The Meaning of "NAZI"

Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago to Philosophy
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The word Nazi is actually the symbol for the National Socialist Party in the German language. It has, however, come to be used as a way to call a person or organization a nasty epithet. It symbolizes a totalitarian mentality which has no regard for human life and requiring total obedience to the state or the dictator or both.Many years ago in his book "The Ominous Parallels" Leonard Piekoff expressed rejection of five of the most common
interpretations of Nazism. Each is dismissed in order to present a serious analysis of the subject. So I'm presenting this challenge to the Gulch to provide a definitive explanation of this often misused and incorrectly used word. This is not a sum total quiz. Piekoff's definition might not be even be the best one.I have a feeling that that there are better ones in the Gulch that are better used. Here are the five incorrectly used explanations of Nazism:

1. Nazism is caused by ignorance; The Nazi criminals and their supporters were primitive barbarians.
2. Nazism is caused by the accidental seizure of power by a small minority of vicious men.
3. Nazism is caused by the innate depravity of human nature.
4. Nazism is caused by a corruption of the people. It is a disease of the people.
5. Nazism was caused by a specific military, economic, and governmental crises.

Your answer can be as long or as short as you wish. Piekoff's definition ran on to become an essay. I'll try to slice it into its cogent parts. Nazism is a philosophy of an array of theories , doctrines, opinion, notions and beliefs, which by using propaganda at top volume via all forms of media.It is to be heard by those who voted for them and sympathized and embraced them.

Note, that the philosophy covered as many premises as possible in order to include the interests of as many people as possible. Its point was to gather up followers because even 10% of the people when gathered in one place, makes a formidable crowd.

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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Except for the fact that he was a paranoid schizofrenic, he was a pretty good chief executive. Not the best, but a very long way from the worst.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    As far as the worst was concerned, I'd save that honor for Obama. But it's true FDR is right up there in the realm of Presidents out to destroy the nation. When I was a kid, he was most revered, to the point of occulpying a spot on Mount Rushmore. By the way, the other Roosevelt who IS up there doesn't deserve the honor either..
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Nazi has become such a perjorative term that it's used as a swear word in order to call someone or something a vile name.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Let's see: There's Iran, North Korea, Syria, immigration, the wall, the economy, and a myriad of other problems, but Trump has to concern himself with the nonsense Mueller probe. What a waste of time, money and resources. They should be ashamed that they're hurting the country by wasting time trying to impeach or otherwise discredit the President.
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  • Posted by LibertyBelle 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Plus, I suppose that under Fascism, you, if you are an owner, are held responsible if something goes wrong with the business, even though the government has been telling you what to do, Herb 7734.
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  • Posted by LibertyBelle 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What, Nixon? Well, 1970. But look what he did in 1971, with those wage/price controls. (Years later, I heard him admit on TV that that had been a mistake).
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  • Posted by LibertyBelle 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    As much as I don't agree with trashing the dead (as they cannot defend themselves), there are exceptions, in cases where the deceased have been rammed down people's throats so much. I got so tired (even in my early adolescence) of hearing FDR hailed as a hero and a savior; I didn't agree with most of what he had done (he lived before I was born), when I thought about individual rights and the proper purpose of government. And later, I found that he was even worse than I had thought. In fact, I think he was the worst President this country ever had, with the possible exception of Barack Obama.
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  • Posted by LibertyBelle 6 years, 12 months ago
    It seems to me that the best policy would be to just call a thing whatever it is. If you mean Communism, say "Communism". If you mean totalitarianism, say "totalitarianism". If you mean fascism, say "fascism". If you mean statism, say "statism". And if you mean National Socialism, (Nazism), say "Nazism".-- There has been, in my lifetime, considerable effort to oppose Communism to Nazism (or fascism) but, in my book, they are both different sides to the same counterfeit coin.
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  • Posted by term2 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I voted for Trump bacause I felt he could slow down the march to collectivism. He has done that, but only to the extent that he doesnt need the congress. The eatablishment is decidedly fascist.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Great point! The Federal Reserve remains the most collectivist idea hiding under the skirts of Lady Freedom. There's so much crap needing immediate attention that I doubt if Trump will get around to it before his 8 years are up.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    There is an innate distrust that people have for one another, but somehow, the government that gives and doesn't take can do better since it doesn't participate in the dog-eat-dog of life. Of course that's B.S. The worst offender is the government, but collectivist philosophies would have you believe just the opposite.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You are right. That's what happens when you have a mixed economy. Part controlled and part free. Under Obama we almost lost the free part.
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  • Posted by Solver 6 years, 12 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Some would say that evidence of Fascism is where government and business merge so as to be indistinguishable from one another. The Federal Reserve is a good example of this.
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  • Posted by DrZarkov99 6 years, 12 months ago
    Technically, Nazism is just another flavor of totalitarianism, like many others. The term "totalitarian" was invented by Benito Mussolini, intended to mean that the state would have total responsibility for the care of its citizens, to give them a sense of security.

    I keep going back to the best book on the subject, Eric Hoffer's "The True Believer, a Study of Mass Movements." Hoffer breaks down what exemplifies the leaders and the followers of such movements in plain language, and his book is an enjoyable, if unsettling read.

    As for the use of the term "Nazi" as a polemic, it's merely the latest in a long line of accusatory labels designed to shut down rational discussion. In the age of the religious state, to be labeled a blasphemer, heretic, or infidel left the accused with no hope of refuting the charge. When terms like Nazi, racist, or homophobe are hurled at a conservative or libertarian, the intent is to make it clear the accuser's mind is tightly shut.
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