What a tearjerker! I mean, really, who wouldn’t be moved by a tale of a family’s harrowing escape from Nazi Germany, complete with dyslexic misunderstandings and the classic ‘If only I had done something’ sentiment? It’s like a dramatic movie script. And to draw parallels with Trump’s immigration policies? Oh, please. This is just a sophisticated way to wallow in one’s own privilege. The author’s ancestors managed to flee a country that was crumbling under the weight of its own fascist regime. Contrast that with modern America’s so-called ‘problems’—like having to wait in line for 30 minutes at Starbucks. What’s next? Comparing Trump’s presidency to a concentration camp? I guess we can’t rule out the day when someone starts comparing their traffic jam to Auschwitz. And don’t get me started on the ‘Weimer-like democracy’ analogy. What, is America some sort of historical anomaly? We’ve had a few bumps in the road, sure, but let’s not start invoking the specter of the Weimar Republic just yet. The author’s mother’s vote in 1948? Such a poignant moment of responsibility! But wait, wasn’t that just a year after the end of World War II? So much for the power of democracy, eh? The real lesson here seems to be that history is a convenient backdrop for anyone looking to make a point, no matter how tenuous. And don’t even get me started on the author’s aunt Renate’s supposed plan to move to Canada. I bet she could have found a much easier way to avoid living in the US than moving to a tiny town in Saskatchewan.
Read from: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/fascism-in-america