Saturday, May 25, 2024

Springtime For HItler

 The rhetoric that has been floating around for the decades since World War II ended regarding Nazis would make an interesting research topic. Starting from the old line about "at least the trains run on time" to quips about "ways to make you talk." These bits of dark humor sprang from the relief we all felt after Adolph Hitler was defeated and he became a  punchline for Mel Brooks. 

Last week, the forty-fifth "president" of the United States posted a video on his social media account that depicted what America might look like if he became number forty-seven. Just behind the banners were headlines that included, “the creation of a unified reich,” and “German industrial strength.” The former game show host's handlers were quick to point out that they did not create the video, and it had since been deleted. 

Still, you might think that a guy who complains about having shot himself in the foot by illegally paying hush money to an adult film actress would not reload and take aim on the other foot just to be sure he didn't miss anything. Imagining the conversation his campaign must have had with the man who once said there were "very fine people on both sides" in the aftermath of a clash between protesters and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia that left one woman dead makes my head spin.

"See, the Nazis, to put it simply, were the bad guys."

"You mean they were the bad guys."

"Well, yes sir. Our country went to war to stop them from taking over the world and exterminating millions of people."

"So, you're saying Nazis are bad?"

"Yes sir."

"Always?"

"Yes sir."

"Even now?"

"Yes sir."

"So I should take down the post about creating a new reich?" 

"Yes sir. I think it would be best at this time"

"Well, can I keep the stuff about Hannibal Lecter?"

Sigh. "Sure. Why not?"

"Got it. Nazis bad. Cannibals good."

No comments: