When
I was young I was always reading books on the Civil War, WWI and WWII. I even wanted
to be a Marine aviator. My early militarism and authoritarian tendencies met
reality when my older brother served in Vietnam.
War wasn’t so cool anymore. I learned to ask questions.
I
learned my father watched for U-boats while crossing the Atlantic. I learned my
father-in-law served with Patton’s Third Army in the Ardennes, earning a Purple
Heart and Bronze Star.
I
still love reading military history. It started after I read “All Quiet On the
Western Front”, the great German anti-war novel of the First World War. It was duly
burned by the Nazis.
I
recently read an article in World War II History magazine about euthanasia and eugenics. As we
know, Hitler implement the worst of racial purity measures. Sadly it wasn’t just
Hitler who wanted to breed out, sterilize, or euthanize the unfortunates and marginalized of
humanity. Thankfully we have largely evolved beyond this cruelty.
When
reading the article by Charles Sasser I couldn’t help noticing certain biased elements
that had nothing to do with euthanasia or eugenics. I smelled a MAGAt.
After
going to his website, my suspicion was confirmed. He flew his true colors.
I doubt my comment will be published, so I thought I’d share it here.
“...I
concede that our nation was fortunate to have elected Donald Trump to the White
House; I strongly support him and his policies of Make America Great Again,
and now Keep America Great.
Doctor Carson would not have made a good president; he is simply too decent, too humble, too nice for politics—especially if you compare him to the gaggle of foolish Democrats now shrieking from podiums in their efforts to foster socialism upon the nation."
He's a military guy. I wonder if he can explain how a "stable genius" betraying our Kurdish allies on Putin's birthday, to the delight of liberated ISIS enemies, makes America so great. Doctor Carson would not have made a good president; he is simply too decent, too humble, too nice for politics—especially if you compare him to the gaggle of foolish Democrats now shrieking from podiums in their efforts to foster socialism upon the nation."
I doubt my comment will be published, so I thought I’d share it here.
~~~~
I
just read your article on eugenics in WWII History magazine. You bring to light
important information. Thank you for that.
However,
you also added clearly partisan and biased digs against Democrats, who served
honorably in the war against fascism.
History
is important, and is best written without political bias polluting the
narrative. History is often easily perverted when used as a propaganda tool,
whether by the Left or Right.
I
thought I'd learn more about you. Just as I thought, you are at Trump loyalist.
You
were making political points that had nothing to do with eugenics.
For
some reason you needed to cite Hitler claiming the New Deal was “American
fascism”. Why? Was it really? No. That had nothing to do with eugenics.
You
also suggested JFK was a fan of Hitler. He was not. What the 20 year old
admired was how Hitler “made Germany great again” in 1937. At that time he had
no experience of the evils of German white nationalist racism. Remember his
capitalist father, like fellow capitalist Henry Ford, had the affinity for
Hitler.
And
JFK had nothing to do with eugenics. See the pattern here?
Your
deflections seem motivated by your politics, sir. In fact JFK’s idol was
Churchill. Did you ignore this intentionally?
Kennedy
predicted "Hitler will emerge from the hatred that surrounds him now as
one of the most significant figures who ever lived".
Let's
face facts. American Nazis, white nationalists and racists are all in for
Trump. He claimed there were "very fine people" carrying those tiki
torches. David Duke got the message.
Let’s
also not ignore the tyrannical leaders our president openly admires most.
Putin. Kim. Dutarte. Erdogan. MBS.
It
would be amusing to note your mention of a "too decent" Republican in
Trump's circle, if not for the utter blindness to the gross indecency,
corruption, and dishonesty of Trump.
The
howls about "socialism" from an authoritarian ideology that deems the
political opposition and the free press as the "enemies of the
people" adds the ironic icing to the cake.
A
common trait among those with the loudest voices against “socialism” is their
inability to see their own inclinations towards National Socialism. And it
ain’t about public healthcare.
I
pray for your party's reform before they allow the destruction of our American
values and our democratic republic.
~~~
Will
my remarks be published, or go down the “memory hole”? History is a fragile thing.
Posts
26 comments:
From "Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President".
"For everyone who ever served in uniform, or in the intelligence community, for those diplomats who voice the nation's principles, for the first responders, for the tellers of truth and the millions of American citizens who were raised believing in American values — you would have seen your reflection in the faces of those we honored last week.
... But beneath the outward sense of hope and duty, there was an underlying current of frustration, humiliation, anger and fear.
