Heed history’s lessons

I must partially agree with the May 3 letter by Joan Harman. The Rev. Martin Niemuller’s poetic lamentation on the rise of the National Socialists (Nazis) in 1930s Germany has contemporary relevance.

A cursory review of history shows that Rev. Niemuller and a plurality of Germans supported National Socialism and the charismatic leader whose incredible (and frequent) oratory skills arbitrarily affixed blame for a fiscally collapsing Weimar Republic to specific groups or individuals. The final solution was the vilification, criminalization and elimination of those entities and any opposition, plus the nationalization of monetary and industrial functions under politically assigned private ownership. When Rev. Niemuller and others emerged from the rhetorical fog, fascism was entrenched.

Does this brief history seem familiar? When considering the faults of the last administration, be they factual or fictitious, the goal was the safety of this nation’s people. The present administration’s oft-stated goal is the “remaking of America,” here and abroad. One question from the Tea Parties is, remaking America into what? Can history repeat itself?

Finally, Ms. Harman, numerous protests of the past administration did occur, replete with physical violence, flying projectiles and tear gas, none of which were present on April 15.

Gary Warren

Spokane