A Frightening Trend in Thought

 

Article Six of the United States Constitution  forbids a religious test as a requirement for holding a governmental position.

Adolf Hitler blamed for Germany's problems on Jews, Communists, Freemasons, Socialists, Liberals, Pacifists, Gays, Czechs, anyone who was believed to not be Aryan.

Throughout history there are those who have risen to power by blaming societal problems on others. They create what has become known as "scapegoats." When we here rhetoric claiming that Muslims, Mexicans, Syrians, those from South America or the Middle East are responsible for our ills, beware. Remember Senator McCarthy and the "Red Scare?"

Unthinking masses are prone to accept the premise that they are not the cause problems. It lets them off the hook, relieves them from responsibility, and places blame squarely on the shoulder of "them." The them being those who think, look, dress and talk differently. This is dangerous and frightening thinking. It gives rise to dictators, atrocities, genocide, and the loss of freedom.

When election time comes around, a clear message needs to be sent to the hate mongers that No, this is not the way we think. No, we will not fall prey to hate. No, we will not blame others as we are all responsible for our actions, our successes and our failures. No, we will not build ourselves up on the fall of others.

APPEASEMENT PUTIN STYLE

  
Sad state of affairs for Ukraine. It is rather clear that Russia's Putin will make the Crimea part of Russia. There is no way the West will go to bat for the Ukraine. Like pre-WWII, the global economy is messed up, budgets are being cut, increases in military spending are on hold, and Russia sends lots of gas to Europe, and people are just war weary.

Despite the rhetoric, little will be done to 'punish' Russia for their transgressions and aggressions. Putin is a macho-man megalomaniac.  His antics to prove his manliness are no longer appealing so time to flex a military muscle while the rest of the world is too concerned with their own issues. The question is, "Will it stop with the Crimea." Hitler was emboldened when no one stopped the Anschluss, Hitler's annexation of Austria. After all, most spoke German and Austria, as most speak Russian in the Crimea.  "Like Hitler, who justified his aggression as "concern for the lives of our German compatriots," Putin also justified the occupation of Crimea by concern for the Russian-speaking population on the peninsula." (http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/putins-crimean-anschluss/495462.html) Is eastern Ukraine next with all of its Russian speaking residents. "There are over 170 million native Russian speakers throughout the world. Russian is also the most widespread language of Eurasia:

Belarus

Kazakhstan

Moldova

Kyrgyzstan

There are also many Russian speakers in Israel, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Many elders in countries like the Czech Republic and Poland are familiar with Russian." (http://www.expatify.com/advice/countries-that-speak-russian.html)

One thing is certain, democracy is a lost cause to this, and maybe future, generations of Russians. Economic stagnation in Russia can easily lead to more aggression--military success often takes people's minds off of domestic problems. At the same time, the world is too concerned with other issues to get into a military confrontation with Russia. 

The phrase "Peace for Our Time" was spoken on 30 September 1938 by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in his speech concerning the Munich Agreement.

My guess is that the West will kick the can down the road and make the same claim.