The Soapbox

hoolstoptheheels

Joined: 01/04/2001 Posts: 26982
Likes: 34242


First, book recommendation: "It Can't Happen Here" by


Sinclair Lewis, written around 1936 because of the rise in nationalism worldwide at that time. I just recently read it. Very interesting to read about Hitler and Mussolini before their worst had become known.

Yeah, you're preaching to the choir on the rise of nationalist movements, and I would never say never about it happening here. But, it would require a suspension of the Constitution to get to that point. In the satirical Lewis book they use a manufactured crisis, or just impression of a looming one, sort of like Hitler did.

But you can't make the analogy between post WWI, pre-Hitler Germany, and the US today. They had no protection of civil liberties. None. Nyet. Not to say they didn't have laws designed to protect them, but they had no tradition of respect of individual rights, and no concept of separate of powers, none of the things that are literally enshrined in the bedrock of the USA after about 230 years of Constitutional Law. Germany had barely experienced the peaceful transition of power from elections.

Moreover, France today can outlaw burkinis, or head scarves, or other examples of individual expression that you could never get away with in this country. Much like hateful speech. Which, frankly, also sets the bar higher for "it" happening here.

"It" can happen here. But the barriers to "it" are higher than in any country on earth, in all of history. Decide that nazis don't have the right to free speech, and that statement becomes less true.

(In response to this post by Fuzzy Dunlop)

Posted: 09/21/2017 at 3:02PM



+1

Insert a Link

Enter the title of the link here:


Enter the full web address of the link here -- include the "http://" part:


Current Thread:
 
  
"Undercover with the alt-right" -- Fuzzy Dunlop 09/21/2017 12:39PM
  Your headline reminds me of this (link) -- JMHoo 09/21/2017 4:45PM
  Don't you mean "Undercover with Libertarians?" ** -- Hokieesith 09/21/2017 1:37PM
  It's mocking the idea I see so often on here -- Fuzzy Dunlop 09/21/2017 1:33PM
  The Constitution isn't 'norms', it's the law. ** -- hoodeyo 09/21/2017 3:34PM
  You may be right. I hope you are -- Fuzzy Dunlop 09/21/2017 2:19PM
  Who was the overt white supremacist, and can you -- Hokieesith 09/21/2017 3:12PM
  First, book recommendation: "It Can't Happen Here" by -- hoolstoptheheels 09/21/2017 3:02PM

Notice: Trying to get property 'queue' of non-object in /data/www/sportswar.com/wp-includes/script-loader.php on line 2781

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /data/www/sportswar.com/wp-includes/script-loader.php on line 2781
vm307