Comparing Acceptance Speeches: Adolf Hitler 1933 and Barack Obama 2008By Mary Mostert November 10, 2008In 1933 when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, he gave an acceptance speech in which he described the then current condition of Germany as having "seen the unity of the nation vanishing away, dissolving in a confusion of political and personal opinions, economic interests, and ideological differences." In speeches that mesmerized the German people he promised change, unity and peace if the people would be "obedient" and follow his plans for National Socialism described in his book, Mein Kampf. On election night 2008, Barack Obama made pretty much the same promise. He described this nation as facing the "greatest challenges of our lifetime" and promised change, unity and peace, if only we now will rise and follow him as "one people" into his version of national socialism. Like Adolf Hitler, before he had any accomplishment to report, Obama wrote his autobiography "Dreams of My Father." And, like Hitler, Obama is viewed emotionally by most of his nation as one who can "save" them from problems or discomforts they experienced during a previous government. Now that he has been elected, Obama tells us, "at this defining moment, change has come to America ." The remaking of Germany into Hitler's dream of National Socialism led to World War II and more than 50 million deaths worldwide. I pointed out in March that Obama's message in effect was that most Americans are "victims" who can only be saved by Obama as president and a socialist government - apparently entirely financed by the 5% of the population he calls "rich." We had two choices: to vote for: John McCain, who has a long and public record of his love for this nation, his courage and willingness to serve and sacrifice for America and Barack Obama who is an accomplished orator who didn't have the love, courage or willingness to defend his own pastor when, after 20 years of being a member of his church, the man's sermons were made public. Obama has given only words and a book he wrote about himself for Americans to judge him by. Below are comparisons of Obama's and Hitler's speeches upon gaining the leadership of their nations. Although there now are many histories written about Hitler's leadership of Germany , none of them seem to reflect the upbeat mood of his acceptance speech of February 1, 1933. : Excerpts from Adolf Hitler's Speech to the German Nation, Berlin The misery of our people is horrible to behold! Millions of the industrial proletariat are unemployed and starving; the whole of the middle class and the small artisans have been impoverished. When this collapse finally reaches the German peasants, we will be faced with an immeasurable disaster. For then not only shall a nation collapse, but a two-thousand-year-old inheritance, some of the loftiest products of human culture and civilization. President-Elect Barack Obama's Speech Adolf Hitler's Speech to the German Nation, Berlin All about us the warning signs of this collapse are apparent. And as leaders of the nation and the national Government we vow to God, to our conscience, and to our people that we will faithfully and resolutely fulfill the task conferred upon us. The inheritance which has fallen to us is a terrible one. The task with which we are faced is the hardest which has fallen to German statesmen within the memory of man. But we are all filled with unbounded confidence for we believe in our people and their imperishable virtues. Every class and every individual must help us to found the new Reich. The National Government will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and co-operation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life. Turbulent instincts must be replaced by a national discipline as the guiding principle of our national life. All those institutions which are the strongholds of the energy and vitality of our nation will be taken under the special care of the Government. The National Government intends to solve the problem of the reorganization of trade and commerce with two four-year plans: President-Elect Barack Obama's Speech There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there. There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand. What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people. The speeches of two messianic figures are remarkably similar, aren't they?
|
|