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
Martin Niemöller, German Lutheran pastor, 1892-1984
Nope,
You (US citizens) are like the frogs that jumped in the scalding pot saying to their frogmarching buddies that it is like the frog jumping in a cold pot.
It is really not, but let’s twist reality some more.
You really cannot claim Trump did anything in 2025 that wasn’t spelled out in Project 2025.
You are getting exactly what you paid for, exactly as it was described on the box. The Big Mac is exactly as the one on the picture.
You are nothing like the Germans in the ‘30s: they didn’t have history books full explaining to them what happens when you backslide into authoritarianism.
You do have those books. You have no excuse.
You know what you’re getting into.
Niemoller was literally a Hitler supporting Nazi and an anti-Semite until they finally did come for him because they were taking away the autonomy of his church.
Yes, it’s important to remember that the world economy was recovering from the Great Depression during the early Nazi years, so life was getting somewhat better for most people everywhere during that period.
Disagree.
I didn’t pay for any of it, I voted against it. Loudly.
That was not my claim, nor do I think that is the case. I was addressing Trump’s behavior now - that is all.
The rest of your post is your reality that you are twisting.
Yup. And he repented, opposed the Nazis, and pushed back. Seven years in a Nazi concentration camp can help one focus. He learned the hard way and changed. And his lesson is useful, however he got there. He purposely talked about Communists, trade unionists, and Jews because they were precisely the groups he and people like him were content to ignore in the 1930s.
Tell me how the American people did not get an exact heating schedule for this pot. Then explain how your frog metaphor still holds water.
You (US citizens) should be jumping out by now. You know what’s coming.
Because people are naturally and understandably hesitant to take actions that could result in serious harm unless they’re absolutely sure that they’re doing the right thing and will succeed. (That latter part is the big sticking point right now.)
I understand perfectly, you are all looking at a child drowning (US Democracy) but you are also wearing new clothes and surely one of those other people will jump in to save it.
The kid doesn’t stand a chance.
Explain to me exactly how and where we should be jumping to? The machinery of the US government is a little bit bigger to tackle than you seem to think it is. Half of us tried as hard as we could to vote him down. Unfortunately, there are more racists, bigots and, most importantly, idiots here than there are good people - voting, at least.
So again, please explain to me in precise terms what I should do now? I followed the rules of of our democracy, I voted. I encouraged others to vote. What other options do think I should have followed?
It only takes a single individual to save a drowning child. Are you saying that a single individual can save American democracy? I’d love to know how, truly!
Hypothetically, If one were to assume that position, do take pity, there are probably not any opera glasses in the ivory tower. That would make it difficult to see, clearly, the trials and tribulations of the chattel below.
America was a dictatorship for black people under Jim Crow.
What did the white men and white women who voted for Jim Crow get?
They got a cheap labor force they could abuse, underpay, refuse to pay, mistreat.
White men could sexually abuse black women with impunity.
White men never had to worry about black men stealing ‘their’ white women.
They prevented black people from rising up and fighting back against the evil oppression they were faced with because Jim Crow prevented things like freedom of speech, freedom of assembly,
It actually worked out pretty well for white men, and to a lesser degree white women. But it worked out well for white people, which is why they wanted to keep the system.
This is being discussed in another thread, but here and in real life it’s fascinating to see how many people just refuse to consider that. I know that the logistics of e-/im- migration are quite different now than they were 90 years ago, and I’m not glossing over that. Still, I do wonder how many people in Germany in 1938 were saying things like “I can’t leave, my family is here” or “I am going to stay and fight” or “it’s not going to be any better in another country.”
(Edit to say: I got out early, before Trump, so I won’t claim special prescience, but if I had still been there these last few weeks, I would definitely be packing.)
Moderating:
1: at the request of the OP, i reminded some duplicate words at the end of the title.
2: I’d like to remind posters that we have lots of threads to discuss Trump, and this one is specifically about Nazi Germany, not about Trump’s America.
Thanks
So you think it’d be wise for me to quit the high paying “dream” job I have that I can’t do overseas, sell the home that fits my needs in every way, and leave behind all of my family and friends for somewhere I have no ties or community? And if I don’t do so without hesitation, I’m refusing to acknowledge reality?
You may be right, but it sure doesn’t seem as easy as all that. Maybe that points out what some Germans got: maybe not things getting better, necessarily, but the ability to keep a certain amount of the status quo and not take a huge risk on an uncertain future in a strange land.
It not easy. That’s why most of the Jews stayed. It was obvious that trouble was brewing. My grandfather was in Germany on a sabbatical when Hitler was elected. Because he was just there on sabbatical, and his friends and family and “real” job were all in American, he cut his trip short and went home. But the people who lived there didn’t have any easy place to go, and had a lot holding them there.
I’m not sure I should respond given the Mod warning, but quickly:
I’m happy to continue the discussion elsewhere, perhaps in the US Dopers: In Trump's America, should we stay & fight or get out, and what's the final straw? thread?
A post was merged into an existing topic: JumpingJackFlash 3 posts