In Today’s Political Environment, Let’s Not Forget the Past

By now, most of you know that I’m all about leadership and history. I’m also a news junkie. Leadership, history, and politics are all connected, so everything I read, see, or hear goes through that filter. Politics everywhere is messy, but in the U.S. since the 2016 elections, it seems to me that things are just crazy.

Populism in the United States is dominating the air. Populism as described by Michael Cox, “reflects a deep suspicion of the prevailing establishment; that this establishment in the view of most populists does not just rule in the common good but conspires against the people; and that the people, however defined, are the true repositories of the soul of the nation. Populists also tend in the main to be nativist and suspicious of foreigners (though this is more likely to be found on the right than the left). More often than not they are sceptical (Skeptical U.S. spelling) of the facts as provided to them by the establishment press, and in most cases (and again this is truer of the right than the left) they don’t much like intellectuals. Nor in general do they like big cities and the metropolitan types who happen to live in them.”1

With that said, here is a quote from the book “Bad Leadership” by Barbara Kellerman. It is a long quote, but I think it is worth quoting in its entirety to get the full perspective.       

“The most extensive study of bad followers has been the case of Nazi Germany. At the risk of oversimplifying but in the interest of distinguishing among the kinds of followers, I will divide Germans during the Nazi period into three groups: bystanders, evildoers, and acolytes. (Only a handful of Germans actively opposed Hitler, and they often paid with their lives.)

Bystanders went along with Hitler and the Nazi regime, but they were not fervent Nazis. Bystanders’ motivations ranged from self-interest (on matters relating to stability and security) to being part of a national group (Germany was, after all, their Heimat, their homeland) that was cohesive and provided a sense of identity. 

Evildoers were members of units such as the SS-Einsatzgruppen. One of this unit’s first goals during the Second World War was to massacre as many Soviet Jews as possible. The 1941 slaughter at Babi Yar, a ravine in Kiev, was testimony to its efficiency: In only two days members of this units shot to death 33,771 Jews. Why did members of the German SS become, in the words of Richard Rhodes, “masters of death”? The reasons varied. Some were genuine sadists. Others had been persuaded that they were killing “vermin”. Still others turned brutal because they themselves were being brutalized by violence or threat of violence. Finally, however weak in retrospect this line of argument, German soldiers were like soldiers everywhere. They were told what to do and they did it. 

Acolytes were true believers: followers who were deeply committed to Hitler personally and to this political program. Although the acolytes who constituted Hitler’s inner circle stood handsomely to profit from their association with the Führer, in fact most were mesmerized by his charisma and ideas long before realizing rewards such as money and power. As early as 1923 Hermann Göring referred to Hitler as the “beloved leader of the German-freedom movement.” And only a few years later, in 1926, Joseph Goebbels gushed, “He [Hitler] is a genius. The natural, creative instrument of a divine fate … I feel completely bound to him. The last doubt in me has disappeared.”

Most people behave rationally most of the time. In Hitler’s Germany, bystanders behaved badly either because they had no issue with the Nazi agenda or because, if they did, they calculated that the cost of resisting was greater than the cost of doing nothing. Evildoers behaved badly because it’s how they were told to behave. And acolytes behaved badly because behaving badly what they wanted to do. Acolytes were so dedicated to the Führer that his wish was, literally, their command.” 

(Kellerman 26-27)

If you see behaviors or hear comments that sound similar to the above in the news, blogs, Twitter, and Facebook from U.S. candidates and their followers, it’s probably just a coincidence, right? But if you ask me, I would say that we live in some scary times, and our vote is going to be extremely important in November 2024. January 6, 2021, still fresh in my mind.

Of note, U.S. Military academies are renewing their focus on loyalty to the Constitution of the United States.2 Clearly there are some concerns and we want our officers to understand their responsibilities.

Please, let’s continue to stay informed because, “A public informed about challenges to national security and issues that adversaries use to sow dissension, such as race, gun control, and immigration, will prove less vulnerable to manipulation. Education inoculates society against efforts to foment hatred and incite violence based on race, religion, politics, sexual orientation, or any other sub-identity. Finally, education combined with the restoration of civility in public discourse can reduce the vitriol that widens the fissures in society.” (McMaster 77).

Sources:

  1. https://www.lse.ac.uk/ideas/Assets/Documents/updates/LSE-IDEAS-Understanding-Global-Rise-of-Populism.pdf ↩︎
  2. https://apnews.com/article/democracy-military-academies-oath-constitution-trump-insurrection-d3f017a8722eb4f4a681963400f2a2d5 ↩︎

Kellerman, Barbara. Bad Leadership. (P. 26-27). Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press, 2004.

McMaster, H.R. Battlegrounds. (P. 77). New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2020.

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29 thoughts on “In Today’s Political Environment, Let’s Not Forget the Past”

  1. I appreciate you being a walking, talking encyclopedia and sharing your findings with us. While the quote is an interesting background and might be helpful when talking to people, I don’t care which one anyone was in the case of Hitler. It’s called decency and care of each others’s soul.
    What happened to the golden rule and people in power exercising morals and standards of decency and respect. It’s just appalling to me to see the lies, deception, atrocities that we have to deal with. Truly the book we should all read is Everything I learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

    “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Quotes
    Share everything.
    Play fair.
    Don’t hit people.
    Put things back where you found them.
    CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
    Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
    Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
    Wash your hands before you eat.”

