A Turning Point
Arnold Schwarzenegger released a powerful anti-Trump, pro-democracy video yesterday. He starts by likening Wednesday’s mob attack on the Capitol to the November 9-10, 1938 Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass). That widespread, state-sponsored riot saw Nazi gangs across Germany and his native Austria destroy thousands of synagogues and other Jewish-owned buildings, kill at least 91 Jews and round up 30,000 more for concentration camps.
Until that night, escalating Nazi abuses against Jews had been reprehensible, but not overwhelmingly lethal and destructive. Kristallnacht changed all that.
Which is why Schwarzenegger highlights it. He notes that it was carried out by “the Nazi equivalent of the Proud Boys” – the violent, far-right, anti-immigrant group that Donald Trump instructed to “stand back and stand by” in his first presidential debate with Joe Biden.
Trump supporters’ seizure of the Capitol exacted nowhere near the same human toll as Kristallnacht. But it was still one of the darkest days in American history.
And it was a turning point. The big question is: What kind? Was it the first of many major, Trump-inspired attacks on our citadels of democracy? Or a wake-up call to alert us to how far things have gone and that we must not let them go any further?
Lies, and Lies, and Lies
In the video, Schwarzenegger describes growing up “in the ruins of a country that suffered the loss of its democracy”; the terrible personal toll (revealed in very personal terms) it took on his family and community; and seeing “firsthand how things can spin out of control.”
He emphasizes that the Nazis’ rise “all started with lies, and lies, and lies, and intolerance.” Clearly an appropriate point to make, given that as of November 5 Trump had made nearly 30,000 false or misleading claims during his presidency.
Trump’s sweeping, fact-free accusations about a stolen election represent the “big lie” technique of Hitler and Stalin. One expert considers Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s propaganda to be small potatoes and reality-based in comparison.
Those familiar with Schwarzenegger’s films might chuckle at one point, as he brandishes Conan the Barbarian’s sword in order to deliver a somewhat corny though hopeful message about U.S. democracy. But his hope and message ring true.
There’s much more worth listening to and learning from:
Derailing a Dystopian Future
I’ll freely admit that Schwarzenegger’s first two Terminator movies are among my favorite films. They portray efforts to save humanity from a technology-induced dystopian future. How ironic that technology, in the form of Twitter and other social media outlets, has helped fuel Trump’s drive to destroy democracy and usher in a dystopian America.
Here’s hoping that those firms’ recent banning of Trump helps thwart his potential return to power. And, along with Arnold, let’s make sure that Trump does not replicate the success of another demagogue, who seemed vanquished in Germany nearly a century ago before rebounding to become a deranged dictator. We’ve been warned.
Conan the Librarian!
LOL!
One of the huge lies is that the Holocaust didn’t happen. I appreciate Schwarzenegger’s perspective even though he will be ignored by Trump supporters.
Thanks very much for that valuable point.
Very unfortunately, some folks who insist that the election was stolen from Trump (and even that the desecration of the Capitol was a good thing) would also deny the Holocaust.
I agree that most Trump supporters will ignore or dismiss Schwarzenegger and that Trump’s Big Lie about the supposedly stolen election, is something we’ll hear much more about in the months and years to come. I hope and even suspect that that a few of them will take positive notice.
Schwarzenegger knows that his macho image and action hero background appeals to some Trump supporters (along with other folks). The background music, the use of the sword and other techniques he employed played up to that. Above and beyond the public service of linking what’s going on now to the Nazi precedent, I’m hoping that the messenger is as powerful as the message in swaying at least a few Trump cultists to reconsider what they’ve bought into.
Yes, and, unfortunately, it has been revealed that there is an anti-Semitic point of view, as well as racism against people of color by these rioters. These are very dangerous people who will be living in our country. We can only help that as our demographics become younger, there will continue to be a shift in these attitudes! My 14 year old granddaughter will be a voter in 2024!❤️
A bit of good news, in that the idiot/bigot who wore the “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt during the seizure has been identified and, you guessed it, has a criminal history: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/10/politics/man-camp-auschwitz-sweatshirt-capitol-riot-identified/index.html
I assume the authorities will arrest him, though no word of that in this particular article.
The demographic shifts are in fact promising. But there are forces, both relatively mainstream and extremist, working to negate the shifts’ impact.
There will always be forces who will use evil means to sway an election. Sadly, those means will be aimed at young people as well as older voters. Our young people who are growing up seeing all of this will not all be easily duped. Supporting our democracy goes beyond politics as usual. And we have the Stacy Abrams(s) of America who are giving their all to save our country.
I appreciate knowing that the Governator is weighing in like this. 💪 Let us hope Trump is legally blocked from ever saying “I’ll be back.”
Thanks Steve for pumping us up!
Love it! Fun with words!
I had a lot of pun with your comment.
You win the First Ever “A Promised Land” Emoji Award. 😁
Love it! The gauntlet has been laid down!
Good blog Steve, and nice point in the comments about the power of celebrity. It is important to recall that a good portion of Trump’s original support came from folks who followed him on The Apprentice. Tough Guy celebs who have spoken out against him like Arnold and most recently BIll Belichick, are just the kinds of folks who might appeal to an overlapping sliver of Trump’s base. As for the sword, If Trump can teach history, then maybe he will let me borrow the sword.
Glad to have you on board, Brian.
I think you mean if Arnold can teach history, no?
Anyway, I’m afraid I agree that the most impact we can expect from macho public figures speaking out is a small bit of defections from Trump’s base. But yes, every little bit helps. It can potentially tip the balance in a close election or persuade a sycophant Republican leader to abandon Trump’s hopefully sinking ship.
As a Springsteen fan, I wonder whether Bruce’s pro-Biden work has tipped any fans against Trump. I guess that’s not the thing that public opinion surveys examine.
I think that a celebrity’s influence depends on how the fan identifies with the celebrity. Springsteen’s music appeals to a broad base, but people who identify with his working class roots would more likely be influenced by his political views.
That working class (and rural) appeal was certainly a part of the Pennsylvania-specific Biden ad that used Bruce’s music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJQZ7yG7Tdg
Hi Steve,
For a dissenting view from a “celebrity,” we give you Ted Nugent, who says Trump was blameless and the attack on the Capitol was the work of Antifa. He probably blames Joe Biden for keeping him out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ted-nugent-says-donald-trump-did-not-incite-violence-blames-antifa-and-black-lives-matter-for-storming-u-s-capitol/
Keep up the good work, Steve.
Tom FitzGerald
Good one, Tom. As you can tell from the title of this blog and from some of my posts here, when it comes to aging rockers I’m a full-fledged Springsteen fan.
And as you and others probably know, Nugent’s been over-the-top menacing for a long time. In some ways, he’s been ahead of his times – and I mean that in the most negative way. His remarks from 2007, for any who can stomach them: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ted-nugent-threatens-to-kill-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-during-vicious-onstage-rant-94687/