If our promises are meaningless, how will our allies ever trust us? If we can't have faith in our nation's principles, why would the men and women of this nation join the military. And if they don't join, who will protect us? If we are not the champions of the good and the right, then who will follow us? And if no one follows us — where will the world end up?
They have seen our leaders stand beside despots and strongmen, preferring their government narrative to our own. They have seen us abandon our allies and have heard the shouts of betrayal from the battlefield. As I stood on the parade field at Fort Bragg, one retired four-star general, grabbed my arm, shook me and shouted, 'I don't like the Democrats, but Trump is destroying the Republic!'
Those words echoed with me throughout the week."
- Retired US Navy Adm. William McRaven, a Navy SEAL who oversaw the raid that took out Osama bin Laden.
I have always been interested in history. Ancient. More recent. United States. Elsewhere around the world. It's always been fascinating to me. Majored in it, actually. Studied history in the Bible. Studied European. Studied African. Studied East and Southeast Asian. Of course I studied the US. As I sit here writing this, I look across my office to a bookshelf full of history books. I eventually transferred to a different Major when I realizes my interest in history would not lead to a fulfilling career. I study on my own now. One of the most interesting classes in my course work involved Historiography and Revisionism. How history is studied, remembered, recalled and reproduced. We talked about how actual events get changed and romanticized for various reasons; George Washington chopping down a cherry tree, Davey Crockett "The King of the Wild Frontier" and how a lot of it is just innocent shifts in perception or passive changes that lead to misrepresentation of what actually happened. We also talked about the deliberate efforts of some to reframe historical events for specific purposes; Holocaust Denial and defending Hitler, for instance. The article you replied to just kind of reminded me of those classes. I'm often reminded of those classes when I routinely come across intellectually stunted individuals (usually older people, but not always) who complain about how or what history is taught in Public Schools. How dare the children learn about how truly awful and dehumanizing Slavery in America was or, hey, perhaps the United States' treatment of the Native Peoples shouldn't be ignored in the present day? These people act as if they are personally insulted or being targetted when their world view is challenged. Many of these same people, in recent months and years, don't hesitate to repeat that Nazi's were actually socialists... something demonstrably false and not taught to them in school but parrotted ad nauseum by interests concerned with reframing history for whatever personal reasons. When reality throws these people lemons, they opt to deny the Holocaust and say Hitler wasn't so bad afterall.
I'm curious Dave, did your response ever get published?
TB3,
History, like journalism, isn't something best left to Trump's cult. Their Orwellian "memory hole" is filled with rejected facts that should be universally accepted as the historical record.
Human memory is often frail enough to justify and continue the examination of the past.
I believe we may be in the minority of non-authoritarian personalities in the circles of military history buffs. Like law enforcement, the military naturally attracts the authoritarian personality. Authority is necessary in legal, civil, and criminal affairs as well as international conflict. When truth, fairness, or justice drift from the focus of politics and the law or from corporate or national interests, authoritarians will often abuse their power.
This is why I have stated that authoritarians can and perhaps should be employed to enforce the law and serve in the military, but only legally, under strict enforceable rules. Since authoritarian personalities are a minority, they should never be allowed to unilaterally write rules, regulations, and laws for the rest of us. It violates the tenets of a democratic republic based on consent of the governed. Sadly this minority has taken more than its share of power over our government.
They should have no more than their fair proportion of representation. Of course, this is "tyranny" to them. They want to rule.
This particular author dedicated four paragraphs to insidiously insinuate the "Nazi's were actually socialists" big lie. I don't know what else would explain his non-critical framing of the New Deal from Hitler's viewpoint. When he went on to imply JFK was a fan of Hitler, that's when the foul stench of MAGA wafted from the page.
As I noted, none of this had anything whatsoever to do with eugenics or euthanasia.
Unfortunately World War II History magazine has no letters to the editor section. At least the author has a blog, so he knows he can't pull the wool over all eyes.
And no, he hasn't published my commentary. Since he's a Trump loyalist, I wouldn't expect him to allow the exposure of his far Right propaganda effort.
"History, like journalism, isn't something best left to Trump's cult. Their Orwellian "memory hole" is filled with rejected facts that should be universally accepted as the historical record." - DD
Well history is history. I do not mind people looking at the record and coming up with different interpretations. What I do mind is a complete misrepresentation or just outright denial of established fact. We can argue about the underlying causes of World War I. We can argue how much Versaille led to Nazi Germany. We can discuss the partitioning of the Middle East by the League of Nations and Britain or the Colonialization of Africa. We can have conversations about all sorts of things that have varying interpretations. Those varying interpretations can't be head-in-the-sand refusals to accept reality or blatantly naked attempts at rewriting history. Four pages of "Nazi's were actually socialists" is demonstrably false and backed up by countless historical documents and historical and economical research. It's frustrating that someone wasted their time writing 4 paragraphs to suggest something even a modicum of research can disprove. The blatant lies are pathetic.
