On Bush and Hitler

Isn't life grand when the actions of a person or group seem to confirm the "treacherous lies" they are trying to deny? It's a Catch-22 kind of thing, and is at its best quite humorous to witness, and at its worst an unbelievable sight to behold.

So it is when the Bush administration and its far-right ultra conservative lemmings are compared to historically non-pleasant figures, such as Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, and then the heavy hand of this uber-group is brought down mightily on the messenger - in the same way speech was prohibited and thought was stifled in 1930's Deutschland. Point proven.

And it's even better when the traitorous accusations are made by a teenager - who through his obvious years of world knowledge has a great comprehension of right, wrong, and enemy of the state. Hmmm... sound like any Youth you've heard of before...

This example could not be more glaring than the current case of Colorado High School teacher Jay Bennish. Bennish was suspended on Wednesday after having made comments during his Social Studies class about President Bush:

Some of his egregious comments:

He said President Bush believed in "using our military throughout the world to make people like us. That sounds a lot like what Adolph Hitler did."

And, he stated there were similarities between what Bush said during his State of the Union address and "things that Adolf Hitler used to say."

Wow, does anyone else have a sudden urge to scratch their head in some befuddled disbelief and say "Well, duh?"

Just for giggles, let's look at a few other notable quotes on this topic:

We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.
- George W. Bush

The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category.
- Adolf Hitler

And how about two more:

We will choose to act confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom -- or retreat from our duties in the hope of an easier life... In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting -- yet it ends in danger and decline. The only way to protect our people, the only way to secure the peace, the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership.... In a time of testing, we cannot find security by abandoning our commitments and retreating within our borders. If we were to leave these vicious attackers alone, they would not leave us alone. They would simply move the battlefield to our own shores...The enemy has not lost the desire or capability to attack us.
- George W. Bush

Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."
- Hermann Goering

So... where is the treachery in Mr. Bennish's comments?

Let's look at one more of Mr. Bennish's egregious comments:

The United States was "probably the single most violent nation on planet Earth."

Well, whether that is statistically true or not, the US has in fact invaded Iraq twice in the past two decades and killed over one hundred thousand there - most of them civilian collateral damage. That's pretty violent - especially if you're one of the hundred thousand. So I wouldn't classify this comment as being wildly psychotic.

But the icing on the cake in this case are the comments by uber-youth 10th grade student Sean Allen who taped Mr. Bennish's lecture and took it to the media. Young Mr. Allen stated:

"So these kids are going to have notes on why George Bush is related to Hitler and why the state of Israel was founded on violence and terrorism... These kids are going to have notes on this and accept that as fact."

Umm, yeah, maybe... but when's the last time any 10th grader took anything his teachers said as absolute fact?

What's your point Sean. Is this ultra-conservative brain-dead think-speak, or simply your 15 minutes of fame? Or does your upbringing teach you that any idea you don't agree with is wrong and should be suppressed?

Well, here's a lesson for you: First, you live in the United States of America where ALL differing ideas are supposed to be allowed and encouraged. And, second, you obviously haven't been studying your history lessons because Adolf Hitler was about more than the Holocaust. Hitler led Germany from a floundering state to a state that could actually willingly participate in the Holocaust. How? By an incredible path of lies, propaganda and multitudes of people who went along for the ride because they believed their leader was a "good and moral patriot."

Oh, and you're also only 16 - believe it or not, you don't know everything. And you apparently still have a lot of growing up to do.

As for those who have pushed for Mr. Bennish's suspension and firing - You do understand you're proving his point, right?