I Don't Speak German, But I'd Like Your Input

Hello,

I'm sorry I don't speak German. I am an American and I was hoping to get some insight from some native Germans and this is the first place I was directed to speak with you. I'm sure you are aware of the great divide in our country right now between those who support Donald Trump and those who do not. I myself have unfriended several people on Facebook, including some of my own family members, for supporting him. There are those who support my decision, but there are also plenty of people who don't necessarily support Trump but who think I am taking too extreme an action in stepping away from those who do support him. I am not the type of person who would typically take such drastic action and I have always been someone who could listen to the other side of an argument and respect a person even if their opinion differs from my own. But something has awoken inside me this year and I no longer think that's the right thing to do. It hurts me to cut people out of my life, but I don't think i could sleep with myself at night if I turned the other cheek. Many people have likened Trump's presidential campaign and rise to power to Hitler's, and that scares me to no end. I have always had a hard time understanding how it got to the point that it did, but I think I do now, after seeing what has happened in this country this year.

My question to you is, do you think I'm overreacting? Do you think there is a parallel here? What do you and your friends and family have to say about what's going on over here, if you talk about it at all?

Thank you in advance for your response,
Courtney

 

This isn't a thread about languages, so I think you've posted it in the wrong place. Germans may have particular opinions about whether there are parallels to AH, but those opinions wouldn't necessarily be any more insightful than anyone else's.

There are parallels in the US to Germany in the 1930's, but that has mostly to do with the polarization of society. People gravitated to the fascists, because the choice was between them and the communists.

In the US today, the left has unfortunately deliberately declared "polarization is good!", and "you have to polarize to mobilize!", echoing the radical methodology of Saul Alinsky.

It looks like trying to achieve one's political goals through extreme methods comes with a certain set of risks, and instead of doubling-down, the left would be wise to reconsider its approach, imho.

If you would like to make the world a better place, you'd be better off trying to build bridges than trying to burn them.

 

I'm not German, well not really. I'm about a quarter German, and I took German in college for my foreign language requirement. But I don't know what to say. All I can tell you is I had to look inside myself to find out where to stand about all this and I have to conclude that I don't have all the answers. I just think it's time for people to really be moralistic about it all. You have to address the uncertainties inside yourself in order to rise above and truly see what is really important. If for you that means comparing the current administration with some Nazi ideology, I'd have to say that at least you are aware there's an issue there. At least you're trying!

 

yes