Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it
 

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When Democracy Failed

For most of the last century, Americans feared communism was the greatest threat to our way of life. We were wrong: fascism was and is a more potent external menace, and now may be our greatest internal threat. Consider this true story.

The 70th anniversary of February 27, 1933, wasnt noticed in the United States and was barely reported in the corporate media. Germans however remember that day well. Many commemorated that day by attending protests against the war in Iraq that had mobilized more millions of citizens across the globe than any other in history.

The end of democracy started when the government, in the midst of a worldwide economic crisis, received reports of an imminent terrorist attack. A foreign ideologue had launched feeble attacks on a few famous buildings, but the media largely ignored his efforts. The intelligence service knew, however, that the odds were he would eventually succeed. (Historians are still arguing whether or not rogue elements in the intelligence service helped the terrorist; the most recent research implies that they did not.)

But the warnings of the investigators were ignored at the highest levels, in part because the government was distracted; the man who claimed to be the nations leader had not been elected by a majority vote, and many citizens claimed he had no right to the powers he coveted. He was simpleton, some said, a cartoon character of a man who saw things in black and white terms and didnt have the intellect to understand the subtleties of running a nation in a complex and internationalist world. His coarse use of languagereflecting his political roots in a southern most stateand his simplistic and often inflammatory nationalistic rhetoric offended aristocrats, foreign leaders, and well educated elite in the government and the media. As a young man, hed joined a secret society with an occult sounding name and bizarre initiation rituals that involved skulls and human bones.

Nonetheless, he knew the terrorist was going to strike (although he did not know where or when), and he had already considered his response. When an aide brought him word that the nations most prestigious building was ablaze, he verified that it was the terrorist that had attacked and then rushed to the scene and called a press conference.

You are now witnessing the beginning of a great epoch in history, he proclaimed, standing in front of the burned-out building, surrounded by national media. This fire, he said, his voice trembling with emotion, is the beginning. He used the occasiona sign from God, he called itto declare a war not on a nation but on a tactic: terrorism. The terrorism his country was suffering from, he said, had to have originated with a group of people of Middle Eastern origin who rationalized their acts using religion.

Two weeks later the first detention center for terrorists was built in Oranienberg to hold suspected allies of the infamous terrorist. In a national eruption of patriotism, the leaders flag was everywhere even printed large in newspapers suitable for window display.

Within four weeks of the terrorist attack, the nations now popular leader had pushed through legislationin the name of combating terrorism and fighting the philosophy he said spawned itthat suspended habeas corpus. Police could now intercept mail and wiretap phones; suspected terrorists could be imprisoned without specific charges and without access to their lawyers; police could sneak into peoples homes without warrants if the cases involved terrorism.

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The parallels go on. Read more in "What would Jefferson do?" by Thom Hartmann.

Finish the excerpt here:
http://www.thomhartmann.com/democracyfailed.shtml

History is amazing stuff. Based on our rate of repeating it, does anybody still study it in school?

Not too many.

And the history books have all been simplified and purged of anything slightly controversial, so they're pretty toothless.

Worst of all, they stopped teaching Civics during the Reagan era, so plenty of folks in their mid-30s and younger here on Pelican think aspects of the US constitution are communistic.

+1

-2

LOL! You know about negative numbers, Jack? Or was that a slip of the finger on your keyboard. ;)

Re: Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it
 

Comparing the Reichstag's burning to the WTC attacks? Is that what this is about?
How many is "many"?
Were they protesting or celebrating that date?
Do the "many" celebrate May 8, 1945?
Identifying isolated parallel events in time doesn't result in the conclusion that history repeats. Events repeat every day. History is events placed in context, not pretext.

-3

George Bush is Adolf Hitler, you know you just convinced me:rolleyes:

Wait a minute, GW is not that popular, I changed my mind back

Some of them have coined a phrase, "well, the Constitution isn't a suicide pact, so it can be violated if need warrants."

That's part of the lack of understanding that the US government was created by the states to act as their agent. The US government is not a free standing entity, without the Constitution it ceases to exist. How many people do you know that either know or understand that?

I will not even infer that GWB is like Hitler. I think that is going a bit far. But, Tobra, one primary difference between Adolf and George is the former was one heckova orator!!!

I have admired many of the programs on "History International" Cable since they are not all American in origin; some show WWII from the Soviet standpoint, and even from the German standpoint. The First World War series is exceptionally interesting since it even gets into the Middle East and shows the seeds of current problems were sown back nearly a century ago. It shows the role that Germany played in establishing Communism in Russia as a ploy to get Russia out of the war and free up troops for the western front. History shows how that worked out.

Tech makes a good point. Current educational practice does not emphasize "civics" as it once did, and therefore patriotism is not a primary goal of education. Is there any wonder at the ennui in our society and the fanstastic ignorance about our country and its origins; its history; the good and indeed the bad that has been done? Is there something wrong is pointing out mistakes and errors in judgement that have been made by this nation as cautionary tales? Is it weakness to own up to these missteps? I do not think so. What is the old adage: "What does not kill us will make us stronger"?

The quote is more about the situation -- especially paralleling the Reichstag fire with the 9/11 attacks.

The parallels are clear, and there are probably other plentiful examples in history. It's just that some of the best examples are fairly recent:

"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

-- Hermann Göring

SO much of what Goering and Goebbels said could be translated into English, published without the source identified, and most Americans would not know these ideas did not originate here and recently.

Tech...I was just pointing out that A.H. could really wow a crowd......