Hate speech poisons political climate, doesn't belong here
Dr. Johannes Strohschänk
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Letters
*Editor's note: this letter was submitted prior to the Nov. 3 issue but could not be used due to space.
Karen Trinko's Letter to the Editor in the Oct. 30 issue of The Spectator left me speechless. I am not so much taking issue with her long-winded attempt to implicate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the history of the Weathermen, including her indiscriminate use of terms like "radical ideologies," or "left-wing." I am not overly exercised about her caution against "a socialist overthrow of a capitalist democracy," because our students know how to distinguish between cheap, incendiary labels and two candidate platforms that, despite differences on such hot button issues as abortion, hew closely to the center line.
What really made me gasp for air was Ms. Trinko's mindless, cavalier comparison of Obama with Hitler. As a German-American teaching German history, I am extremely sensitive to the unspeakable crimes perpetrated by my forebears, not only against the Jews, but also the Gypsies, the mentally ill and homosexuals (see the recent UW-Eau Claire theater production of "Bent").
I view it as my human and professional duty to make sure that this darkest hour in all of history will never be forgotten. To speak of "class war" when Obama wishes to narrow the yawning income gap between the rich and the rest of us is irresponsible, at best.
But to link this rather moderate proposal to Hitler's persecution of the Jews is simply outrageous. Or is Ms. Trinko indeed suggesting that Obama plans to put all rich people in murder camps? Likewise, to associate the Rev. Jeremiah Wright with the Nazi brown shirts is tantamount to evoking the Ku Klux Klan when talking about the Sierra Club.
Incidentally, I am surprised that The Spectator, admonishing its readers to keep their missives at 300 words or fewer, chose to publish a diatribe of over 600 words. I would hope that the 321 words of my response will therefore be tolerated. It is hate speech like Ms. Trinko's (an Eau Claire graduate!) that poisons our political climate. It doesn't belong on our campus!
Dr. Johannes Strohschänk
Professor of German
Chair, Department of Foreign Languages
Karen Trinko's Letter to the Editor in the Oct. 30 issue of The Spectator left me speechless. I am not so much taking issue with her long-winded attempt to implicate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the history of the Weathermen, including her indiscriminate use of terms like "radical ideologies," or "left-wing." I am not overly exercised about her caution against "a socialist overthrow of a capitalist democracy," because our students know how to distinguish between cheap, incendiary labels and two candidate platforms that, despite differences on such hot button issues as abortion, hew closely to the center line.
What really made me gasp for air was Ms. Trinko's mindless, cavalier comparison of Obama with Hitler. As a German-American teaching German history, I am extremely sensitive to the unspeakable crimes perpetrated by my forebears, not only against the Jews, but also the Gypsies, the mentally ill and homosexuals (see the recent UW-Eau Claire theater production of "Bent").
I view it as my human and professional duty to make sure that this darkest hour in all of history will never be forgotten. To speak of "class war" when Obama wishes to narrow the yawning income gap between the rich and the rest of us is irresponsible, at best.
But to link this rather moderate proposal to Hitler's persecution of the Jews is simply outrageous. Or is Ms. Trinko indeed suggesting that Obama plans to put all rich people in murder camps? Likewise, to associate the Rev. Jeremiah Wright with the Nazi brown shirts is tantamount to evoking the Ku Klux Klan when talking about the Sierra Club.
Incidentally, I am surprised that The Spectator, admonishing its readers to keep their missives at 300 words or fewer, chose to publish a diatribe of over 600 words. I would hope that the 321 words of my response will therefore be tolerated. It is hate speech like Ms. Trinko's (an Eau Claire graduate!) that poisons our political climate. It doesn't belong on our campus!
Dr. Johannes Strohschänk
Professor of German
Chair, Department of Foreign Languages
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 7
alumni jim
posted 11/06/08 @ 10:33 AM CST
I totally agree with this assessment. Obama may be the exact opposite of Hitler. Instead of having some goal of his country dominating the rest of the world, Obama seems to be one who would put the needs of "the global community" above those of his country. (Continued…)
TR
posted 11/06/08 @ 11:55 AM CST
Exact opposite of Hitler...Stalin?
Collin
posted 11/11/08 @ 9:48 PM CST
Excellently put. I didn't read the original article, but have read many similar pieces recently. Those who make such silly comparisons obviously have no grasp on history, politics, or common decency. (Continued…)
Sean
posted 11/13/08 @ 8:03 AM CST
I disagree with the "hate speech" condemnation. Who decides what is "hate speech?" If someone wants to compare Obama or anyone to Hitler, they can, and that's called Freedom of Speech. (Continued…)
Michael
posted 11/17/08 @ 4:54 PM CST
To comment on Sean's question of "Who decides what is 'hate speech?'"...
Even if it is our fundamental right as American citizens to voice our ideas, a college graduate (from Eau Claire) should have the maturity to realize comparing Obama to Hitler is absurd. (Continued…)
kruegetd
Travis Krueger
posted 11/18/08 @ 3:27 PM CST
For anyone who has interacted with Karen Trinko personally, it is unsurprising that she would write what she did, she is, kindly, "unbalanced", and has been as long as I've known her (since the early 1990s when I first started going to UWEC). (Continued…)
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