Republican Ultra-MAGA political violence has terrifying parallels.
Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. - George Santayanya
Perhaps that's why the GOP pushes so hard against teaching history in schools? Compare the violent Nazi violence against Jews, the LGBT and other minorities with Ultra MAGA violence today. What happens when people ignore violence because they mistakenly think that the violence won't affect them? Martin Niemöller a German Lutheran pastor expressed the danger of not caring what happens to others in his adapted poem.
First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the transgender, and I did not speak out — Because I was not transgender.
Then they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Muslim.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
Persecution of 'others'
The Nazis systematically targeted minority groups including Jews and gays. One by one these groups were persecuted while the public remained silent, thinking it would not hurt them. Eventually it did.
The Republican persecution and violence against minorities is accelerating. The parallels from history and terrifying. Listen to the advice from German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller on the importance of speaking up (and voting) for your values - while you still have the chance.
"The people who were put in the camps - who cared about them? We can talk ourselves out of it with the excuse that it would have cost me my head if I had spoken out. We preferred to keep silent. I ask myself again and again, what would have happened if we had spoken up?" - Martin Niemöller in Wikipedia
Jewish persecution
The Holocaust (1933–1945) was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazis and collaborators. The Nazi German regime enacted discriminatory laws and organized violence targeting Germany’s Jews. USHMM
"Over the past decade, the ADL has counted about 450 murders committed by domestic political extremists, with 29 occurring just last year. It reports the overwhelming majority were committed by people with ties to various right-wing groups." - Washington Post
LGBTQ persecution
"The Nazi regime carried out a campaign against homosexuality and persecuted gay men. It closed gay bars and meeting places, dissolved gay associations, and shuttered gay presses. They also arrested and tried tens of thousands of gay men." - USHMM
Texas Republican Party includes anti-LGBT ideology in platform. In the platform voted on by delegates at the party’s biennial convention, one section — called ‘Homosexuality and Gender Issues’ — states “homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice.” - KUT
Persecution of minorities
"Hitler and the Nazis believed that certain groups were inferior and were a threat to the purity of the Aryan race. There were many groups who were targeted for persecution, including Slavs (Eastern Europeans), gypsies, homosexuals and the disabled." - BBC
"Trump's 'Muslim ban' doesn't just target eight countries. It's stoking hatred against Muslims in America. Children face racist taunts from classmates, Muslim business owners face savage public harassment and mosques have been vandalized . The outward expression of deep hatred, advocates warn, has become more brazen and even normalized since Trump took office." - NBC News
TakeAway: Speak up against hate and persecution. Vote to protect democracy in 2022 and for candidates who reflect your values.
Deepak
DemLabs
DISCLAIMER: ALTHOUGH THE DATA FOUND IN THIS BLOG AND INFOGRAPHIC HAS BEEN PRODUCED AND PROCESSED FROM SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE, NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CAN BE MADE REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, LEGALITY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION. THIS DISCLAIMER APPLIES TO ANY USES OF THE INFORMATION WHETHER ISOLATED OR AGGREGATE USES THEREOF.