LETTER: History does repeat
Anyone, and hopefully many readers, who are genuinely concerned about the current affairs in America just need to recall the history of the 1930s in Europe. I mention just a few to consider:
* A national head of state attempting to dictate what schools, colleges and universities can and cannot teach.
* A national head of state sending military personnel into towns and cities to arrest, apprehend, intimidate or detain its residents whether they were citizens of a particular nation or not. (This was a common role of the 1930s “Brown Shirts”.)
* A national head of state labeling and claiming a segment of the nation’s citizens were vermin, scum, evil and not worthy or loyal enough to that nation.
* A national head of state “claiming” lands, territories as well as nations outside its borders should be a part of that nation.
* A national head of state dividing its citizens into loyal and disloyal to that nation.
* A national head of state repeating lies and mistruths over and over until they are accepted or become a norm.
* A national head of state surrounding himself with loyalists to his whims and ways of thinking including that nation’s government officials. Those not complying were done away with or ostracized.
* A national head of state assuming control over the media and promoting one-sided propaganda.
These are just a few things to consider if you are truly concerned with the state of affairs in our United States, our democracy, our Constitution and our freedom.
I urge all readers of our – still – free press to turn to the history of the 1930s Germany to see the outcome.
Rev. Joseph Lewandowski (retired)
Washington