Comments on: Quote of the Day

By: Paul S.

Paul S. — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:17:02 +0000

I watched "Triumph of the Will" again tonight. If you've never seen it, try to; Cinematographer Leni Riefenstahl's use of 1934 technology alone is stunning. The more we know about evil the better we can confront it, and defeat it.

By: Gary Rosen

Gary Rosen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:23:07 +0000

Far more relevant than Czechoslovakia's "legitimacy" or how many Sudeten Germans lived there was the fact that Hitler was a dangerous, evil madman. Churchill saw this. Chamberlain did not.

By: del

del — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:35:05 +0000

china flowers, Ivan N,

Howzabout you answer your own essay questions and directives first. Then others (may)get back to you.

By: china flowers

china flowers — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:34:09 +0000

Consider what legitimacy the Czechoslovak state, carved out of three Austrian provinces only 20 years earlier, really had.

By: Paul S.

Paul S. — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:21:03 +0000

Propaganda, as a window into the minds of both propagandist and audience, probably doesn't get as much attention as it deserves. A classic like "Triumph of the Will" depicts the subject exactly as he wanted to be depicted and, in the process, reveals some of his assumptions and expectations about its audience.

By: Barry Meislin

Barry Meislin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:27:24 +0000

Yes, but that is precisely the power of propaganda.

Those awful Czechs, you see....

Hence, the German takeover is/was more than justified.

The Palestinians are doing the same thing. Rather well, in fact, with the help of their many friends. They haven't yet managed succeeded to destroy the Zionist Entity. And so they're suffering mightily. Those poor, poor people.

At least that's what they say. (And is there any reason why one shouldn't believe them?)

By: Marian Kechlibar

Marian Kechlibar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:27:44 +0000

"brutal treatment ethnic Germans received by the majority Czech state."

Give me a break. The Germans in the first CS republic were not treated "brutally". The Czechoslovak state was a lawful one - a huge exception in the central Europe of 1930s.

By: Ken B

Ken B — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:37:54 +0000

Actually, I believe George Kennan said something to the effect that Czechoslovakia made a mistake in not attempting to resist the Nazi seizure of the Sudetenland after Munich. For one thing, the German generals were not confident of their ability to break through the very strong Czech mountain defenses.

By: Paul S.

Paul S. — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:42:22 +0000

Watching "Why We Fight" was educational because Frank Capra used excerpts of Hitler's speeches, in which he insisted the Reich had no claims on territories that Germany wanted only good relations with, all of which were subsequently invaded.

Addressing threats sooner creates the possibility of confronting them at a lesser cost with a greater probability of prevailing. Realistic assessments and courage are required. However, even ultimately accurate foresight is always a guess, so courage is the key; it has to override understandable apprehension.