Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

We’ve seen this before

Ninety years ago in Germany there was a man who promised to make his country great again. He claimed to be a great leader and demanded absolute loyalty from his followers. His bully boys attacked his opponents or sent them to places with names like Dachau and Auschwitz. In the end he ruined his country and blew his own brains out.

Recently in our own country there was a man in the White House who promised to make the country great again. He claimed to be a great leader and demanded absolute loyalty from his followers. His bully boys attacked his opponents and attempted reverse his election loss by attacking the Capitol on January 6. The United States did not go the way of Germany only because law enforcement officers risked their lives to stop his thugs. In the end he left a legacy of lies which continues to threaten democracy in this country.

Hitler came to power because many Germans willfully refused to see what he did. Now many Republicans willfully refuse to see what Donald Trump did.

Connect the dots.

Michael W. O’Dea

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-5098

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy