A Few Things
07/23/2025 04:03:17 PM
Jul23
Hi, Everyone:
A question was posed for us to weigh in on, if we would like:
"The article in The Forward seems to hit the nail on the head. It brings me much angst. Richard, or any others, I would love to hear the counter-argument."
For me, the issue is as I've noted previously regarding using a Venn diagram analysis. A fancier way of seeing my perspective is via an analysis that involves understanding the fallacy of the undistributed middle, which was first introduced by Aristotle. HERE'S A LINK explaining the nature of this fallacy.
Let me be clear: In my view, Trump displays dictatorial, autocratic behavior and a high degree of narcissism. He also seems easily offended and seems keen on exacting revenge against real or imagined enemies. Hitler, to be sure, had these same traits, but so do many other persons, unfortunately. So, is there more to the Venn diagram? Well, to be sure, Trump has talked about purchasing Greenland and making Canada the 51st state. But Harry Truman I believe also offered to buy Greenland, and no one accuses Truman of therefore being just like Hitler. And the Canada statehood idea is, at best, frivolous. Contrast these two territorial moves with the Nazis' ideologically driven move of Lebensraum ("living space"), a concept that underlies Hitler's real takeover of other areas and entire countries--moves that also subjugated and often murdered entire groups or populations. Also, Hitler took on absolute power following the passage of the Enabling Act (and other measures), the Nazis outlawed all other political parties, they set up concentration and death camps, they engaged in exterminationist practices against Jews, Gypsies, and the mentally or physically disabled, and so on. In short, there's a reason that Hitler stands out as a rather unique historical figure and is a favorite one to use to compare other power-hungry leaders. But, to me, the Venn diagram doesn't yield evidence that leads to an equivalency of Trump and Hitler.
However, that said, the Forward article does present a very necessary caution, and that's what challenges my view. Ultimately, I would argue that xenophobic nationalism is extremely dangerous, sometimes fatally so. History shows that countries and leaders who subscribe to it don't come out well in the end and cause much destruction and suffering in the meantime. That's the element of the Venn diagram, along with the dictatorial traits noted above, that causes me grave concern. But I'm also open to being wrong and thus to changing my view in the face of a stronger position.
If others see this matter differently, I would welcome hearing from you.
One final, different matter: I think that, in class, I had mentioned to you the documentary The Devil's Confession, which has to do with the lost Eichmann tapes. These are taped recordings that Eichmann did with a Dutch Nazi journalist when they were both living in Argentina after the war. The evidence on the tapes makes clear that the "ordinary bureaucrat" whom Eichmann tried to portray himself as being during his trial (in Israel) was in fact a virulent and powerful antisemite who created processes and procedures that led to the deportations and murders of millions of Jews. In other words, Eichmann didn't just follow orders. Remember that Hannah Arendt's concept of "the banality of evil," which she discussed in her book Eichmann in Jerusalem--Arendt covered the trial--has been very influential but also controversial in Holocaust Studies. These tapes challenge her perception in a major way (if they don't outright discredit it).
You can now access this documentary on Prime Video. There is a three-episode version with ads, or, for a few dollars a month, you can subscribe to have this and other shows on Prime be ad-free. Either way, I highly recommend that you take a look at this documentary.
Be well, my friends, and
Stay safe and strong,
Richard
Richard
Tue, October 7 2025 15 Tishrei 5786