Now Journalism, that's muuuuuuch more nuanced than history. You can have a perfectly acceptable version of journalism that is Right-oriented. We all work from the same facts, it's all about presentation and interpretation. That's Journalism's job. A reliable, right-wing source of journalism could simply focus on topics or arguments that those on the Right want to hear about. Unfortunately, Right Wing journalism is a bunch of opinion pieces and, often times, outright lies. Benghazi for instance. There are legitimate avenues of research and investigation a Right-oriented journalist could explore. However, when you reach the end conclusion and it doesn't meet some sort of narrative end you're looking for, you don't simply ignore it in favor of pushing popular conspiracy. Clinton did nothing wrong. End of story, but you can still talk about what led to the tragedy and how there was a congressional failure or report on the judgments and decisions that led to the embassy/consulate being understaffed.
"Like law enforcement, the military naturally attracts the authoritarian personality. Authority is necessary in legal, civil, and criminal affairs as well as international conflict. " - DD
I feel this is unfair to the Military and those in the military. 1) Rank structure and Heirarchy and Chain of Command are not the same as Authoritarianism. 2) I don't think you can convince me the 16 year kid in his High School's ROTC or the 18 year old graduate looking for a well paying job with on the job skills training is an authoritarian. Those Plebs at the Naval Academy climbing a greased up statue to grab the hat have probably never thought of 'How can I extend my will over the most people I can'
"They should have no more than their fair proportion of representation. Of course, this is "tyranny" to them. They want to rule." - DD
They'd never refer to it as tyranny. As we saw from Mitch McConnell with the possible Statehood of Puerto Rico, they're still pulling out the 'Socialist' card in regards to representation.
"And no, he hasn't published my commentary. Since he's a Trump loyalist, I wouldn't expect him to allow the exposure of his far Right propaganda effort." - DD
Sounds like you expended more effort into making your point than the original author gave their own.
Hell will freeze before Rev Dave studies the Russian Revolution and Joe Stalin.
TB3,
I base my assessment on the 2016 survey that said military members preferred Trump by a 2 to 1 ratio over Clinton. I'm sure it would be similar for law enforcement.
JTF must know this:
Stalinism is not socialism. Not even communism. Stalin was such a thug that a year before his death, Lenin wrote a political “testament,” calling for Stalin’s removal from the secretary generalship.
I'm sure JTF also knows US troops were sent to Russia from September 1918 through July 1919, to take sides in revolutionary factions.
At any rate, Russians remember Americans killing Russians on Russian soil.
Maybe JTF can look forward to Satan serving him and Trump ice water.
"I base my assessment on the 2016 survey that said military members preferred Trump by a 2 to 1 ratio over Clinton. I'm sure it would be similar for law enforcement." - DD
Know which one? I wonder if it specified Trump and Clinton or if it was Republican or Democrat? In any case, I'm still resistant to the idea that a Vote for Trump = Being an Authoritarian.
"Hell will freeze before Rev Dave studies the Russian Revolution and Joe Stalin." - JTF
Well that's a pretty odd assertion to make. I kind of wish we learned more about the Russian Revolution back in High School. It would have explained some background information in Fiddler on the Roof. :)
What about either of those topics do you think Dave needs to brush up on, JTF? I mean, aside from the evil Communism part.
TB3,
I'm quite certain, by his frequent link sharing, that JTF has read much more of the CPUSA website than I have.
As far as literature and history and science go.... well we see the evidence, don't we?
"a Vote for Trump = Being an Authoritarian"
Not at all. Dupes, rubes, along with other mis-informed and uninformed people voted for Trump as well.
His base, on the other hand...
A quarter to a third of any population has authoritarian tendencies.
Bob Altemeyer’s book on authoritarian personalities is available for download.
I refer to the Military Times from 2016,
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2016/05/09/military-times-survey-troops-prefer-trump-to-clinton-by-a-huge-margin/
JTF has decided not to contribute information or ideas to the discussion. His false accusations won't be published.
"When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Trump and JTF, unless he repents, are headed for a reunion with their Master.
Unwilling, and obviously unable, to contribute to the discussion, our critic JTF has been sending me more personal love notes, the kind that are entirely about me. Aw, shucks.
