The Nation

The government claims that the people need more security against ‘outsiders’. In the name of ‘National Security’ they deliberately withhold information to the press, or sensor it all together; obtain bank records ‘legally’ [but unconstitutionally] for back ground checks, as well as unauthorized wire-taps. They even say that people who help these ’suspected’ terrorist by defending them should be punished by the public. They broadcast scare tactics and distort the truth to the general public in order to start a war and then widen it. They tell the general public that it’s ‘us against them’. They insulate themselves with like minded people. All of those who have opposing views are ridiculed publicly, force to retire or worse. They claim it’s within our rights to protect our ‘natural resources’. They claim that the reason our economy is in such bad shape is because of the immigrants- that they are ‘taking over’ and before long we will all be out of work. they even claim that their religion is the only one as well as freely give their opinion on what is acceptable as art.

All of this sounds familiar. Sounds like what’s been going on in the US the last 8 years doesn’t it? It should be interesting to note that I wasn’t talking about the United States. I was referring to Nazi Germany and their political, social and military agenda to achieve what they felt was justifiable means for a better Country.

The media was one of the first things that Hitler took over when he assumed power. The Nazi’s propagand machine is legendary for it’s distortion of the truth and outright lies; taking over radios and newspapers to persuade the general public that it was they who the world was against. The so called immigrants of their time were all Slavic minorities as well as Jews. The nazi’s destroyed all who opposed their ideals in this quest for a superior nation. The purging of all oppostion . What we now call ‘Natural resources’ , they called Lebensraum the desire to acquire more land or space. All of these acts were under the guise of a better world for Germans. .

The idea that another Nazi regime is possible is preposterous ofcourse. It’s an extreme comparison. I don’t believe that the current administration is Hitler-esq. I do believe that in their quest to widen the powers of executive office to fight terrorism, that they trample or simply ignore some basic constitutional principals that this Country was founded upon. The fact that there is even a slight resemblance to Hitler’s taking over Germany should be alarm bells for this Country. Yet, I don’t see it. Like a wise man said once, “you’re paranoid until you get fucked. Then you weren’t so paranoid afterall.”

How did the 3rd Reich start anyway? what were the ‘ingredents’ needed for a totalitarian dictator to take over his country and convince the people his way was right? an Economic depression [also look up Nazi germany's economic policy]? a scapegoat? [ see Consolation of Power and the Reichstag Fire Decree]; the medias distortion of events as fed by the government?; a war that will ‘lead to a better way’?; purging the nation of unwanted minorites?;bending the constitution through so-called ‘legal ways’?; art that is deemed acceptable or degenerate; and a general public that either bought into what was being fed to them or were too scared to fight the government?; or quite possibly was so ignorant or malaise about government affairs that they never believed or better yet never wanted to know what was going on around them. They couldn’t be disturbed from their daily life.

It’s a scary comparison I know. As an American History enthusiast I’d like to think that Democracy is alive and well in America- That our political and Constitutional process still works. These things have meaning to me. Things like Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion and Habeas corpus are all things that should be alive and well….but seem to be slipping as of lately. It should be viewed that opposing views are not necessarily a bad thing- it should not be viewed as some opposition where they are to be incarcerated. It should be that the right to be secure in our homes are still intact. That the idea of the government deciding to eaves-drop in your home with no warrant or court supervision or having your home searched is still unconstitutional. That the media is still our 3rd line of checks and balance against an ‘over active’ government; That one is still innocent until proven guilty; and that our Constitution is a sacred article that is to be revered and adhered to-not manipulated to fit ones agenda. These are the principles I adhere to of what it should mean to be a citizen of the United States.