To the editor:
My dad’s family came here from England, arriving in 1640. My mother grew up in Wiesbaden, Germany, where my parents were married in 1932. While visiting family in Germany in the late 1930s, my parents, out of curiosity, went to a nearby Hitler rally. Although my father’s understanding of the German language was limited, he certainly got Hitler’s message. Adolf was a very dynamic and clever speaker who understood the people’s pain and fears, and he fanned the flames of discontent. He suggested all Germans follow him to the promise land, as the crowd went wild with “Deutschland Uber Alles” — Germany above all others.
And we know how that story ended — with mankind’s worst tragedy — so far.
If my parents were alive today, they’d be horrified by Donald Trump’s message and methods, for they witnessed a very similar game plan in 1937. My parents would say that although every human being is unique and special, and life is different today from the 1930s, the basic human themes remain unchanged, so history tends to repeat itself. Trump story is very similar.
My folks instilled in me the belief that all people are born radiating love and curiosity, and the challenge throughout life is to keep this positive energy flowing. It is important for my parents to keep contributing to the well-being of humanity and planet Earth. Like so many, my folks lived through the Great Depression and World War II with the horrors of Auschwitz. Good people, for very complex and often mysterious reasons, acting alone or collectively, can become evil. There is a potential dark side inside each person that can evolve in very subtle and insidious ways.
After the war, my mother, with her unique German and American experiences, worked tirelessly to promote German-American relationships. For this effort the German Chancellor Willy Brandt presented my mother with a special service award. As a healer and a relationship builder, my mother would be especially turned off by Donald Trump. In fact, if he gets into the White House, I’ll retrieve my parents’ ashes andtake them to Canada.
Mike Beebe
Lyndeborough