this New Age of Scapegoating.
My thoughts go back to Vienna’s Kristallnacht. (November 9-10, 1938).
What did an 18-year-old Klara Zinn and her family experience during those violent, tumultuous days?
Did her family’s Temple go up in flames?
Answer. Yes! Most of Vienna’s Temples and houses of worship were torched in Vienna. Oftentimes while the local firefighters looked on. Boo Hiss! (Source: Holocaust Encyclopedia).
Was Grandpa Ben’s jewelry store looted?
Answer: More than likely. Thousands of Jewish owned businesses and homes were ransacked and pillaged.
If somehow Ben’s business survived the SS, SA or ordinary Viennese anti-Semites rioters, was he forced to sell his store to a goyim (non-Jew) at a coal for diamonds price as decreed by the Nuremberg Laws?
Answer: Probably.
Was my Mom and family harmed or molested?
Answer: Unknown. (Except that Klara’s mother, Sarah never reached the shores of NYC.) So many queries went unasked and unanswered. Apparently Mom was content to hide her memories behind her ever-present smile. We were wise enough not to press the issue.
Which brings me back to The Art of Scapegoating . All the above calamities were created by one man’s hatred of a religion, a culture and dare I say it...a race? Hitler blamed the Jews for EVERYTHING! Germany’s defeat in WW I. Check. The Great Depression Check. The spread of Communism. Check. The possible dilution of pure Aryan stock by the inferior class Jews. Check. The Fuhrer’s bitch list went on and on. (At least Hitler didn’t target Jews for the high price of eggs.)
Hitler’s blame game led to the government sanctioned terrorism of Kristallnacht. A punishment foisted upon 200,000 Viennese (10% of the city’s population) for the crime of being “tainted” with Jewish blood.
Presently in Merica, Trump (AKA the vilest human in the world 🌎) scapegoats immigrants, minorities, the media (“enemy of the people”), universities, George Soros, the LGBTQ community, windmills, political opponents (“they are sick radical left people.”) and everyday citizens. (So far, I’ve escaped his wrath). Terms like “garbage, rapists, murderers, shithole countries, invaders, piggy, and “poisoning the blood of our country” coexist with the daily barrage of bullshit spewing from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
All this cruelty, crassness and finger pointing aimed at a BIGLY swath of targets. Trump is preaching to his choir. The 80% plus of the Republicans polled who approve of him and his dangerous and morally corrupt ways. These are his people: White (Trash) Hypo-Christian Nationalists, Tech Twerps, Groypers and Project 2025 nerds. What we have here is a toxic blend of macho tribalism. We’re in a No Bueno moment of Merican history.
Polly Anna and Pauly Andy Dems believe this situation will right itself on Election Day. I wish it were so.
If you’ve been following my recent Jew’Anon blogs.
You’ll see a (yes paranoid) pattern. Where many of my Fellow Travelers see a “Blue Wave” advancing, I see a “Coup Wave.”
Trump has all the cards. There’s no checks and balances. The SCOTOMAGA has already imbued him with immunity to act with impunity. January 6th, 2021 was his “Beer Hall Putsch.” No longer will MAGA try to hold onto power using a rabble army of wannabe G.I. Joe’s and G.I. Jane’s. Trump’s paramilitary will consist of ICE, the National Guard, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters and those thousands of JD Vance lookalike Dudes sporting “Freedom” and “Grunt Style” T-shirts. These weekend warriors will finally get their opportunity to exhibit AR-15, Glock 19 and M4 firepower. This will not be a bloodless coup. The scapegoating will go far beyond name calling.
Over a year ago, I read “November 1942.” by Peter Englund. A non-fiction account of what the Swedish historian considered to be the turning point of WW II. A month in which the tide of war shifted away from the Axis and began eking toward the Allies.
One real life character was a Doctor who practiced in a concentration camp. His gig was to meet the trainloads of Jews, Gays, Romas and other Nazi deemed inferior humans at the platform. Innocent people were marched before him. A flick of his index finger to the left signified death that day by Zyklon B gas poisoning. A index finger nudge to the right meant becoming a slave. A slower demise by starvation, disease, overwork or killed by a hung over Nazi prison guard.
In the Doctor’s diary, he extolled the delightful meals he and his family were eating after a typical day of work. The scumbag exhibited no guilt, no shame and no remorse. Clearly the doctor was a hypocrite of the Hippocratic Oath.
This will be the kind of people Trump’s coup will attract. Wake up.
I’m so sure of this (unfortunately) I’m willing to make a wager. BTW I’m no gambler.
Jeffsambur@gmail.com if you’re interested.
I believe Klara would have approved of this last photo.
Wow so profound and what a history. Reality has repeats and humanity is not nice !
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and Happy Hanukkah 🕎