He began with, “TAINTED HISTORY?? (This was his only reference to the subject.) What a joke, the Rev. whines about...” Yadda, yadda.
After listing his usual false accusations and smears, he summarized with, “Dave has it all... but you knew that didn’t you”.
I have to agree. I DO have it all! I love living rent-free in his head.
I feel sort of like “the Squad”, haunting the fearful over-active amygdalas in the authoritarians of the radical far Right.
He began with "TAINTED HISTORY??" because there's a particulate sub-set of the population that read a headline and formulate their own narrative based off of that. JTF is seemingly a member of that sub-set. It would explain their propensity toward non sequitors, wild tangents, and outright avoidance of anything remotely close to back and forth conversation. They don't need to read things themselves when they've got vocal gatekeepers to do it for them. They rely on the Limbaughs and Hannity's to tell them what "Liberals" do, say, or mean. They also rely on these same people to tell them what's in the Constitution or what's Unconstitutional or that Science that Scientists say is wrong because they're pushing an agenda. It's similar to how they rely on "Reverands" and "Evangelists" to tell them what the Bible says or means. They want to be told what they want to hear, rather than read these documents or records themselves.
I'd love for JTF to try to prove me wrong, but proving me wrong isn't part of the Alt-Right Playbook. It's also 'cause none of these vocal gatekeepers actually have substance or facts to the things they say. Just another hit from the drug of their choice.
TB3,
Every day we are reminded of the Trump Cult's rage towards liberals, rejection of facts, scorn for science, hate for educators, and demonization of journalists. All of this is dedicated to solidifying the willful ignorance that is so vital for the Right Wing Authoritarian leaders' war on democracy and minority rule agenda.
Bob Altemeyer’s book on authoritarian personalities reviews the leaders' suppression of independent thought, and the followers eager submission to them. They are happily addicted to their drug, and find validation in identifying with an angry mob of racists, greed-heads, dupes, rubes, and other low information fools.
And they are overwhelmingly white, for some mysterious reason...
Want to hear more about me? It seems my not publishing all of his deflections and smears "would expose his weak ability to debate the issues."
And not only that, he has deduced, "Now we know why he misses JG, he was the brains behind this blog."
Maybe that dig was for you as well as me?
For someone who cannot even hold a debate between his ears, he sure "pwned us", didn't he?
In case he ever finds the gumption to actually disagree with anything I say, I made a form for that.
“Dave, I have to say you are wrong in stating (_____) and claiming (_______). These facts (_____) and (____) suggest you are mistaken.”
Even that is too complicated, I guess. Bless his heart.
It's unfortunate that they have othered themselves and feel the need to personally attack people who think differently. I am sorry, JTF, that I can not go down the Alt-Right Rabbit hole with you. Though, I got to say, if that dig was meant to get a rise out of anyone... it was pretty lackluster, right? Or, maybe, that's just a projection of their own insecurity issues onto those he chooses to lash out at?
Anyway, speaking of cult and the overwhelmingly white radicalized Right...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P55t6eryY3g
It's YouTube. JTF absolutely loves random YouTube channels. This one's like 40 minutes, so about a quarter of the length they are used to, but since there's a lack of bigotry and victim coddling, they may lose interest after a minute.
The “money quote”:
“They are authoritarians, after all.”
How to Radicalize a Normie is something JTF could never, ever, sit through. He would fume and explode with anger in about 3 minutes.
JTF was never a mormie. He was probably born into a racist family. He still has daddy issues, as evidenced by his continued demands for "proof" of what our fathers did during the war. He wins, of course, because his dad was in "all three theaters". On a supply ship, perhaps?
TB3
Too bad Rev. Dave isn't allowing you to read my post, must be he afraid of the results..Kind of like Adam Schiff and his secret star court hearings, he operates best in the land of the uninformed. I am not surprised that you do not see the irony of the thread titled "Tainted History" being based on his post not being published, yet daily he does the same on his blog.
BTW, I have told Rev Dave he is "wrong in stating (_____) and claiming (_______). These facts (_____) and (____) suggest you are mistaken". He has refused to publish them because he claims they are racist, off topic (like that ever mattered) or a personal attack. Like the smear he allowed to publish about my father. See how he works? Silly me, you can't, sorry.
But you will never
Message from Jefferson's Guardian via Twitter:
"Tell Mr. Trueblood I'm the man behind the curtain."
Tell JG for me that he is still a coward.
Rev Dave, It seems comprehension is not your strong suite. Example: BTW, I have told Rev Dave he is "wrong in stating (_____) and claiming (_______). These facts (_____) and (____) suggest you are mistaken". He has refused to publish them.
