be a gay teacher in Oklahoma. However, there are already jobs where gays are not allowed to serve...the military, some government agencies, some political posts, and there are states that have outlawed gay teachers other than Oklahoma. It has already started.

n/m

Very powerful...and scary.

Freedom and democracy hang in the balance and the next two weeks will be telling.

By January, one of three conditions will exist IMHO.

- the election will be relatively peacefully overturned

- there will be widespread civil unrest and violence

- the adminstration will succesfully silence or eliminate opposition and the people will succumb

Of these, the third will LOOK like the "best" - quiet, peaceful, safe. Only the first option is stable, however.

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."

NEITHER. In other words, option three is an illusion as it will not indefinitely allow us to avoid the first two conditions, that is, democracy will eventually be restored and there will be a price to pay in civil unrest.

I would have thought that there would be universal solidarity among Democrats on this, since so many of us are most at risk and most directly threatened. Sadly, there is more dissension and bickering here than ever.

While some might want to equate Bush with Hitler or Stalin there is really no comparison. Hitler and Stalin were ruthless, brutal but still intelligent men who rose from the gutter to the pinnacle of power in their respective nations and from their perches terrorized the world. Bush is a stupid, spoiled, lazy rich kid who has never worked a day in his life and has failed at everything he has tried. If his last name was not Bush he would be "Ol' Gil", the perpetually pathetic salesman on "The Simpsons". Being a dictator is hard work and a role for someone of boundless energy. Hard work is a concept totally foreign to Bush. He may dream of commanding a stalinist state but he lacks the drive and intelligence to make this dream a reality. No, the future of the United States is not to be found in Hitler's Germany or Stalin's Soviet Union but in Hosni Mubarak's Egypt; an unbelievably corrupt and incompetent failure of a state that lurches along from day to day barely able to avoid total collapse.

...Hitler was a prevented Art Student, who never did anything resembling honest work. He was known to sleep until noon and stay up until late into the night. The prewar Hitler was the most lazy chancellor the Germans ever had.

But that aside: Bush isn't the problem. He's only the frontman for the problem. There are others behind him, actually equipped with a brain. You had better look at them.

And I wouldn't compare him to Hitler either. But there are other totalitarian experiments in history, which come very close to what the US development shows now.

http://www.hermes-press.com/germany1930.htm

from this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2630602