I started, and finished, a remarkable book yesterday. A true story, The Stable Boy of Auschwitz, is eye-opening, tragic yet victorious, and a must-read in today's political setting.
The most shocking thing was that, as I read it, various sentences seemed to fit either side of our political divide today.
On a single page, the author wrote of Hitler, "He let men out of the jails and converted them to the cause...he made them believe that they could be part of something...." while a few sentences later, he quoted Herman Goering at his war-crimes trial in Nuremberg, "the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders...All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism..."
Both quotes sound eerily familiar, as if they came from a newspaper or TV newscast this morning.
When I see that our leaders today are wealthy beyond anything I can imagine...whether they be politicians or business owners...I wonder what motivates them.
Obviously, it isn't money.
What drives someone to release common criminals to wander the streets with law-abiding citizens? What drives someone to hate those of other races or religions?
How is it that quotes from Nazi leaders fit both sides of today's political spectrum?
What "cause" drives the political parties of today?
More importantly, why does it seem so different from mine?