You pretty much just said MAGA is akin to the rise of Nazi Germany.
This is why there is such a huge disconnect. Its insulting. The two are not even close. Why does the arguement against MAGA have to go to extreme levels to make the point seem valid? You know, you could make a compelling point even if it was rooted in more of a factually based reality.
The truth is MAGA stands for many different things for different people. Some may just see it as symbol for needing better economic conditions. In fact, I would argue that thats exactly what it stands for, for most people. Some may celebrate it as and see it with racist views associated. But I think its much fewer than you think.
Do you really think that someone how this country after everything thing it has seen and done, with all the knowledge it has gained, lesson's learned, etc.. that in just a few short years it would let its self become just like Nazi Germany? We still have world war 2 vets alive. There families are alive and have been influenced by the events. This same country gave so much help fighting that war. Alot of those same people are the same people the left accuses of being Nazi's.
Saying we need people to come into the country legally is not the same as gas the Jews and get them out of the country. Its just not.
Ya, you are supposed to push back and keep things in check. Keep things in balance. But the left is pushing back, pushing there friend over the table, out the window, into the street, in front of the car, then off the cliff. Then wonders why people are in the defensive.
Hmm. Well, I respect what your saying here, and no, I don't expect that, lurking around the corner, some horrors as bad as those of Hitler's Germany will inevitably unfold. No, I do indeed think the "American experience" and the strength of our democracy and values would prevent such a thing. Or at least be to our advantage in preventing it.
But I do see MAGA as esssentially an "eruption" of the same impulse of hyper nationalism that has plagued the world on several occasions for the past 100 years. Bear in mind, I believe I recognized Trump as a demagogue right from the very beginning of his campaign. I saw him identify scapegoats in his campaign speeches, a classic demagogue move. And I believe there was a large segment of the American population who were angry and concerned in the face of intense demographic social change, and cultural change in the form of our culture wars. And Trump's flag waving, he wrapped the flag around himself in one classic moment, are all, to me, remindful of episodes I am familiar with from studying Western history of the past 100 years. A demagogue using hyper nationalistic sentiments to gain and solidify allegiance.
And understand, I have never, ever, been a fan of the flag waving "America, love it or leave it" hyper or uber nationalism that I see in America today. I learned that slogan "America, love it or leave it" in the Vietnam era. That is when I became both politicized and, at least in that era, radicalized. Combine that with years in college studying Western history since 1789, and you've got some of the reasons I became who I am and believe what I believe and why all kinds of red flags appeared in my consciousness when Trump arrived on the scene.
And of course I recognize MAGA is not just about nationalism to its proponents, and to Trump's followers . Really, what I was doing was trying to distill my own thoughts, and how I view MAGA, in a short, succinct way. I'm not exactly one for "short and succinct", lol. It was a generalization, and that's all. But one that is essential to how I see what is happening.
I hope this at least clarifies somewhat where I am coming from, and why.
You see, Trump's followers do not recognize him as a demagogue using nationalistic sentiments to gain and maintain allegiance, and identifying scapegoats to provide targets for anger and anxiety, etc., just as nationalistic leaders are doing elsewhere in the West at this time in our history, and, to my point, have done in the past. I expect you to see me as mistaken and overreacting. But this is one reason why it is so difficult for the divisive opinions in our society to communicate with each other. You simply do not see Trump in the same context as I see him.
But, it's all good. We're going through a crisis of sorts in our history at this moment. I do not know how it will end. But I recognize a nationalistic demagogue when I see one. My study of Western history makes it impossible for me not to recognize this. And, yes, it is the bottom line source of my concerns.