The danger of such entries into the seats of governments is far-reaching and reminiscent of the Holocaust. We must remember that the Jews of Europe, and other persecuted groups, during Hitler’s regime, were humiliated, tortured, and murdered at the hands of their government. One of the most vocal opponents of the dangers of voting these parties into office today happens to be the grandson of the former commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Even after having been raised in a family ensconced in the Nazi mentality of his grandfather Rudolf Hoess, Rainer Hoess has turned away from his father and other family members to educate people to carefully vote and prevent history from repeating itself as evidenced in his “Never Forget to Vote” campaign.
3. Jews forced to flee France
In recent months, increasing tension and protests in France have meant increased threat to the Jewish citizens. Anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish attitudes prevail and protesters are terrorizing the Jews in alarming ways. Synagogues are barraged with worshippers inside and Jewish businesses attacked, while the protestors chant, “Death to the Jews,” and “Gas the Jews.” Two Jewish teens were even beaten on their way to synagogue. Once again, history is repeating itself in these Pogrom-style attacks that affect the livelihood of the Jews and even put their lives at risk. These riots, advertised in advance saying “Come equipped with hammers, fire extinguishers, and batons,” were not stopped, just as Kristallnacht was allowed, even encouraged, to continue on November 9th and 10th in 1938. As a result of this escalating violence, over 1000 Jews have already left France.
Also in Marseille, France, an idea was recently scrapped that would have forced the homeless population to wear yellow triangles, reminiscent of the yellow stars that Jews had to wear during Hitler’s reign. The Marseille triangles would have also identified any illnesses. The project was aborted after an uproar from the public and government ministers such as the Minister for Social Affairs Marisol Touraine who said she was “shocked” by the plan and called it “outrageous.” Fortunately, some who see the striking resemblances to the atrocities of the past are speaking out to stop the repetition of some of the more damaging acts of history.
4. The reverse Hitler salute the “Quenelle” gesture
Within the last year, a controversy has arisen over a hand gesture known as the Quenelle. This arm gesture, which some say resembles a reverse Hitler salute, is becoming more frequent with the younger population, many of whom may not even understand what its symbolism is. According to the Independent, “Whether or not the ‘quenelle’ arm gesture was originally anti-semitic is open to debate. There is little doubt that it has come to have an anti-semitic meaning.”
The symbol was invented by Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, a black French stand-up comedian who has seven convictions in France for inciting anti-Semitism. Dieudonne feels that Jews cause suffering for blacks and poor whites and that they profit from exploiting the Holocaust, which he says may or may not have happened. Clearly anti-Semitic, the use of this symbol at all is disturbing as it far too closely resembles the Hitlerian salute of the 1930s and 40s, and the public should be educated, especially our youth, so they refrain from taking part in this recent fad.
5. Examples of Nazi Idolatry worldwide.
At the Sacred Heart School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, students wearing Nazi uniforms performed “Sieg Heil” salutes in a Nazi type parade. The school director has since apologized, explaining it was part of a sports day activity, and that the red team used the Nazi arm bands.
