Everyone condemns the Germans for allowing Nazism to take hold and lead into what was eventually a World War. But why do Americans think they are above the same thing happening to them?
Flagarently invading other nations AGAINST the will of the United Nations. Ignoring the Geneva Convention. Stifling of civil liberties (under the guise that we are under 'Terrorist threat', despite the fact there has not been a terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11)
Does this all sound familiar?
Why do people of today comdemn those of the past as though thier nation and people are so much better, yet quite happily make the same mistakes?
2007-02-25 21:22:48 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
History does repeat - it's the slight variations that fool us into thinking it's a different situation.
Most imperialistic societies slide into evil, conjuring reasons to do so. It is too stark if done overnight.
Americans are not above the same actions as the German public was with Hitler.
Plus when the time comes - they are arrogant and dense enough to continuously profess humanitarian measures while condemning to death every person who looks Middle Eastern
2007-02-25 21:34:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Today's wars are different than back in the 30's and 40's leading up to WWII. Today, fighting is more constant in the world than back in those days. There are 41 major conflicts worldwide now. There are fewer outright dictatorships now. Most of the conflicts are civil wars due to sectarian violence, which have led to ethnic cleansing campaigns in Bosnia. Most of the conflicts are religious and culturally based. Now, for instance in Iraq, we really don't know who the enemy is unless someone fires back at our troops or plants a roadside bomb or commits a suicide bombing. Who do we shoot? We can't launch affective offensive attacks until after the fact. (So it seems). Our main threat from terrorism is overseas, where we have military and economic holdings worldwide. The world is relatively in better economic condition compared to the 30's & 40's. The US has relied on faulty intelligence reports and seems kind of paranoid since 9-11. Things are much more dangerous now, in my opinion, because of the strength of weapondry, plus more nations have nuclear weapons. The stakes are higher now. A regional war in the Middle East is a very real possibility. In that case, things will definitely spiral out of control worldwide.
In WWII, the days that precluded it was due to poor economic conditions from a worldwide depression. Dictatorships occured because of mass appeals to nationalitic causes, unfair measures due to the Treaty of Versailles which left some countries defenseless, and because of promises of economic progress. Racial and ethnic groups were blamed for the economic depression, mostly in Europe, and suffered with their lives, as we all know. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and Tojo took advantage to strengthen their controls and broaden their empires because FDR and the US was basically neutral. We only got involved after Pearl Harbor, and the whole country was unified behind a great, wartime president.
There's a fine line between being diplomatic with nations you know wish to see you destroyed or your allies & outright war. We were pushed into it by Pearl Harbor. The enemies were well-known & didn't hide in the shadows of caves. Now, things are murky again. Being pro-active in our defense this time may end up in another World War where nuclear power may be used to start the war, not necessarily end it (as in WWII). That's the difference.
2007-02-26 05:53:16 · answer #2 · answered by gone 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah man! I never thought of it like that it all so clear now! Are you serious, come on the only thing that the Iraq war and world war 2 have in common is just that there both wars ya know where the good guys and the bad guys fight and kill each other. I can not get over the parallel your trying to draw between the two by comparing Bush to Hitler. Put out the joint and don't skip your 9th grade history class today and maybe you can try comparing the murderous ex Dictator of Iraq to the murderous ex Dictator of Germany instead of the twice elected President of a free nation. This country isn't perfect but the fact that you think we have anything in common with Nazi Germany ether says your to young to know any thing or that you are completely out of touch with reality, so float on space man.
2007-02-26 06:28:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
the difference is Bush only has one more year in office, so no one is afraid of him becoming a dictator marching his army to take over the world.... i don't know if anyone has told him that... but i think the rest of the worlds governments are sitting back and waiting for our next election! then they will decide what to think about our war and current foreign policy since they saw that the last guy didn't listen!
2007-02-26 05:28:37 · answer #4 · answered by ms.jackson... 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
a significant difference between the years prior to ww2 and th current security situaton is that in ww2 armed conflict was building between states and was conducted in an internationally recognized morally binding manner for vital national interests
today we see criminals, thugs, religious fanatics and plain mercenries conducting murder and senseless terror with no vital interests but those perverted aims of a small minority that repesent thwe worst in human behavior
2007-02-26 05:32:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anthony & Norma J 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
One big difference is nuclear weapons. Imagine Hitler with nukes and try to make a comparison based on that.
2007-02-26 07:58:02 · answer #6 · answered by Land Warrior 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think I'm glad Bush will be out of office in a year.
2007-02-26 05:31:07 · answer #7 · answered by justagirl 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Bush is a lot dumber than Hitler.
2007-02-26 06:35:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
hitler was more honest with his people than Bush... and more popular... saddly enough...
he didn't make up rumors of WMD to invade poland, he just said it was part of the motherland...
Bush won't be around long enough to start anything...
2007-02-26 05:31:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
I think the Germans and Mid-East are working together. There's a connection.
2007-02-26 05:28:41 · answer #10 · answered by Scorpius59 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