The state of Florida has banned textbooks that focus on the Holocaust under Governor Ron Desantis’s censorship laws that politicize and corrupt the teaching of history in Florida. All of this is a type of sick performance theater — a grotesque kabuki. Ron DeSantis has made an assessment that the fastest way to climb the greasy pole all the way to the top and reach the MAGA throne room is by engaging in poisonous theatrics that have come to include censorship of books about the Holocaust.
I have never understood the Holocaust. I have read, watched, listened and deep inside, never understood. It is not because I am dumb or incapable of learning, it is, I think, that I don’t understand evil. How it captures the human heart and turns them into monsters. I don’t understand how and why DeSantis is getting away with what he is doing. Do we not have laws against his depraved actions? I am grouping this weird Christian thinking within this. It feels to me to be just as evil. This money raised for the “Good Samaritan” that murdered a man, seems like a point of no return. Perhaps, even at my age I am naive. I have traveled a great deal of the world, met and talked with people from around the world, lived next door to immigrants and I just don’t get any of this this.
I know, power, control, money. But my question is what the F is wrong with people?
May 16, 2023·edited May 16, 2023Liked by Steve Schmidt
Ron DeSantis, in his cynical opportunism and weaponization of his and others' vile prejudices and hatreds, embodies what Hannah Arendt called "the Banality of Evil". Too stupid to have an original idea of his own, he feasts on the ignorance of his voters to repeat what my mother, who grew up under Nazi Germany, called "those grotesque lies".
My mom made me watch "Judgement at Nuremberg" at 15 so that I would know the truth - it was my first time seeing that footage from Bergen-Belsen. I ended up as an international lawyer specializing in atrocity crimes, after Srebrenica and Rwanda. Where will Ron DeSantis end up, I wonder? My guess is in disgrace, but not soon enough.
I am a native Floridian and live with DeSantis’s foolishness every day. He and his minions (Republicans Legislators) not only banned books about the Holocaust, but books about the history of most ethnic and racial groups, books that shared stories about the lives of many successful, productive and contributing immigrants who have done and are doing wonderful work in America.
Everyday, he signs a bill to “ban” a new “WOKE” idea that he dreamed up to make life uncomfortable for people, schools and cooperations.
He is turning Florida into his authoritarian state. And, the majority of the people seem to believe he is doing a great job!!
I was recently in Paris and visited the memorial for the deported. I had dinner with my husband’s cousin. An 86 year-old who, with his family of 6, hid for 4 years from the Nazis during the occupation of Paris. I learned the names of my children’s great aunts, uncles, and cousins were on the walls of that haunting memorial on the Seine. This history isn’t history. It’s right now. It’s in my home. What my fellow Americans are allowing craven politicians to do to *my* country, to my husband’s country, to my children’s country in the name of power and for the cause of hatred is a heartbreak I cannot describe and a betrayal I will never forgive.
Powerful words, both, written and quoted. Words that have been called hyperbole by both the conductors orchestrating the chaos unfolding around us everyday and by their faithful followers. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, and for many even family members. They are human beings unbridled from shame or fear of reprisal as they are emboldened by the power thirsty minority that work the bellows of the furnace with which they aim to burn our constitution, our democracy, and ultimately the agency of those they label the “other”. Never Forget, and never ever think it can’t happen here, when “they”’ come for you, which they will, it won’t be some obscure “they” it will be your neighbors. Godspeed America.
Nazi's are still with us after all these years. This group in the photo must like their uniforms, carry handmade shilds but apparently no weapons. The main ingredient for me though is their face masks. Only cowards wear masks. What are they afraid of? Oh, being identified as a Nazi.
The scariest part--it’s spreading. GOP is targeting universities over DEI in a number of states and it is growing. This is the top of the food chain in the states; watch out for the “concerned mothers” groups at the local level--with Michael Flynn’s imprimatur--protesting books and demanding school boards remove/censor books and teachers and that communities censor libraries. It’s a pincer move. We all must get involved and fight back.
May 16, 2023·edited May 16, 2023Liked by Steve Schmidt
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Those who purposefully neglect to teach history, in this case the Holocaust, are planning to reenact it. How could a country (yes, and recognizing Germany as we know it did not come into existence until the mid-19th C with Bismark) that produce profound thinkers, theologians, scientists, musicians also create the Holocaust? Underlying cultural norms that allowed Jews to be persecuted. The difference under Nazi Germany was the breadth, and systematically efficient persecution process. Remember, it was the final, not the first, solution.
