Invoking Hitler (originally posted 10/29/2010)

(Some blogs I write take a while to reach my MySpace profile, either because I do not think what flowed from my pen was all that good, or a nagging feeling that I left an important point out. The following, inspired by a political flier that hit my mailbox, travelled from my mind to "the presses" almost instantly. Funnily enough, most of my blogs that were the most well-received were those that were written the fastest. The absolute idiocy of what inspired this one made spontaneity quite achievable.)


Glen Urquhart is the Republican candidate for Congress in Delaware this November, a candidate with appeal to the baser elements of society, that outraged "We Want Our Country Back!" demographic who are no threat to answer any questions on Jeopardy! that are not on the top row. Simple solutions for simple problems for simple folk who believe that agreeing with (insert conservative commentator here) represents independent thought.


During an appearance earlier this year (you can see this on YouTube), Urquhart rhetorically asked his Republican audience, "Where does the term 'Separation of Church and State' come from?"


In response, someone in the audience (obviously a plant from the Democratic party side) tried to say, "Jefferson."


Urquhart responded, "Actually, that was not in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists..."


All in the crowd besides the plant thought to themselves, "Who are the Danbury Baptists?"


Urquhart continued, "...No, the exact phrase 'Separation of Church and State' came out of Adolf Hitler's mouth."


The crowd responded with stunned silence. The odds of anyone in the audience questioning this is not good. The odds of anyone in the audience conducting rudimentary research online afterwards to validate the veracity of this claim are even slimmer.


Urquhart puts an exclamation point on his line-of-thought: "So, the next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of Church and State, ask them why they're Nazis." (The odds of audience members repeating this to liberal acquaintances are quite good.)


Now, I could attempt to discuss exactly what Jefferson said and meant about "a wall of separation between Church & State," or analyze the intent of the Founding Fathers in formulating the 1st Amendment. Or, I could allude to the many positive allusions to the Judeo-Christian God Hitler makes in Mein Kampf and the exact role Hitler viewed religion as having. However, it would be much more fun to fill in the blanks:


"What 20th century leader persecuted homosexuals?...The answer is Adolf Hitler. So, the next time your conservative friends state homosexuals do not deserve the same rights as others, or AIDS is a just retribution from the Almighty God, ask them why they're Nazis."


Or...


"What 20th century leader expanded their military more prolifically than anyone?...The answer is Adolf Hitler. So, the next time your conservative friends say they favor military spending over spending on health care or education, ask them why they're Nazis."


Yes, these alternate scenarios are a bit of a stretch (as was Urquhart's), and conservatives can fill in the blanks as well to attack liberals on subjects as diverse as abortion, vegetarianism and love of animals, or supporting the arts. Libertarians could also point to Hitler, who banned smoking, as a justification to puff away.


The point is that positions are good or evil based only on their own merits, not on the people who espouse them, and comparing any U.S. politician, left- or right-winger, to Hitler highlights a lack of sophistication and depth.


(Postscript: During my most recent Toastmasters meeting, I gave a last-minute speech on this topic and the evaluator of my effort, a very smart man and captivating speaker named Michael Waters, jokingly told our club of a facetious scenario where the genesis of my speech came from an incident when he said "Hello!", I waved back with my right arm extended out (which he demonstrated), and he said, "Ah, Hitler." Cute. Afterwards, in private, I told him I'm glad my speech was not about Pee Wee Herman.)