in History, Literature | August 22nd, 2024
It’s an informative yet short read, with a link to the full review at the end of this article. Points are well made within this one.
George Orwell Reviews Mein Kampf: “He Envisages a Horrible Brainless Empire” (1940)
Scottie's Playtime 
Orwell sums up the changing of moods running through Britain in the mid 1930s and into 1940. There was a great deal of finger pointing and folk re-inventing themselves.
The hard left meanwhile were condemning the war as one of Capitalism. They would loyally change their tune when Germany invaded the USSR and would start to demand a suicidal assault on the French coast.
Ironically both Right and Left in the UK mimicked the regime in 1984 in which the portrayal of enemies and allies changed regularly. Orwell by the 1940s, being no friend of either side, would put all this into print in Nineteen Eighty Four.
Meanwhile in the ‘Some Things Never Change’ department. In the past decade Right-Wing US politicians and commentators are speaking admirably of Hitler and Putin in terms that would have had them investigated and then arrested (if not lynched first) back in WWII and The Cold War era respectively. The things folk will say to squeeze into their narrow minds.
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Exactly! I read “Mein Kampf” right after I graduated high school, because I wondered what could cause a person to go the way Hitler went, and cause the things I’d seen in class in Army-confiscated film strips from Birkenwald, I think. I still didn’t get it afterward, but whew! Such self pity (especially in the face of what I already knew when I read it!) Though I shouldn’t judge, I suppose; I have pity parties, too. But I don’t involve other humans. Ah, well.
I was fascinated to read this article, because I’m in the midst of re-reading “1984”, on the suggestion of I can’t recall who, but they said since 1984 is being flung back and forth by both sides, we ought to know what we’re saying. It’s taking me longer to read this time; some days too many things happen that correlate. But I have trouble seeing that it’s a both sides thing, I don’t see our side doing it (though I have seen self-described “lefties” who are actually more conservative as it’s defined these days, throw it at people who are pretty transparent, really, so I guess there’s that.)
It’s a funny world, sometimes. Thanks, Roger!
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In that whole industry of books on Hitler, Ali, there is a sub-genre on speculations as to what made him who he was. Yes he was very driven, but he could not have persuaded the majority of a nation to following him without there being a basic, bitter, frenetic need amongst a large section of the population wanting to. At this point I’ll stop lest I subject you to very long opinions about:
1. The rise of Nationalism in Europe in the post-Napoleonic era.
and
2. The unwillingness of Germany to accept it was defeated militarily at the end of WWI and not by some traitorous cabal (or go on about the institutional antisemitism in Europe over a thousand years).
Talking about Orwell’s Book Nineteen Eighty-Four. It’s left such a mark on the social consciousness that everyone who wants to insult the other side uses it.
There are two common opinions over here.
1. That it was Orwell’s warning about where Britain could do, in the light of events of WWII and post-WWII austerity. One addition is he titled the book “Nineteen Eighty-Four” because he completed it in 1948 when Britain as was most of Europe in a grim state.
2. The other is he had become very disillusioned with the UK Left and Communism in general after his experiences in Spain during the Civil War there.
I can accept both of those, but would add a rider. “Nineteen Eighty Four” is all about Humanity taking things to extremes. It’s got a lineage that goes way back, be it in Empires, City States, Nations, Religions, Political Movements, Communities. One group gains an iron control. Things is it never lasts. Take the book and fast forward to 2084 and it would be a different world; can’t say it would be Sunshine and Lollipops, but those monoliths would never hold up.
To conclude, you will notice that The Maga crew and their allies in the Republican Right embrace the way they are trying to re-write history and supress Reality. Just one example. China is another one, from Cultural Revolution to Rampant Riches in Forty Years.
It is indeed a funny world Ali. Tragi-comedy that is.
Take Care.
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Indeed. sigh
And you and yours take care, as well, Roger! Thank you.
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Hi. I find the parallels and comparisons of Hitler to tRump very scary. Both are grievance driven and want power to hurt their enemies and enrich themselves. Both have thin skin and no anger control. Both are cult leader figures, who’s followers will do anything for them including denying reality in favor of the dear leader’s version of events. Hugs. Scottie
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Yes, and worse, the Don is far more ignorant than Hitler was, but the power the Don sees that Hitler had so attracts the Don! He’s all about power and appearance, for sure. Everything else is collateral damage.
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Hello Ali. Yes tRump is much dumber, but the problem is he is so easy to use. Everyone says all you need to do is flatter him and he is in love with you. The people wanting to take over the country and make it a religious theocracy and right wing republican forever haven. That is what happened his first and hopefully only term. Hugs. Scottie
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