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Intershame On: Tom Eisenhower |
WWII Veteran Betrays His Past
08/26/2009
Today we lament the comments of Tom Eisenhower, a man who valiantly served our country in WWII and sadly forget what it was he fought to defeat.
As you read and hear what Mr. Eisenhower said to Sen. Chuck Grassley at a townhall in Pocahontas, Iowa, remember he is a WWII veteran:
"The president of the United States, that's who you should be concerned about. Because he's acting like a little Hitler. [...] I'd take a gun to Washington if enough of you would go with me."
Listen below (0:05-0:51)...
A "little Hitler"? Really?
Back in 1990, a man named Mike Godwin noticed that long-winded Usenet discussions would tend to move away from the original argument and into a realm of hyper-exaggerated insults and accusations. He eloquently encapsulated his belief into what became known as Godwin's Law: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1". If doubters of Godwin's Law ever needed a real-world proof of his hypothosis, look no further than the health care debate. Considering the short timespan the debate has stretched across, perhaps a little modification to his law is needed:
As participant's understanding of the argument shrinks, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.
The only plausible explanation for the recent "Hitler equals Obama" protest craze is that those making this ridiculous accusation don't have the slightest idea what they're talking about. Need they? Their rage isn't really about health care, so expecting them to be well versed on reform specifics isn't realistic. These people are angry about a myriad of unrelated reasons. The health care debate is merely their outlet.
Some of these protesters believe spending is out of control and they're pissed about that. Let's be honest, there are some who simply don't like the idea of a non-white president. Some think "their" country is somehow being taken from them. Others believe the government itself is just too large and any attempts at expansion would be harmful.
Somewhere along the way our population was sold a bag of bullshit. Inside that bag was the notion that it's repulsive when a government of the people and by the people attempts to do something for the people. The people who believe this nonsense see health care reform as just another government program secretly meant to ruin the country. Somewhere Ronald Reagan is laughing his ass off.
Yet the situation in this country is no longer funny. Rational debate is dead. It's impossible to have a realistic debate with people who won't take the time to educate themselves on the merits of a proposal because that proposal comes from a government they don't trust.
And this is why we're seeing Hitler brought up all over the place. Those whose understanding of the health care argument is next to nothing have nothing else to argue, no facts to cite and no position other than irrational rage.
The crescendo in this symphony of ignorance might be this moment - the moment when a WWII veteran named Tom Eisenhower likened his president to an unimaginable evil he once helped defeat.
Mr. Eisenhower's indifferent naiveté of the argument and shocking willingness to dilute the importance of his military sacrifice might make his town hall moment the one remembered as the instant any reason in the health care debate died.
As you read and hear what Mr. Eisenhower said to Sen. Chuck Grassley at a townhall in Pocahontas, Iowa, remember he is a WWII veteran:
"The president of the United States, that's who you should be concerned about. Because he's acting like a little Hitler. [...] I'd take a gun to Washington if enough of you would go with me."
Listen below (0:05-0:51)...
A "little Hitler"? Really?
Back in 1990, a man named Mike Godwin noticed that long-winded Usenet discussions would tend to move away from the original argument and into a realm of hyper-exaggerated insults and accusations. He eloquently encapsulated his belief into what became known as Godwin's Law: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1". If doubters of Godwin's Law ever needed a real-world proof of his hypothosis, look no further than the health care debate. Considering the short timespan the debate has stretched across, perhaps a little modification to his law is needed:
As participant's understanding of the argument shrinks, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.
The only plausible explanation for the recent "Hitler equals Obama" protest craze is that those making this ridiculous accusation don't have the slightest idea what they're talking about. Need they? Their rage isn't really about health care, so expecting them to be well versed on reform specifics isn't realistic. These people are angry about a myriad of unrelated reasons. The health care debate is merely their outlet.
This isn't really about health care, is it?
Some of these protesters believe spending is out of control and they're pissed about that. Let's be honest, there are some who simply don't like the idea of a non-white president. Some think "their" country is somehow being taken from them. Others believe the government itself is just too large and any attempts at expansion would be harmful.
Somewhere along the way our population was sold a bag of bullshit. Inside that bag was the notion that it's repulsive when a government of the people and by the people attempts to do something for the people. The people who believe this nonsense see health care reform as just another government program secretly meant to ruin the country. Somewhere Ronald Reagan is laughing his ass off.
Yet the situation in this country is no longer funny. Rational debate is dead. It's impossible to have a realistic debate with people who won't take the time to educate themselves on the merits of a proposal because that proposal comes from a government they don't trust.
And this is why we're seeing Hitler brought up all over the place. Those whose understanding of the health care argument is next to nothing have nothing else to argue, no facts to cite and no position other than irrational rage.
The crescendo in this symphony of ignorance might be this moment - the moment when a WWII veteran named Tom Eisenhower likened his president to an unimaginable evil he once helped defeat.
Mr. Eisenhower's indifferent naiveté of the argument and shocking willingness to dilute the importance of his military sacrifice might make his town hall moment the one remembered as the instant any reason in the health care debate died.
Comments
- 994 days agoThat was incredibly insightful. When I hear that Hawaii is taking back all the female inmates that were being housed in Kentucky because of sexual abuse by the guards, or that the CIA is torturing people with power drills, it makes me heartsick. Maybe there was a time when we were the good guys. Maybe it was all a lie.
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