I submitted an Op-Ed article to the Wall Street Journal, in response to a letter to the editor published by Tom Perkins, co-founder of the distinguished VC, Kleiner-Perkins. The letter was titled: Progressive Kristallnacht Coming?
In the days that followed the publication of his letter, there was pure outrage about his perspective spreading through the media. Perkins suddenly became a household name but for all the wrong reasons.
I found the outrage to the letter rather ridiculous, so I crafted my own opinion piece and sent it to the WSJ. It didn’t get published, so I figured I’d turn to Medium to voice my opinion.
This is the exact copy of what I submitted to the WSJ. Feel free to agree or disagree. At the very least, keep the conversation going.
What did Tom Perkins write that upset so many people?
The visceral outrage that followed confirm his assumptions of the media’s liberal bias and the shift in American thinking to which he alluded. Why even apologize?
Perkins is right. In 1930 Kristallnacht was unthinkable. German Jews were living a privileged life, working as bankers, doctors, lawyers and shop owners. My great grandparents were amongst them, proud of being part of an ecosystem that enabled them to raise a family without economic hardship. They were pursuing their European equivalent of the American dream.
As the global economy started to sour in the 1930s, Germany was not immune from the impact, and the disparity between the 1% and 99% became just palpable as it currently is here at home. Kristallnacht targeted the 1%, which was dominated by Jews. Chaos erupted on the streets, businesses were destroyed, and Jews had a choice to make; get out or stay. My grandfather got sent on boat to the UK. His family stayed. In hindsight, the choice would have been much clearer.
History seems to have a tendency to repeat itself. We have faced five years of economic turmoil, job declines and the gap between rich and poor is continuing to widen. People with good jobs and lucrative businesses are being demonized. The media favors the 99%. It makes for a story to which the masses can relate. Keep those televisions turned on! The Occupy Wall Street movement was just the start.
So is what Perkins said really so distasteful? Or is he respectful of the past, which so many people tend to ignore.
Hindsight only lets us look back. Perkins is looking far ahead.
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