Those that know their history acknowledge that Adolf Hitler did not seize power in a coup, though he did try it once, but was appointed to chancellor after a democratic election of his Nazi party.

That election changed history and resulted in millions of lives lost and generations of suffering and worldwide division. The Nazi party ran on a promise to make Germany great again. They pointed to foreigners, Jews and the media that was not favorable to them as “vermin that is tearing Germany down.”

The love of Hitler and the Nazi party turned to hatred by the end of World War II, and the exposure of the death camps where men, women and children were murdered.

Generations of Germans did not erect statues of their WWII soldiers. No, they lived in shame and embarrassment for the decisions their parents and grandparents made. They rose up to become a great democracy in the world, but the legacy of the generation that gave up democracy because of their fears fed by a power hungry dictator became the forgotten generation.

America should not be so naive that our democracy cannot meet the same fate as Germany did in 1933. We once thought that there’s no way terrorists can take down the World Trade Center, damage our Pentagon and destroy our Capitol (if not for brave Americans on Sept. 11, 2001). The apathy and arrogance of our nation dropped our guard.

Let’s not be the forgotten generation in America! The parents and grandparents who through their fears and apathy, allowed our nation to slip into authoritarian rule.

 

Tom Turner

Augusta

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