The 1998 film “The Last Days,” documents how Adolf Hitler and the Nazis used incendiary rhetoric, lies and violence to gain power in Germany. Hitler’s primary target for persecution was the Jews, but the list of the condemned also included gypsies, gays, non-Aryans, the physically and mentally disabled, political critics and others. Hitler called the condemned subversives, parasites and vermin, which signaled to his supporters that it was acceptable to persecute the people in the condemned groups. And after gaining power through a fair election, the Nazis burned the German parliament (Reichstag), blamed it on the communists, and used the event as an excuse to cease control of the government.

Once in control, civil servants and others were required to pledge loyalty to the leader (Fuhrer). Newspapers critical of the Nazis were shut down. Jews, Gypsies, gays and others were prohibited from owning property, holding professional positions, working in the government and were required to wear identifying arm bands. The Nazis also banned books that they deemed subversive. Photos of Adolf Hitler were required to be posted in schools and places of worship. And then there were the death camps and crematoriums.

Folks, Donald Trump has accused brown-skinned people of poisoning the blood of Americans. He has suggested that Muslims are closet terrorists that should be registered and deported, and African Americans protesting police brutality he called ANTIFA. Democrats and liberals he labeled subversive, radical communists, baby killers and vermin. Borrowing a phrase used by Lenin and Stalin, Trump called the press “the enemy of the people” and he said that media outlets critical of him should be shut down. Trump’s rhetoric has signaled to his supporters his approval to threaten and assault journalists, election workers, law enforcement and judges. His stolen election lie was the rallying cry for the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

Trump has also threatened retribution against judges and prosecutors, saying: “If you come after me, I’ll come after you.” And he has told us that if elected president, he will suspend the Constitution, invoke the Insurrection Act, purge the Justice Department and the judiciary, and initiate a nationwide roundup of all undocumented aliens. Finally, he said if elected president, civil servants and the military will be required to pledge loyalty to him.

Anyone see a parallel?

“Those that have not learned the lessons of history, are destined to repeat history.”

FREDERICK LEHR

Grays River