I strongly believe this systematic removal of history, literature, science (think of the FL Surgeon General falsifying COVID data), is DeSantis and his crowd following the well-worn NAZI path. The question is, who will stop them. My other question is, who is funding the DeSantis NAZI crowd? This doesn't come without some fiscal cost. What in the world is the 6th NYC borough (as in Miami) doing about this? They're not taking action?
We have the chance now. Do not do what the German's thought and it will all go away. Without direct action on our part, it could become the blueprint for a US-version of NAZI Germany.
It is hard to wrap one’s mind around the gruesome horror of the Nazi holocaust let alone trying to make sense of it all. That is even more true for those of us that formally studied this period of twentieth century history and are now bearing witness to a revival of the virulent antisemitism, racism, bigotry, intolerance and totalitarianism that gave rise to institutionalized mass murder on an unimaginable scale.
Thank you Steve for another well written succinct essay. It gives me no pleasure to read your words this morning, but the message is clear, the red lights flashing, the sirens and horns blowing. As such, I have shared today's essay and said, 'if you read one thing today make it this.' I may not always agree with you, but I'll never visit you wielding a baseball bat. Your love of country is obvious and unquestioned. I wish you long life to continue the struggle.
“This is not fair!” The young man at the hotel’s registration desk, “I’m sorry miss, but she can’t stay here. She was a 14-year old Black girl, along with men in business suits, and me, the only other female on a flight from Tallahassee. We hit turbulence caused by a massive snow and ice event, rare in the deep south. The airline billeted us in a small town hotel in Alabama. I refused to check in unless the younger Black girl ahead of me would be allowed to get a room. I created such a fuss that no one else in line could get by. I continued to argue with the nervous clerk - who, at that time, was governed by Jim Crow laws and in the “right.” Finally, the elderly porter came to me and quietly said, “It will be okay. I found a home for her to stay in.” Next morning, nothing was moving due to the deep snow - except the railroad. Mr. Porter came to me, “I have a private (Black) taxi for you.” All ended better than it began. One person, even an 18-year-old can make a small difference.
Hide those faces, boys and girls(well mostly boys!). March in step. I recently read someone calling MAGA members uneducated. If one believes that they are missing the other hidden faces-the very educated, wealthy supporters who are behind this movement.
Over the years I have questioned how anyone whose ancestors suffered could choose to ignore that and turn an evil, hateful eye towards another group. I say this as an Irish American Catholic who has learned the history of my ancestors in this country. What goes around, comes around. And maybe sooner than you think. Do people think someone else will save them?
I will copy and cherish these words by Elie Wiesel.
I have never understood the Holocaust. I have read, watched, listened and deep inside, never understood. It is not because I am dumb or incapable of learning, it is, I think, that I don’t understand evil. How it captures the human heart and turns them into monsters. I don’t understand how and why DeSantis is getting away with what he is doing. Do we not have laws against his depraved actions? I am grouping this weird Christian thinking within this. It feels to me to be just as evil. This money raised for the “Good Samaritan” that murdered a man, seems like a point of no return. Perhaps, even at my age I am naive. I have traveled a great deal of the world, met and talked with people from around the world, lived next door to immigrants and I just don’t get any of this this.
I know, power, control, money. But my question is what the F is wrong with people?
Ron DeSantis, in his cynical opportunism and weaponization of his and others' vile prejudices and hatreds, embodies what Hannah Arendt called "the Banality of Evil". Too stupid to have an original idea of his own, he feasts on the ignorance of his voters to repeat what my mother, who grew up under Nazi Germany, called "those grotesque lies".
My mom made me watch "Judgement at Nuremberg" at 15 so that I would know the truth - it was my first time seeing that footage from Bergen-Belsen. I ended up as an international lawyer specializing in atrocity crimes, after Srebrenica and Rwanda. Where will Ron DeSantis end up, I wonder? My guess is in disgrace, but not soon enough.
I am a native Floridian and live with DeSantis’s foolishness every day. He and his minions (Republicans Legislators) not only banned books about the Holocaust, but books about the history of most ethnic and racial groups, books that shared stories about the lives of many successful, productive and contributing immigrants who have done and are doing wonderful work in America.
Everyday, he signs a bill to “ban” a new “WOKE” idea that he dreamed up to make life uncomfortable for people, schools and cooperations.
He is turning Florida into his authoritarian state. And, the majority of the people seem to believe he is doing a great job!!
So disgusting!!!!!!
I was recently in Paris and visited the memorial for the deported. I had dinner with my husband’s cousin. An 86 year-old who, with his family of 6, hid for 4 years from the Nazis during the occupation of Paris. I learned the names of my children’s great aunts, uncles, and cousins were on the walls of that haunting memorial on the Seine. This history isn’t history. It’s right now. It’s in my home. What my fellow Americans are allowing craven politicians to do to *my* country, to my husband’s country, to my children’s country in the name of power and for the cause of hatred is a heartbreak I cannot describe and a betrayal I will never forgive.
