Adolf Hitler

History provides a bit of assurance between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler

Published on March 3, 2017 in 2017 by Martin Dyckman

When current events became too depressing, I turned to history for possible reassurance. It came from what might seem an unlikely source, Volker Ullrich’s excellent 2016 biography, “Hitler Ascent 1889-1939” published in translation by Alfred A. Knopf. There are sound reasons to hope that what happened there won’t happen here, as even though it threatens to. There are of course many similarities between the Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump phenomena, starting with the basic facts that neither new ruler had…

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Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell — why are you enabling Donald Trump?

Published on January 31, 2017 in 2017/Top Headlines by Martin Dyckman

An open letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: Gentlemen: It was wisdom rather than whim that guided the founders of our nation in separating the powers of government with a system of checks and balances. As James Madison remarked in The Federalist 47, “the accumulation of all powers … in the same hands, whether of one, a few or many … may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” Their faith in the…

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Martin Dyckman: Cowards who stand aside

Published on October 13, 2016 in 2017/Top Headlines by Martin Dyckman

“Once to every man and nation “Comes the moment to decide “In the strife of truth with falsehood “For the Good or Evil side ….. “Then it is the brave man chooses, “While the coward stands aside” American poet James Russell Lowell wrote those words in 1844 during the intensifying crisis over slavery. They speak to us again. Donald Trump is a uniquely evil candidate for president. It is indeed a moment to decide. Evil? I don’t wield that adjective…

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Donald Trump’s America on trial in modern day ‘Judgment at Nuremberg’

Published on August 15, 2016 in 2017/Top Headlines by Martin Dyckman

Above all, there was fear: fear of today, fear of tomorrow … fear of our neighbors, and fear of ourselves … Only when you understand that, can you understand what Hitler meant to us: “Lift your heads. Be proud to be German. There are devils among us: Communists, liberals, Jews, Gypsies. Once these devils will be destroyed, your misery will be destroyed.” Those words are from the 1961 film Judgment at Nuremberg. They address an eternal question: Why do good…

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Rio Games an acid test for Olympics’ appeal in a grim world

Published on August 5, 2016 in Apolitical/Top Headlines by Associated Press

Even if only for two weeks, can “Faster-Higher-Stronger” overpower deadlier, scarier and bloodier? Can the Olympic Games still offer the world momentary levity, distract from terror, shootings, poverty and other worries in globally grim times? If not, what use is the multibillion-dollar celebration of youthful endeavor and mostly niche sports? Through no fault of their own, the athletes who will march in massed, joyful ranks behind their nations’ flags in Friday night’s opening ceremony for the first Olympic Games in…

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Martin Dyckman: A European perspective on Donald Trump

Published on June 6, 2016 in 2017/Top Headlines by Martin Dyckman

“Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad Company.”– George Washington‘s 56th rule of civility and decent behavior. A recent cruise in the Baltic Sea took us to eight northern European nations where we were impressed yet again with how much alike all the world’s people are. But there is a dark side to that. In 1932, amidst a grave worldwide depression, Americans elected President Franklin…

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Julie Delegal: Jeb Bush — What are you going to do about Donald Trump?

Published on June 2, 2016 in 2017/Top Headlines by Guest Author

Dear former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, At one time, while you were still running for President, you were asked an interesting question: “If you could go back in time, and ‘take out’ Hitler, would you?” You answered, as most of us would, with a resounding “yes.” It’s 2016, and I’ll spare you any comparisons between the Republican nominee for President, Donald Trump, and Adolf Hitler. I won’t conflate Trump’s brand of authoritarianism with National Socialism (Nazism), fascism, or any other…

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