The Ominous Parallels -Tranche I
Chapter One, Excerpt 1 of 2
The Cause of Nazism
“This state of mind, which subordinates the interests of the ego to the community, is the first premise for every truly human culture.” These statements were made in our century by the leader of a major Western nation. His countrymen regarded his viewpoint as uncontroversial. He was explaining the moral philosophy of Nazism. The statements were made by Adolf Hitler. The German university students were the first to back Hitler. The intellectuals were among the regimes most ardent supporters.
Collectivism is the theory that the group has primacy over the individual. The society, the nation, the race is the unit of reality and the standard of value. The individual has reality only as part of the group, and value only insofar as he serves it. The people, said the Nazis, “form a true organism,” a living unity,” whose cells are the individual. Said Goebbels, “To be a socialist is to submit ‘I’ to thou.” As the Germans found out after only a few months of Hitler’s rule, every detail of life is prescribed or proscribed.
The political system which Hitler intended to establish in Germany was clear. The concept of personal liberties as opposed to the authority of the state had to disappear. It was a continuation of the political absolutism – the absolute monarchies, the oligarchies, the theocracies, the random tyrannies – which has characterized most of human history. Citizens of such countries had a kind of partial “freedom.” Mass slaughter against its own citizens is the insignia of 20th century totalitarianism.
The Cause of Nazism
“This state of mind, which subordinates the interests of the ego to the community, is the first premise for every truly human culture.” These statements were made in our century by the leader of a major Western nation. His countrymen regarded his viewpoint as uncontroversial. He was explaining the moral philosophy of Nazism. The statements were made by Adolf Hitler. The German university students were the first to back Hitler. The intellectuals were among the regimes most ardent supporters.
Collectivism is the theory that the group has primacy over the individual. The society, the nation, the race is the unit of reality and the standard of value. The individual has reality only as part of the group, and value only insofar as he serves it. The people, said the Nazis, “form a true organism,” a living unity,” whose cells are the individual. Said Goebbels, “To be a socialist is to submit ‘I’ to thou.” As the Germans found out after only a few months of Hitler’s rule, every detail of life is prescribed or proscribed.
The political system which Hitler intended to establish in Germany was clear. The concept of personal liberties as opposed to the authority of the state had to disappear. It was a continuation of the political absolutism – the absolute monarchies, the oligarchies, the theocracies, the random tyrannies – which has characterized most of human history. Citizens of such countries had a kind of partial “freedom.” Mass slaughter against its own citizens is the insignia of 20th century totalitarianism.
In America today, the moral philosophy that gained traction in 1930s Germany is on display with the National Students for Justice in Palestine. Their mission was on full display in New York City and elsewhere during the October 12th Hamas Day of Rage.
It helps to understand that the rhetoric they use is disconnected from reality. Their terminology does not have concrete definition. Their cognitive disabilities are dependent on the cognitive disabilities of their audience. This series can help with that.