Powerful words, both, written and quoted. Words that have been called hyperbole by both the conductors orchestrating the chaos unfolding around us everyday and by their faithful followers. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, and for many even family members. They are human beings unbridled from shame or fear of reprisal as they are emboldened by the power thirsty minority that work the bellows of the furnace with which they aim to burn our constitution, our democracy, and ultimately the agency of those they label the “other”. Never Forget, and never ever think it can’t happen here, when “they”’ come for you, which they will, it won’t be some obscure “they” it will be your neighbors. Godspeed America.
Nazi's are still with us after all these years. This group in the photo must like their uniforms, carry handmade shilds but apparently no weapons. The main ingredient for me though is their face masks. Only cowards wear masks. What are they afraid of? Oh, being identified as a Nazi.
Florida is banning Holocaust books because................... Floridians aren't ignorant enough yet?
The scariest part--it’s spreading. GOP is targeting universities over DEI in a number of states and it is growing. This is the top of the food chain in the states; watch out for the “concerned mothers” groups at the local level--with Michael Flynn’s imprimatur--protesting books and demanding school boards remove/censor books and teachers and that communities censor libraries. It’s a pincer move. We all must get involved and fight back.
My late mother, a Nazi refugee, would have wept when she read about this. Fascism 101. Here we go..............
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Those who purposefully neglect to teach history, in this case the Holocaust, are planning to reenact it. How could a country (yes, and recognizing Germany as we know it did not come into existence until the mid-19th C with Bismark) that produce profound thinkers, theologians, scientists, musicians also create the Holocaust? Underlying cultural norms that allowed Jews to be persecuted. The difference under Nazi Germany was the breadth, and systematically efficient persecution process. Remember, it was the final, not the first, solution.
I strongly believe this systematic removal of history, literature, science (think of the FL Surgeon General falsifying COVID data), is DeSantis and his crowd following the well-worn NAZI path. The question is, who will stop them. My other question is, who is funding the DeSantis NAZI crowd? This doesn't come without some fiscal cost. What in the world is the 6th NYC borough (as in Miami) doing about this? They're not taking action?
We have the chance now. Do not do what the German's thought and it will all go away. Without direct action on our part, it could become the blueprint for a US-version of NAZI Germany.
It is hard to wrap one’s mind around the gruesome horror of the Nazi holocaust let alone trying to make sense of it all. That is even more true for those of us that formally studied this period of twentieth century history and are now bearing witness to a revival of the virulent antisemitism, racism, bigotry, intolerance and totalitarianism that gave rise to institutionalized mass murder on an unimaginable scale.
Beware of the monsters next door who may be fostering this hatefulness and ignorance and will become the next generation of willing executioners.
Thank you Steve for another well written succinct essay. It gives me no pleasure to read your words this morning, but the message is clear, the red lights flashing, the sirens and horns blowing. As such, I have shared today's essay and said, 'if you read one thing today make it this.' I may not always agree with you, but I'll never visit you wielding a baseball bat. Your love of country is obvious and unquestioned. I wish you long life to continue the struggle.
“This is not fair!” The young man at the hotel’s registration desk, “I’m sorry miss, but she can’t stay here. She was a 14-year old Black girl, along with men in business suits, and me, the only other female on a flight from Tallahassee. We hit turbulence caused by a massive snow and ice event, rare in the deep south. The airline billeted us in a small town hotel in Alabama. I refused to check in unless the younger Black girl ahead of me would be allowed to get a room. I created such a fuss that no one else in line could get by. I continued to argue with the nervous clerk - who, at that time, was governed by Jim Crow laws and in the “right.” Finally, the elderly porter came to me and quietly said, “It will be okay. I found a home for her to stay in.” Next morning, nothing was moving due to the deep snow - except the railroad. Mr. Porter came to me, “I have a private (Black) taxi for you.” All ended better than it began. One person, even an 18-year-old can make a small difference.
Hide those faces, boys and girls(well mostly boys!). March in step. I recently read someone calling MAGA members uneducated. If one believes that they are missing the other hidden faces-the very educated, wealthy supporters who are behind this movement.
Over the years I have questioned how anyone whose ancestors suffered could choose to ignore that and turn an evil, hateful eye towards another group. I say this as an Irish American Catholic who has learned the history of my ancestors in this country. What goes around, comes around. And maybe sooner than you think. Do people think someone else will save them?
I will copy and cherish these words by Elie Wiesel.
Thx Steve. Send this to DeSantis. Can he read? He should read this. Someone should read it to him.