I see the fire burning.
The Reichstag fire. On Feb. 22nd, 1933, Marinus van der Lubbe supposedly set fire to the Reichstag, the seat of the German Parliament. Hitler and the NSDAP used this fire to declare a state of emergency and arrest the Enemy, i.e. communists. This fire and subsequent trial is seen as crucial in the establishment of Nazi Germany. It helped drive the “communists = Jews = the Other = the Enemy is evil” narrative, which in turn laid the groundwork for emergency power, which quelled dissent, which in turn consolidated power to Hitler’s circle.
In week 1 of the Trump administration, I see the fire burning again. But unlike 80 years ago, we know who set the goddamn fire.
The Muslim ban. It’s weird because it itself mirrors an emergency decree but the subsequent actions have laid the same groundwork for controlling narrative, quelling dissent, and consolidating power.
In his followers, it reinforces the idea that (Muslim) immigrants and refugees are a threat to national security. They are not, but the angry masses need to believe something. His followers see the dissent and the protesters and believe that there are enemies within us, amongst us. They do not question their leader and savior.
With this support, Trump, Bannon and co. thinks they can overshadow any law. If you think Trump cares about the law now, you are wrong. He can, will, and already did make and break and selectively enforce rule of law. And if you think legal ramifications are going to stop him, you are wrong. He is already ignoring the fed rulings that stay his ban.
This is how he controls the narrative.
Former Acting Director of the Department of Justice Sally Yates ordered her solicitors to not defend the unconstitutional ban. She was fired the same night and hastily replaced by the next in command, who, unsurprisingly, was receptive to the ban.
The State Department Dissent Cable has now garnered more than a 1000 signatures. Press Secretary Sean Spicer responded that they can “get with the program or they can go.” With Yates’ dismissal, the signees are duly afraid.
This is how he quells dissent.
If you haven’t studied Nazi Germany then please watch Revenge of the Sith. How Palpatine takes control by controlling narratives and quelling dissent. That’s a direct reference to the rise of Nazi Germany.
He feels so confident about controlling the narrative and crushing dissent that he filed for his reelection in 2020, on Inauguration Day.
Stop thinking the law matters anymore. This isn’t normal and no normal rules apply.
