Hitler’s lesson: Bigotry didn’t end with the Gypsies

Trump wanted to send 4 people of color “back to where they came from,” though three of them were born in America. Trump feels that because they are not white, they are not real Americans.

Trump is a bigot.

There may be a bit of bigotry in most of us, with members of the various religions and nationalities often feeling some antipathy toward each other, and with skin color being a separation issue for America’s majority.

But most people understand what’s right and wrong, so they mask what may be in their hearts, and perform with civility and decency.

Unfortunately, when any nation is burdened with a leader who puts his stamp of approval on bigotry, the populace tends to follow, and that is where we are now, with a leader who makes no secret of his bigotry.

I am Jewish and many of my friends are Jews. Some are Trump believers. When I ask them why, they say things like:

“He made our military strong” (Despite the revolving door of Defense Secretaries, but who needs leaders, anyway?)

“He cut taxes” (for his rich pals and himself, not so much for the middle classes and the poor.

“He grew the economy” (continuing with a friendly Congress what Obama accomplished with an enemy Congress)

“He’s been good for Israel” (by moving U.S. facilities to Jerusalem, which accomplished nothing for Israel or for peace).

“He’s tough on terrorists” (meaning he’s tough on Muslims and Latinos).

And of course the inevitable,  “I hate Hillary and Obama.”

But the real reason, I am sorry to say, is that Trump hates the same people some of my friends hate — the Latinos, the blacks, and the Muslims — and so long as he is tough on Latinos and Muslims, he always will have backing from his followers.

Sadly, many people have not learned the lesson that Hitler taught us: Bigotry didn’t end with the Gypsies.

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

by Martin Niemoller

Hitler himself, never killed a single person, but he managed to convince the German people to imprison and kill gypsies, gays, Catholics, liberals, blacks, Jehovah Witnesses, the physically disabled, the mentally disabled, the elderly, prostitutes and their children, and anyone who spoke against the leader (Fuhrer).

Are you a member of any of the above groups?

Perhaps, if you neither are Latino nor Muslim, you might feel safe in America. And if you also neither are gay nor black, you might feel even safer.

But my warning to my Jewish friends is, do not accept bigotry. History shows that wherever any people are brutalized for being members of a race, religion, nationality or culture, eventually the ax falls on the Jews.

For more than two thousand years, it’s always been the Jews.

You may feel safe, because Trump’s daughter is Jewish, and perhaps that has modified his behavior.

But Trump has made bigotry acceptable. He has normalized hatred. Will the next President follow Trump’s hate script, but add the Jews?

There are crazies out there — many seemingly average folks, who would ignore, cheer or participate in the imprisonment, torture, and even murder of Jews. History is replete with examples. Will they be egged on by the next American fuhrer?

Never feel you’re safe if you live amidst bigotry. The Jews of Germany felt safe until they weren’t. The Japanese of America felt they were safe. The American Indian felt safe after each treaty was signed. Legal immigrants felt safe.

Just because you are a white, Protestant male does not prevent a bigoted President from declaring you an enemy.

Trump has declared Latinos and liberals, gays and Muslims and even the free press enemies.

Are you Catholic or Buddhist? Black or yellow or red? Did you or your parents immigrate from a “shithole” country? Have you ever criticized Trump?

You could be declared an enemy.

Bigotry ignores boundaries. It is a contagious disease. It floats in the air. It creeps under the door and through the floorboards, uncontrollable, often invisible and deadly.

Though the horrors at our southern border might be happening to other people now, once the bigotry beast is loose, you are not safe.

Bigotry never is satisfied. Cruelty never is satisfied. Enough never is enough. Allow Trump’s bigotry to continue and it will engulf the whole nation. It will engulf you.

It already has begun, and before it’s done, who will speak for you?.

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
Monetary Sovereignty
Twitter: @rodgermitchell
Search #monetarysovereigntyFacebook: Rodger Malcolm Mitchell

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The most important problems in economics involve the excessive income/wealth/power Gaps between the richer and the poorer.

Wide Gaps negatively affect poverty, health and longevity, education, housing, law and crime, war, leadership, ownership, bigotry, supply and demand, taxation, GDP, international relations, scientific advancement, the environment, human motivation and well-being, and virtually every other issue in economics.

Implementation of The Ten Steps To Prosperity can narrow the Gaps:

Ten Steps To Prosperity:

1. Eliminate FICA

2. Federally funded Medicare — parts a, b & d, plus long-term care — for everyone

3. Provide a monthly economic bonus to every man, woman and child in America (similar to social security for all)

4. Free education (including post-grad) for everyone

5. Salary for attending school

6. Eliminate federal taxes on business

7. Increase the standard income tax deduction, annually. 

8. Tax the very rich (the “.1%”) more, with higher progressive tax rates on all forms of income.

9. Federal ownership of all banks

10. Increase federal spending on the myriad initiatives that benefit America’s 99.9% 

The Ten Steps will grow the economy, and narrow the income/wealth/power Gap between the rich and you.

MONETARY SOVEREIGNTY