November 14, 2016

Do not go about your daily business

editor:	Gurmeet Singh

Agreed. Hitler/ Nazi comparisons ruin arguments. Godwin's law asserts that at some point, a comparison to the Third Reich and its leadership will arise in any discussion, signalling its conclusion. Sure. But, this isn't a conclusion - it's the beginning. Do we need to take into account all the racist, sexist, anti-disability, anti-solidarity stuff he said, again? Do we need to be reminded that this guy, who will be in charge of the world's most powerful nation and the world's most developed weapons arsenal, has behaved 100% erratically? Yes. Yes we do.

But for Hitler comparisons, you just need to look at the acceptance speech. 'We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it. We will also finally take care of our great veterans. They’ve been so loyal, and I’ve gotten to know so many over this 18-month journey. The time I’ve spent with them during this campaign has been among my greatest honors. Our veterans are incredible people. We will embark upon a project of national growth and renewal. I will harness the creative talents of our people and we will call upon the best and brightest to leverage their tremendous talent for the benefit of all. It’s going to happen. We have a great economic plan. We will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world. At the same time, we will get along with all other nations willing to get along with us.'

Tell me who that sounds like.

And if that wasn't enough, Trump has appointed the far-right Steve Bannon to be his special advisor, with the same authority as his chief of staff, Reince Priebus. Priebus is pretty reckless, but his views are limited to economic stability and he does, sometimes, acknowledge the bounds of political norms. Steve Bannon, however, is a 100% out-and-out conspiracy theorist. He hates Jews. He hates Muslims. He hates people of colour. He is convinced there is a world conspiracy aiming to rid the globe of its white inhabitants. He thinks that the media is left-leaning (ha!) Steve Bannon is a dangerous, dangerous man. He is the executive chairman of Breitbart.com - America's foremost crackpot Nazi website for your everyday racist.

He wants to expand media output of Breitbart to Paris and Berlin, and therefore help the far-right in Europe take power, and potentially dismantle the EU and thereby end the so-called left-leaning project of multiculturalism. Part of me is excited these guys are in daylight - it's the place where vampires die, and I hope they fumble about and mess it all up so people can see what ridiculous ideologues they are. But hope is not enough anymore - they need to be resisted. They need to be fought. Obama said he wished for Trump's success. Absurd. I wish for Trump's complete and utter ruin. I wish that Bannon will fail just like Hitler did. Do not normalize this.

This isn't normal. Do not think Trump a comical buffoon any longer. The man has appointed one of the most radical racists in the country to one of the most senior positions in global politics. I repeat: This isn't normal. Resist.