We've now watched Episode one and half of Episode 2 of the Ken Burns series on

[NewHendoLib]

America's actions (or lack thereof) during the Holocaust.

We really can't go any faster than that - it is devastating - and on so many levels.

I think the worst part is that it reveals how awful - as in racist, xenophobic, head in the sand protectionist/isolationist, and hypocritical - people can be, in particular so many Americans and American politicians back at that time.

And even worse - how what we are seeing today is being clearly replayed, though of course with some differences, today - right there, in American politics, with the Orange one and his tour of lies and bizarre hero worship. Hitler created a cult of adoration. The orange one has a cult of adoration - and the intent is to destroy our democracy - because...racism and xenophobia.

History is repeating itself in many ways - in many times in history, humans seem unable to control authoritarian monsters. This appears to be another time - observing what Putin is doing, and what orange asshole is trying to do.

We watch history - we MUST read and watch history - to learn - to LEARN - from it and do things differently and better. For much of my life, I've doubted human being's ability to actually learn and change. I fear it is there again - and this is without going into the clear impacts of climate change and seeming inability to do meaningful change.

[SoCalDavidS]

1. It Is Truly Depressing

To realize that many humans, especially Americans, are uncaring Pieces Of Excrement.

The way people here reacted to the pandemic told me all I needed to know to confirm that. And it's forever soured me on this country.

The sad reality is, we've always been that way.

[Joinfortmill]

2. I finished it yesterday. A master work.

[Johnny2X2X]

3. I've been studying this stuff my whole life

And within the first half hour I have had an epiphany. Wow. Just very effective telling of it history.

[summer_in_TX]

4. Video of the response to the 1954 Supreme Court decision

desegregating the Little Rock schools showed the ugly hatred of racist white people with their vitriol spewing out, and then the same ugliness among those who were crazed with hatred when Ruby Bridges integrated an all-white school in New Orleans. They're the heirs of those Americans who supported the Nazi's persecution of Jews and Gypsies and the ancestors of today's white supremacists, QAnon conspiracy theorists, and Trump cultists.

[agingdem]

5. My parents were Holocaust survivors ... Auschwitz

my mother was the lone survivor of her family of six..my father and his three brothers survived but his parents and two sisters did not...

"The past is never dead. It's not even past"..William Faulkner

[Ron Green]

6. This country is farther from what it could have been

than any nation I can think of.

[PurgedVoter]

7. The great generation didn't start out as a great generation

Racism had a strong call to the common stupidity of man. Until the real enemy is exposed, America often chews at itself. We have swept the truth away for too long. On talk shows know evil, uncooperative, mean snakes have been given equal or more time when informed minds that have done their research try to inform us.

We have let talking heads call the philosophy and signs of fascism decency. We have let them call compassion evil. Do they explain what "woke" means? Never. They just go on about it and call "empathy" evil.

This has gone on as long as I have lived. The truth is that the media is, in a large part, fascist owned. Remember the basics of fascism. For the common man you find the causes you can manipulate them with. At the top you reinforce the combination of wealth and industry with power. The goal of fascism is to crush freedom, responsible government and compassionate leadership. The goal of fascism is control of the masses, a government responsive to the few, and leadership ready to ignore the plight of the common man.

The great generation was flawed but they rose to the call and fought back fascism. Our own fascists hid out, waited and taught another generation to hate. That generation grew up with divisive jokes told after looking around to be sure that none of the victims of those jokes were nearby. Thus the division and hatred was maintained so ignorant fascism could again raise it's head on another day.

[LeftInTX]

9. Actually they really were not against fascism. Many could care less.

No one wanted to take in Jewish refugees.
Anne Frank's father could not get in.
Millions tried, but were denied Visas.
Polling showed that 70% were against letting in Jewish refugees.


We only fought Hitler because he declared war on the US.

[LeftInTX]

8. That's why I put up a stink everytime someone posts a meme that WWII troops were Antifa

They were not.

We only entered the European theater because Germany declared war on the US.

[no_hypocrisy]

10. It's more than the Holocaust vs. America.

It's systematic antisemitism.

Examples:
1. My parents bought a house/property with a restrictive covenant in 1955. No Jews, no non-whites were allowed to purchase this parcel. They were allowed on the property if they were "employees" (read, maids) and left before sundown. My parents had to go to court in the Sixties to remove the RC.

2. Outright bigotry. I couldn't believe the premise of Gentlemen's Agreement with Gregory Peck. Guests being turned away only because they were Jewish. But it was true. (Why did you think that Kellerman's in Dirty Dancing existed? Antisemitism.)

3. As a child, going out on the playground and being called a "Dirty Jew" before the Sixties.

And though it pains me to publicize this, the Roosevelts were creatures of their culture. They weren't eager to help the Jews internationally or domestically.

[NewHendoLib]

11. Thank you all for your thoughtful comments to my OP