Hitler and Beck

Hitler and Beck…..

(From a paper I wrote in college in 1971)



“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” is a timeless truth attributed to such paragons of wisdom as George Santayana, Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson and Pogo. Regardless of who said it, it is a terrible judgment which we shall bring upon ourselves.

In 1971, I took a course called “The Psychology of Persuasion” in my major which was Interpersonal Communication. In that class, I wrote a detailed term paper on Joseph Goebbles, Adolf Hitler and their use of/perfecting of propaganda. In 1971, there was no evidence that any such efforts were afoot to utilize this evil art. Furthermore, few, if any could rationally conceive that Prototypical Nazi Propaganda could used in any Freed Democracy, much less an nation so “enlightened” as the United States.

Arise Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Mark Enyart, Sarah Palin, etc. Unlike the dictatorially controlled message from Adolf Hitler, through Joseph Goebbles, these independent entrepreneurs have each carved their own piece of the marketplace, while working the “same side of the street.” This Ultra-Right Wing, Politreligious movement, has mirrored the principles of these “Unprincipled Denizens of the Underworld” to the “T.” Masked behind free speech, political entertainment and patriotism, motivated by selfishness and fear they thrive.

Let me cite a few abridged points from my 1971 term paper and show the way they are frighteningly followed by the Rush Hannibecklins.

The Big Lie

The prime foundation of Goebbles/Hitler was the understanding that if one told a big enough lie, often enough, the masses would be persuaded. In the case of Goebbles/Hitler, the Big Lie was the selection of and perseveration on a Great Evil/Satan.

The Great Evil/Satan

For Goebbles/Hitler the Great Evil/Satan were the Jews. Every societal, national, economic, moral problem was caused by the Jews. The Jews had secretly caused Germany’s defeat and subsequent humiliation in and after World War I. Jewish bankers were the cause of Germany’s economic crash of the late 20’s/early 30’s. Infected Jews were spreading disease/mental illness among the pure Aryan/Germans. Jews were clandestinely causing the street violence and public unrest rampant in German cities.

Exploitation of civil/social/economic unrest

Civil/social/economic unrest which were rampant and greatly instigated by the Nazi’s themselves were used to cause fear, unrest and great angst of the populace. They require unrest to create a need, real and exaggerated, for stability. With the telling of the Great Lie, the masses could be convinced that the Great Evil/Satan was the cause.




Promise of return to Past Days of Glory

Goebbles/Hitler built dream castles in the minds of Germans to return to historical/mythological days of Wagnerian superhuman greatness and glory. From the 1936 Olympics to theatric and public parade/mass meeting pageantry Goebbles/Hitler were masters a staging events to achieve deep emotional mind-control.

The Aryan Myth

With a strange mixture of pseudo-science, revisionist history and religi-mythological propaganda, the German people were indoctrinated to believe that they had been “Chosen by God/the gods/Fate/Spirits of Dead Conquerors” to rule the Land of their birthright. Removal of any who were living there was a virtue/mission ordained by the gods to purify that which was now contaminated by lesser, mongrel people.

Religious Nationalism

Utilizing those leaders of the religious community who would cooperate, Goebbles/Hitler intertwined religion, the Occult, Wagnerian Mythology to create a new Religious Nationalism. Germans were indoctrinated to worship Nationalism. It was their new religion. Those who opposed Nazi Nationalism were not just political opponents, they were the enemies of the Devine and Devine Mandate. Religious leaders who opposed him were eliminated.

Tell the Masses What They Want to Hear.

By studying and careful analysis, Goebbles/Hitler knew all too well what the German public (or any public) wanted to hear. Shifting all blame to a satanic scapegoat, longing for a better life, justifying all means of acquiring that better life, the only morality which survived was the message of that which made them feel good, important, safe and powerful.

Elimination of non-productive

The “non-productive”, such as the terminally ill or mentally retarded were portrayed as a drain upon the energy and resources of Germany’s Nationalistic Devine Mandate. They were systematically euthanized.

Enter the Rush Hannibecklins

If we now look at what the Rush Hannibecklinsm are now doing, we can see that they fit lockstep or should I say goosestep every point of the way with their clearly studied and copied mentors, Hers Goebbles unt Hitler.

NOTE: I am not equating the Rush Hannibecklins with classic conservatism as so aptly and statesmanly vocalized by such great figures as Barry Goldwater, Paul Harvey or William F. Buckley Jr. As I have often stated, classic conservatism is a crucial thread which, when woven in balance with classic liberalism becomes the warp and weave of this great Republic.

The Big Lie

The prime foundation of Rush Hannibecklin is the understanding that if one tells a big enough lie, often enough, the masses will be persuaded. As in the case of Goebbles/Hitler, the Big Lie of the Rush Hannibecklins is the selection of and perseveration on a Great Evil/Satan.

