University of Texas Tower
Don't Confuse Them With the Facts ...
RECEIVED Mon., Sept. 19, 2005
Louis Black,
After reading your column “Page Two: President Know-Nothing" [Sept. 16], I was struck by certain ironies in your sarcastic, political satire. The "history" of the Bush culture seems to be influenced more by their own ideology than by the actual events and results of the past. The most profound irony I observed was comparing Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler. Nazi Germany arose from the Weimar Republic, which was a failed attempt at a German democracy imposed on them by the allies under the terms of the Versailles Treaty. Kaiser Wilhelm II (not Hitler) was the ruler of Germany prior to World War I. Hitler was born in Austria – not Germany. He was appointed chancellor of Germany by then President Hindenburg (whom had won a majority of the popular vote) in an attempt to avert a civil war. This was during the Great Depression, and the German economy had failed. Hitler's demagoguery had won the support of the mainly unemployed German working class who were rioting in the streets. Iraq, on the other hand, was a former British colony governed by a constitutional monarchy which was finally overthrown. It eventually became ruled by the Baath Party. Saddam Hussein, who was born in Iraq, took control only after a series of violent struggles. He was the ruler of Iraq in both Gulf Wars.
Isn't it ironic that U.S. attempts at establishing/imposing democracy on others (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq) have either failed or had limited success? Yet, George W. insists he knows best how to reconstruct both Iraq and New Orleans (and the Mississippi Delta region). While Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster, the war in Iraq remains a lingering "miracle" (not a quagmire) of the Bush administration. Perhaps instead of quoting George Santayany, the Bush culture could have its own precarious quote: "Don't confuse me with the facts; we have an ideology!"
After reading your column “Page Two: President Know-Nothing" [Sept. 16], I was struck by certain ironies in your sarcastic, political satire. The "history" of the Bush culture seems to be influenced more by their own ideology than by the actual events and results of the past. The most profound irony I observed was comparing Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler. Nazi Germany arose from the Weimar Republic, which was a failed attempt at a German democracy imposed on them by the allies under the terms of the Versailles Treaty. Kaiser Wilhelm II (not Hitler) was the ruler of Germany prior to World War I. Hitler was born in Austria – not Germany. He was appointed chancellor of Germany by then President Hindenburg (whom had won a majority of the popular vote) in an attempt to avert a civil war. This was during the Great Depression, and the German economy had failed. Hitler's demagoguery had won the support of the mainly unemployed German working class who were rioting in the streets. Iraq, on the other hand, was a former British colony governed by a constitutional monarchy which was finally overthrown. It eventually became ruled by the Baath Party. Saddam Hussein, who was born in Iraq, took control only after a series of violent struggles. He was the ruler of Iraq in both Gulf Wars.
Isn't it ironic that U.S. attempts at establishing/imposing democracy on others (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq) have either failed or had limited success? Yet, George W. insists he knows best how to reconstruct both Iraq and New Orleans (and the Mississippi Delta region). While Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster, the war in Iraq remains a lingering "miracle" (not a quagmire) of the Bush administration. Perhaps instead of quoting George Santayany, the Bush culture could have its own precarious quote: "Don't confuse me with the facts; we have an ideology!"
Bill Vordenbaum
