Comparing people to Nazis is reprehensible
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
Wayne Goldstein
Published: May 6, 2008
A letter written by George Kraus, entitled “Orwellian update from Prince William County” appeared on this page on April 27. Mr. Kraus referred to Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart as
Obergruppenführer, and said he was using the Prince William County police force “...as his own personal brown-shirt militia.”
After reading the letter, I believe a short history lesson is needed. Obergruppenführer, translated as “Senior Group Leader” was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in 1932. Heinrich
Himmler was one of the first Nazi leaders appointed to the rank of SS-Obergruppenführer. The Sturmabteilung, or “brownshirts,” functioned as a paramilitary organization of the German Nazi party. It played a key role in Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s.
Illegal immigration completely aside, I think it reprehensible for anyone to defame Mr. Stewart by calling him a Nazi Obergruppenführer, or to liken the men and women of the county police department to
Nazi thugs. Regardless of the political issue, more civil discourse is in order, not less. Name calling serves no good purpose. We should all exercise restraint, maturity and respect for the opinions of
others when debating the issues.
WAYNE GOLDSTEIN
Dumfries
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( RonCharest ) on May 06, 2008 at 6:41 am
I agree. However, Conservatives have long since refined the art of insulting those people who hold different (non-conservative) viewpoints. “Socialists,” “fascists,” “moon bats,” “traitors,” and yes, “Nazis,” are just a few of the insults that have been aimed at leading Democratic officials and prominent Liberals over the past years. I seemed to start with Rush “Oxycotin” Limbaugh, and is now emulated by dozens of trash-talk radio hosts, columnists, and even elected Republicans.
It always amazes me how no one complains about name-calling until it is Conservatives/Republicans who are being insulted. So in calling a truce in the war of name-calling, I’d have to say “Conservatives First.”
Report Inappropriate Comment