Everything we think of in a negative light does not have to be compared to Hitler, or the Holocaust.
Lack of knowledge of history, together with, perhaps, a limited command of the English language, seems to beget analogies that are totally off base, insulting to Jews and trivializes Holocaust survivors. The memory of the atrocities of the 1930s and 1940s should not be so demeaned that every other action or attitude that we don’t like is automatically labeled as a World War II event.
We don’t have to agree with every action of our government, but surely there are ways to describe our distaste without invoking Hitler into the conversation. Recently, I was advised of a government action in a small city to rectify their homeless problem.
Apparently, the plan is to move the homeless out. The response from one politician was that “it’s like the Holocaust, moving folks out of their city.” No, it is nothing like the Holocaust.
The homeless are not in cattle cars where they are packed like animals without food or water for days. They are not being transported to concentration camps to be either gassed or forced to work themselves to death.
The atrocities of that time are nothing like moving homeless off city streets and parks. They have the free will to get up and walk away. This is not to say we do not have a homeless problem in America and should be addressed.
Sadly, politicians, in keeping with the definition of Godwin’s Law, often invoke the analogy of Hitler in conversations when they are attempting to make a point against an opposing political party or individual. The impact they are hoping for falls flat, and in fact, the message is drowned out by the outrage of the invocation of the Holocaust analogy. It is a sad state
What is interesting to me are those who refer to our President as Hitler or his policies as genocidal. These individuals are no supporters of Israel and appear to be antisemitic.
On one hand they scream for BDS and Free, Free Palestine and favor ending military aid to Israel. Ending support where many were slaughtered on Oct. 7, 2023 in a true Holocaust-like attack.
If Hitler and the Holocaust is so awful in their minds that the reference is the ultimate insult. Why don’t these same politicians support the victims and children of the victims of the very Holocaust they so disdain?
Which is it? Do they hate Hitler and want to help the Jews in their homeland or do they invoke his name for theatrics?
Several months ago a reader sent me an email in which he proclaimed that “Hitler should have finished the job.” I assume this deranged individual is a supporter of Hitler. However, that same month he wrote to another contributor to this magazine and declared his hate for the current resident of the White House and stated that “Trump is like Hitler.” That is total ignorance, but I expect more from our politicians
Maybe a history lesson of WWII along with a good thesaurus is in order for Capitol Hill.
*Run 4 Their Lives: As I mentioned last month, I lead the Henderson, NV Run For Their Lives (R4TL) group on a walk to bring attention to the fact that hostages continue to remain captive in Gaza.
R4TL is an international global initiative that was established shortly after the tragic events of October 7. It now boasts over 200 groups worldwide. The mission is to bring awareness about the situation of hostages through weekly walks.