How refreshing this love note wasn't just about me.
Still no reason behind the accusation. Let me help.
JG is a coward for (____) and (____).
Funny how this is all too complicated for the con-servative brain. Maybe its because nobody is telling him what to put in the blank spaces?
Is his mind a blank, too?
Rev. Dave is a coward for (not allowing views different from his to be published on his blog) and (altering posts by giving partial recaps of what the post said).
There, let's see if the coward publishes this like he said he would if I followed his format. No excuses about racism, etc., you got your reason.
Awww. JTF used the form! How sweet of him!
I shall respond to him, not as a coward, but as a man of his word.
Once again I allowed JTF's different viewpoint. This act refutes and disproves both accusations, of course.
Since I published his different view...No coward! No coward! TOTAL EXONERATION!! ;-)
I plead guilty only to exercising my rights, duties, and responsibilities as editor of my blog. When he engages in relevant, good faith discussion, or offers facts or reasons for disagreement, or even defends his honest opinion, he gets published.
He knows personal attacks and deflections don't make the cut.
He is furious over meeting very tolerant standards of minimum decency. His outrage over this reasonable editing indicates a deep-seated, seething rage for me. He desperately wants me to be wrong, but he can't disprove any of my points. His inability to offer rational disagreement frustrates him to fits of agitation. Sometimes he lets loose with long strings of irrelevant or demeaning comments.
I've allowed plenty of both. As we know, immature behavior demands the setting of limits.
It is abundantly clear JTF has some disagreements with me. What isn't clear is how he is correct where I am mistaken.
Fortunately there's a form for that.
"Too bad Rev. Dave isn't allowing you to read my post, must be he afraid of the results..Kind of like Adam Schiff and his secret star court hearings, he operates best in the land of the uninformed. I am not surprised that you do not see the irony of the thread titled "Tainted History" being based on his post not being published, yet daily he does the same on his blog." - JTF
It's been explained to you. There are rules and guidelines. They apply to everyone, including you. When you choose to ignore them, Dave chooses not to publish your commentary. You are told this everytime you fill in this little comment box.
'Comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog author.' Just above this same box it says 'Racism and other hate speech will be filtered'. Stop complaining and contribute. Just as with President Trump, whining and complaining about fairness isn't going to change the fact that you're not following the rules.
I do not understand your point about Schiff. What secret star court hearings? Are you equating the Impeachment investigation to a court hearing? Because what's going on in the House is more akin to a Grand Jury. The Senate is where the 'Court hearing' takes place. They are also not secret. There are dozens of Republicans involved in the impeachment inquiry. But, due to your history, I'm going to assume at this point you're being purposefully obtuse and disingenuous and using phrasing you picked up from the President or the Daily Stormer.
TB3,
We should go easy on the poor fellow. How can he keep up with contemporary facts when he's so busy reading about liberal democrats storming the Winter Palace in the Russian Revolution?
"We should go easy on the poor fellow. How can he keep up with contemporary facts when he's so busy reading about liberal democrats storming the Winter Palace in the Russian Revolution?" - DD
The JTFs of the world live in a bubble of ease and privilege. I don't need to go easy on someone being willfully ignorant and ardently contrary toward everything they can't or won't try to understand.
Maybe I'd "go easy" on JTF if JTF showed even a modicum of sincerity in their responses and arguments.
TB3,
You're quite right. I should take the gloves off, since he probably didn't get the subtle mockery of his ignorance in my last remark.
Of course there were no liberal democrats storming the Winter Palace in the Russian Revolution. Drat, now he's going repeat this as "evidence" proving democrats are commies. ;-)
Barack Obama is going to love this interview his former DIA James Clapper just gave to CNN about the Durham probe: “It’s frankly disconcerting to be investigated for having done... what we were told to do by the president of the United States.”
HT/mattTaibbi~left-wing~RollingStone
JTF, Clapper was Obama's former Detroit Institute of Arts? I did not know that. Thanks for another example of Tainted History.
Good one!
Just the real facts: Clapper was Bush Sr.'s director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from 1992 until 1995. (Obama must have had secret deep state powers back then, amirite?)
Clapper was unanimously confirmed by the Senate for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) position on August 5, 2010.
Hey, JTF. What is a "fact" to you, anyway? Whatever you FEEL?
Since "Just the Facts" is a proven LIE, why not change to "Just the Feelings" or "Just the Fiction"? How about "Just the Flunky"?
Oh, but that would never do, would it? It would be honest.
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