What is this crap about any Nazi comparison being off the table forever?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

I thought the whole POINT of "never forget" is precisely that human beings committed such atrocities, and it follows that humans are capable of the same or similar acts in the future.

The Nazis are not even unique in committing sadistic and genocidal acts, they just happened to be very efficient in doing so and have done so in the "modern" era where there can exist photographic and other precise documentation of their deeds, as well as some existing survivors. We just have some Goya paintings and such for the Inquisition...

One of the most chilling things about Nazism is precisely the fact that so many ordinary German people who are no different from you and I got swept up in and went along with the whole thing.

The potential for evil that resides within every ordinary person was tapped in a most efficient manner by that government, by those leaders.

I thought the whole point of "never forgetting" is so that if we recognize the signs of such a thing, such a movement beginning to occur or gain power again that perhaps it could be arrested, killed in its infancy.

If the Nazi era was some unique set of crimes committed by supernaturally and uniquely evil beings the like of who could never exist again, it would sure be a lot less important to remember...

[Igel]

1. I don't think anybody said they were off the table forever.

Both the horrors of the Nazi camps, the GULags, and Pol Pot's "little" escapade are fair game for comparisons.

[hughee99]

5. I certainly think they are fair game for comparison...

As long as the comparison is good. It's like (and I may get flamed by some for saying this) the comparison between between the situation that African-Americans face today and slavery. Neither situation is a good one, but there have been great strides made over the last 150 years and to draw the comparison between the two and imply that it's the same is just wildly inaccurate, and doesn't help any argument. In the end, though, this is all still up to the individual to decide what is a good comparison and what isn't. If the majority of people do not agree with the comparison, then the argument won't be persuasive.

[Richardo]

2. It's become hysterical hyperbole...

Way before Durbin.

It has no effect anymore because the parallel has been overused and overstretched.

Whenever you say "Nazi" I'd wager the first thought everyone has is "6 million Jews killed". I'll bet no one thinks of the political nature of the party, at least not right away.

So when you compare ANYBODY to the Nazis, the first thought will be "They didn't kill 6 million people. Bunch of hysterical loons."

And then, as we've seen, the entire focus shifts away from the true subject.

[Cleita]

3. The thing that bothers me is that

it seems half of America is buying into the idea that torture is okay so we can get to the bad guys. It's never okay. It's never okay to hold a prisoner of any sort without counsel and it's never okay to not give them the benefit of a trial in a timely manner.

[geek tragedy]

4. Not off the table, but they should be used more judiciously.

A lot of people, self-included, start tuning people out when they start using Nazi references.

Nazi references are no way to win the debate.

[screembloodymurder]

6. These thugs have something on everyone.

Fucking Nazi bastards!