Belphegor - 02-01-2006 - Updated Tue/Thu/Sat

Catching up

I am so catching up. Not there yet. But getting there.

Got into a long discussion as to why it's probably not good to compare the current regime in America to the Nazis. There were good arguments for all sides, and I think the big beef that a lot of people who, when confronted with the long list of similarities, maintain that it's a poor comparison have is that the image of the Nazis is well known. It's a freaking icon of hate and militaristic evil. It's the great cartoonish supervillain of our memorable public history. And it's used EVERYWHERE.

You can call the Bush administration Fascists and make a good case of it. You can say they are centralizing power and attempting to solidify a grip over a militaristic superpower. You can say they are but a few handshakes and justifications shy of genocide. But don't call them Nazis. It lacks originality.

I try not to call them Nazis. It's an easy metaphor to make, a hard one to sell. But in terms of similes, rock out with the "like the Nazis"s.

EDIT: For the record, my friend Tyler was arguing against the Nazi comparison. I like hearing a well reasoned argument, especially when it's about a position a lot of people adopt reflexively.