Mr. Ken Burns provides accurate PBS documentaries, with deep insight on a variety of subjects, both entertaining and educational. I just finished watching 3 episodes of, "The U.S. and the Holocaust." Forever a reader, throughout high school, I was drawn into the world of Adolf Hitler's biography, from his youth, education, time in the military, political aspirations, incarcerations, etc.
Book after book and hour after hour, I "watched" his evolution of thoughts, planning, assembling a totally unquestioning loyal following, beginning with his, "Mein Kampf," ("My Struggle"), igniting the implementation of his 1,000 year empire.
During my formative years, a class in "Civics" was part of the curriculum, wherein we were taught and learned the formulation, planning and working of our government. That in mind, it was obvious and quite disconcerting to realize the troubling nature of Hitler and his manifesto.
Just a few moments into the documentary's first episode, I was immediately taken back to the books of my introduction to one person's unadulterated evil. Disturbing enough were his thoughts, but how he incorporated those thoughts and actually convinced his compatriots of their justification was plain terror. The sadists Josef Mengele, Ilse Koch and countless others not only conducted vile experiments but actually took pleasure in their sickening procedures.
Impressive was Hitler's methodology of slowly convincing, one person at a time, the nature and need to eliminate what he determined to be the main cause of all problematical. Rewards were promised for exemplary service. Recruits were drawn by the sheer magnetism of the leader's convincing oratory. Truth be damned. Many forsook friends and family for the promised promotions and glamor. Children were taught to report friends and even their own family for any suspicious talk or deeds. Initially, they were called brown-nosers, then boot-lickers and today, we call them sycophants.
Worst of all was the casual indifference displayed by so many, worldwide, labeling it a glitch and/or a passing fancy.
Sound familiar? I hope so! Admit it or not, we are slowly being manipulated into a resurgence of what occurred with Hitler's jail cell occupancy, nearly 100 years ago.
With modern technology, we are constantly fed information, both good and bad. We are inundated with unkept promises made on campaign trails. Incumbents spend a lot of time getting re-elected and pointing fingers at "the other side" for not getting things done. Currently, incumbents and candidates are now refusing to publicly debate. More deals are struck behind closed doors. Last minute riders are attached to unrelated bills that benefit those who really don't need any more money. Many agreements are made by the big money percenters via lobbyists, which I refer to as "legalized bribery."
Please! Take the time to analyze those who represent your needs, be it the local councilperson and all those up the ladder. Question their decisions. Are they keeping campaign promises? Where are your increased taxes going? Why are they even considering the elimination of your self-funded Social Security and other supplements? Why can't both parties agree on almost anything and why opposition is built solely on party lines? Have intelligence and common sense run out?
I urge you to watch, "The U.S. and the Holocaust," streaming on PBS Video App, not necessarily the outcome, but how the formula was designed and ever so carefully installed with hardly a wave of disruption.
I also very strongly implore you to vote this November. If you choose otherwise, then I remind you of the closing words uttered by Vincent Price in, "The Fly." "Be afraid...be very afraid."