The Great Evil/Satan

For Rush Hannibecklins the Great Evil/Satan are the liberals/progressives/non-whites. Every societal, national, economic, moral problem in the present day United States is caused by the liberals/progressives/non-whites. The liberals/progressives/non-whites. have caused the United States’ defeat and subsequent humiliation of Viet Nam. Liberal spending to finance social welfare programs for non-whites has been the cause of the United States’ budgetary deficits and every economic downturn since WWII. Non-white/homosexuals are spreading disease and illness which is bankrupting our healthcare capabilities. These same groups of blacks, Hispanics and homosexuals are the cause of the dissolution of the family unity, moral decay, teen pregnancy and civil unrest.

Exploitation of civil/social/economic unrest

Civil/social/economic unrest which have been greatly exacerbated government pandering to huge corporations are used by the Rush Hannibecklins to cause fear, unrest and great angst of the populace. They require this unrest to create a need, real and exaggerated, for stability. With the telling of the Great Lie, the masses could be convinced that the Great Evil/Satan was the cause. In addition, terrorist activities of radical Moslems, both real and instigated through Imperial Hubris is used to fan the flames of fear among the populace.

Promise of return to Past Days of Glory

Rush Hannibecklins build dream castles in the minds of Americans to return to historical/mythological days of stability, civil peace, family solidarity, military might, security and safety. The individual and militia mentality security is promoted as the only real safety and power that can be trusted. Taking advantage of such white-dominated movements as Promise Keepers and TEA Party the Rush Hannibecklins use inflamed mob psychology, if not mass pageantry to whip up public emotions. This facilitates deep levels of mind control for speakers who repeat the Big Lie, the myth that whites are down-trodden and in need of self –defense.

The ‘Aryan’ Myth

The Aryan Myth has been replaced by the American Myth, that the real estate from the Atlantic to the Pacific and between Canada and Mexico is a uniquely blessed property, a New Promised Land, New Jerusalem. Like the German people before them, Americans are easily indoctrinated to believe that they had been “Chosen by God to rule this Land of their birthright. Removal of any (Native Americans) who were living there was a virtue/mission ordained by God to purify that which was now contaminated by lesser, mongrel people. Furthermore, prevention of new migrations of brown, non-English-speaking people (of which there is great physical and economic fear) is not a selfish motivation but a sacred right/mandate.

Religious Nationalism

Utilizing those leaders of the religious community who have been all to eager to cooperate, the Rush Hannibecklins intertwine religion, and patriotism to create a new Religious Nationalism. Religious Right Wing Extremists have been indoctrinated to worship Nationalism. It is their new religion. Those who opposed this Nationalism are not just political opponents, they are the enemies of the Devine and Devine Mandate. Religious leaders who opposed them are socially/religiously excommunicated. (Mr. Beck’s calling progressive clergy/denominations communist or Nazi.)

Tell the Masses What They Want to Hear.

By studying and careful analysis, the Rush Hannibecklins know all too well what the American public (or any public) wanted to hear. Shifting all blame to a satanic/liberal scapegoat, longing for a better life, justifying all means of acquiring that better life, the only morality which survives is the message of that I have no responsibility to be my brother’s keeper. He is needy because he is not as deserving or hardworking as I am. Social welfare programs, which would take dollars from my pocket are wrong. Not because they are selfish, but because they are Un-American. There is no more effective feel-good message than that! I am important. I have the right to any means to be safe and to accomplish this, we must be powerful.

Elimination of non-productive

I am not my brother’s keeper. I have no responsibility to the “non-productive”. To care for them is a drain upon the energy and resources of the United States’ Nationalistic Devine Mandate.

In Conclusion……

As long as this has been, it is a radically abridged rendition of my thoughts. Most specific examples have left off or it might have gone 15-20 pages. I do stand firm in my conviction that the United States will be strong only as long as there is a moral partnership of liberal and conservative thought/legislative action. However the frightening trend of Ultra Right-Wing Hatred and Rush Hannibeclinism threatens this balance.

DRILL-BABY-SPILL

BP is perhaps close to truly stopping one of the worst ecological rapes in recorded history. Anyone who believes that they will willingly pay for the COMPLETE payment and clean up believes that the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series……….in this lifetime.

Here are three simple facts:

One. BP drilled a well they could not plug before an ecological disaster.

Two. ‘Drill-Baby-Spillers’ admit (and everybody else knows) that as long as there are wells drilled, there WILL be spills/leaks.

Three. ‘Drill-Baby-Spillers’ want to continue to drill wells that cannot be plugged before ecological disasters occur (again).

The ONLY conclusion is this: The current disaster is acceptable to the DRILL-BABY-SPILLERS.

