Isn't it strange how something you've never really considered at depth, becomes so obvious once you think about it?
I was adding some books to my amazon wish list (after reading an awesome thread on the OU Platform site "What book changed your life?" - and got some awesome recommendations) and after adding some political classics, "Mein Kampf" showed up as a recommendation from Amazon. I clicked and had a look, and stumbled upon a fantastic review of Hitlers' book.
"History is enraging in the way it always tends to pander to current prejudice and contemporary political need. We are all so wise and good at this point in history and can pretend that we are far too well-educated and morally pure, that nothing so bad is going to be done in our name, on our watch. We are so frantic in our wish to be distanced from the sustained and systematic evils of history, that we condemn the guilty as geniuses, or more remarkably, fools. Those who cling to their denial would prefer that books like this should be banned, as they bear witness to not only Hitler's evil but the pan-European common-denominator, he aspired to tap into.
It is morally convenient to believe that Hitler invented the evil aims laid out in this book. Hitler did not invent racism or anti-Semitism, he merely exploited what was already there and was actually voted into power by those who shared those views - many still do.
Published in 1925 & 1926, the two parts of the book gave fair warning of his aims and his fanatical hatreds. Across the world, many read his words and had their own feelings and hatreds confirmed. These people ranged across every class in most societies, and definitely from top to the bottom of the British social strata. It must be noted that even having been aware of Hitler's promises and even in the knowledge of seeing him carry them out, the country was willing to look the other way. It was just total chance that Churchill became leader and not Halifax - our moral superiority is based on mere luck not natural goodness. Our jingoistic pride, a deluded vanity.
Hitler's ranting coalescence of the hatreds and prejudices still bears witness to the heart of darkness of humanity, which shows no sign of going away.
Let this book be read and stand as a warning of what still continues to inspire many people, beneath the veneer of our "civilization".
Once you have read Hitler's poisonous rantings, you are forever aware that the same raving appeal to the common denominator, can still be heard or read, in the words of those who likewise wish to make us the sponsors of the contemporary fantatic's road to historical immortality.
Knowing who said it all before, might guard us against such folly." - Mr. S.J. Wade
It sounds silly now, but although I knew Hitler had been voted into power democratically, I'd never considered the rammifications of that. Clearly the voters were aware of his opinions and intentions when they voted him into power. As did the rest of Europe(and the world) when he went to war. A lot of these people must have at least partially agreed with his sentiments.
Jews were moved into ghettos, abused and killed; but on the other side of the walls, good Christian folk were going about their everyday lives, for the most, caring not a jot. The realisation of this fact made me sad for humanity, it made me realise there are a lot more people than I thought, who can act perfectly nice in everyday life, but who care only for themselves, or their own group, and would be prepared to happily stand by and let the rest of the world be all but destroyed around them.
Can't believe I shed a tear at a book
review. That's got to be a first.