    Now that I’m completely fired up.. I’m heading to meditate..
    🥹❤️

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    1. Thank you for reading and commenting. You are absolutely right that the government should set the example. I wish leaders would take their jobs seriously because the lives of millions of Americans depend on it. I know some do but then they are others that are just playing politics for personal gain.

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  4. Comparing Trump to Hitler is ludicrous. It’s a hysterical response by people who listen to certain media outlets, propaganda, and who fear losing power themselves. It’s an idea based on emotion, not fact. Hitler rose to power because of the bad policies of the Weimar regime that led to widespread inflation and economic hardship. If that sounds like America, you can blame the current administration and its policies. Furthermore, it is the current administration that uses racial divide, hatred, and political polarization to control and divide the people. Some people always point the finger and blame the other side but never take a good, hard look at themselves. America is failing because of internal conflicts created by BOTH sides. Americans need to grow up and act like adults.

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    1. Well, I’m not sure that the comparison is ludicrous because we need to look at the person, character, and leadership traits. My hope is that we don’t repeat history. You are absolutely right about the internal conflicts, and both sides are to blame. Also, I agree about the propaganda, but in this case, we just need to listen to the person when he is speaking in public and inside the courtrooms. His words speak for themselves. How Hitler rose to power—that’s probably another long post for another day. It all started way before WWI. Yes, there are some Americans who probably need to grow and start acting like adults, but every country has those, and that’s why we have so many conflicts around the world. Thank you for reading and commenting.

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  5. This is a fantastic post Edward.

    The past must never be forgotten, or we are condemned to repeat it over and over again.

    Voting is essential to a democracy.

    6th of January 2021 proved how fragile democracy really is and it tells all you need to know about Trump.

    Silence is a consent to whatever is going on.

    Here are some powerful quotes from Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi:

    “A country is considered the more civilised the more wisdom and efficiency of its laws hinder a weak man from becoming too weak and a powerful one too powerful”.

    “Those who deny Auschwitz are ready to remake it”.

    “I am constantly amazed by man’s inhumanity to man”.

    “Monsters exist but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without question”.

    The last quote explains why the Holocaust happened.

    This is why knowing your history is more crucial than ever.

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    1. Thank you, Chris. Those quotes are powerful, especially the last one. We must remind ourselves daily of the horrors of the past and push back against the crazy rhetoric that is trying to pull us back to those terrible times. We need to stay informed and vote smartly.

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    1. Thank you, Jane. I’ve been watching the news, and the interviews with voters raise some concerns. While I understand that people may act impulsively and regret it later, like some Jan 6 rioters, why do we seem to repeat past mistakes instead of learning from them and avoiding such situations?

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  8. “it’s probably just a coincidence, right?” No, I don’t think that it is.

    “A public informed…will prove less vulnerable to manipulation.” Funny, that I hear people on both “sides” use this same ideology to promote their beliefs. So long as people continue to look at things as “right” or “left” and continue the divide, nothing is ever going to change.

    I wouldn’t say that I am populist, as I don’t see “the people” as solely good, though I see most of “the elite” as not good. I have heard rhetoric comparing Trump to Hitler. Reading the quoted passage you’ve shared is scary. I’d say half of the United States are bystanders. I guess I’d have to lump myself into that category. I don’t know what else to do, and I don’t believe voting is going to make things better. Acolytes = MAGA, or anyone at any time blindly following a delusional figurehead. Evildoers, well that could be anyone, too. I suppose I’d see many politicians that way.

    I am interested to know your thoughts as to whether populist beliefs are valid.

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    1. I probably need to think about it and give you a more complete answer but for now I’m going to say no. I don’t believe on the populist movement from either side of the political spectrum. A person who is a millionaire or billionaire that grew up that way cannot understand what you, me and millions of people trying to make a living are going through in life. Leaders on the populist movement use our challenges in life to advance their personal agendas. Our political system and institutions are not perfect but don’t think we need to destroy everything because some people think that there is something inherently wrong with it and they need a politician to be their savior. Melissa, I probably owe you a better explanation but that’s all I got for now.

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      1. I think I need to read more about it to better understand. We definitely don’t need politicians to be our saviors! I appreciate your answer.☺️ You don’t owe me any explanation. It is a lot of food for thought. I think many of us are striving for the same thing, we don’t know how to get there…I don’t think the government should have their hands in everything. I don’t think people should need to rely on the government. Today, I went to a church across the street that gives out boxes of food every Wednesday. Cars were pouring into the parking lot. They had a fluid system and got everyone in and out quickly. They gave two boxes of food. Enough to make most of several meals, snacks, etc. Then they had a tent set up with fruit, vegetables, breads, and things, and everyone could walk through and get a certain amount of each thing. Maybe I won’t make any sense at all – I see that as problem solving, community, the way our country should be run. Really take care of people. (I hate when people tell me I’m an idealist.) You’re right. We don’t need to destroy, we need to build.❤️

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