Remarks at the Funeral of Denise Gandee

It is good to commemorate the life of our fellow teacher, our friend Denise. It is also good to celebrate the life of Denise. But we would do her the greatest disservice if we did not pause to consider a little of what we have learned from Denise. It seemed like it was just a few short days ago we gathered to tell her thank you and to recall with much laughter and gratitude all the hundreds of things for which we remembered her. Sadly, the time for thanking Denise face to face is gone, the time to stop and recall the things she had to teach us is not gone. And that is because those lessons are that part of Denise that lives on in all of us.
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After growing up for 45 wonderful years as a Baptist, it has been my joy to have spent the last decade as an Episcopalian; sort’a Catholic-Lite if you will. And yes, it is true that where you have four Episcopalians you will also find a fifth. But one of the elements of our faith journey, which I love, is to offer thanksgiving prayers to God for those who have gone on before me. And every morning as I drive to school I am saying my morning prayers on the Broken Arrow Expressway. As a Baptist I prayed with my eyes closed, but when driving, I pray Episcopalian style with my eyes open. Still, I’m sure that between my praying and driving I prompt many other drivers to say their prayers, too. But as I pray, it is to offer God thanks that He allowed loved ones like Denise to have touched my life and in touching my life, have taught me to serve Him better AND how to be a better person. And walking with Denise, even these few years, has made me a better person.
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In light of this as I thought of Denise while visiting with others who taught with, lived with, walked with and were touched by Denise, one descriptor that kept coming to the top was her dedicated, focused passion. As we all know, Denise was passionate…in whatever she did. But it wasn’t haphazard passion; it was a dedicated/focused passion.
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You may not know this, or want to know this. I know you don’t want to picture this, but every morning at 5:30 I’m in the swimming pool at St. John’s Health Club. Yes, I jump in and someone yells, “Thar she blows!” Still I jump in that pool with passion. I kick with passion. I stir up a huge amount of froth and foam with passion. But in that passion I go nowhere, because I have yet to learn the focus and dedication to the correct method for effective forward motion. On the other hand, the skilled swimmers, jump in with just as much passion, but because it is dedicated and focused up the proper techniques they have learned, their passionate kicking causes them to slice through the water like motor boats.
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Denise had passion, and it was focued and dedicated towards her goal. Furthermore she was able to focus on a goal that was, first) global and broad in spectrum and, second) she was also able to focus and dedicate her passion to the small details, necessary to make the broad, global goals possible. I like to say that Denise taught us to approach life like a comic book picture. She saw the big picture as well as the tiny little dots that make up that big picture. We all know gifted people who dream the big picture, but they require the detail people to work out the details that must be attended to before the big picture comes together. Likewise we know gifted people who are focused so passionately on the tiny details, the little spots of the picture, that they are not able to organize them into the big picture. Well Denise taught us that you could do both. Her big picture was teaching students to becoming thinking, educated adults. Her big picture was to make the workplace a better place for her fellow teachers. Her room was organized with just the right furniture, (which she had purchased with her own money) lessons were planned. Classroom order was kept and procedures were explained! Deadlines were met. The team functioned as a team.
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But she also taught us that to accomplish the big picture, there were hundreds of little details that needed attention: name tags on the doors, candy, the right candy in the dishes, a microwave and salt shakers in the lounge, bus passes that were laminated, pictures and movie screens hung, doors painted and messages put on the marquee. And in all of this, her passion, focus, organization, attention to the big picture and detail she was teaching us that we are called to make this life better for our passing and touching. She wanted a better world and she dedicated her self passionately to making every footstep and life touched, better because she had walked that way.
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To succeed in teaching us her lessons, she set the bar high, very high and she was dedicated in reaching that bar herself. First to arrive every morning, last to leave every afternoon she did not leave until everything was in order, so that after dedicating herself to an evening of preparation at home, tomorrow’s lesson plans were ready to deliver. She could, would, and did get upset if others did not accomplish at an expected level of competence. It was not a pleasant encounter when one experienced her well-articulated evaluation for poor production, but God help you if you failed because you had not given your best effort. Before the Army ever came up with the slogan “Be All You Can Be” Denise had been living it and teaching it for years. Yes, those of us who knew her, believed that Denise was indeed an Army of One. She gave nothing but her best and taught us to do the same. If it was going to be done, she taught us that it should be done right. If it was served, it was not served half baked, if it was turned in it wasn’t turned in half-done, if it was to be built it wasn’t built half-aaaaaaaa,……. in a half-way manner. No, with Denise, it was half-assed!
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Yes, she could make mistakes, Denise was not perfect and she was the first to admit her imperfections, but as one of our most esteemed colleagues observed, “If Denise made a mistake, you know it was made for the right reasons.” Denise made Lewis and Clark a better school, because she taught us to be better teachers, better administrators, better students, better people.
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Let us not allow this lesson to go unlearned. Denise taught us to see the big picture, she taught us to see the little details that had to be attended to, to succeed with the big picture. She taught us to set the highest goals and pursue them with passion, so that this world will be better for our passing and our touching.
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Friends, Denise Gandy may have left the building, but her lesson is still on the board…..and yes, we will be tested on this!