Hitler's Long Shadow 

     We are tired of Democrats claiming President Trump is another Hitler. Eighty years later, do most Americans even know who Hitler was? 

     The Age of Hitler, by Alec Ryrie. In WORLD magazine, James Wood summarizes, "For too long, Western politics has been defined by its devils. We avoid another Hitler, racist fascism, anti-Semitism, etc." 

     "We struggle to find common loves, and we are left only with common fears and hates. Is this all there is to civilization? The West replaced the Christian story with the anti-Nazi story. Scripture and Christianity were simplified into humanism and hatred of fascism. This has blinded us to all sorts of other evils, and poor guidance." 

     "We are too quick to make parallels between problems we face today and the battle against the Nazis. We will treat every problem with the same ruthlessness used by the Allies." 

     "Ryrie is okay with insights and values gained during the age of Hitler. He just thinks our values should rest on the firmer foundations of a richer story. He wants the West to return to its Christian roots, far more rich, positive and firm than simply fearing fascists."

     "But he also wants us to receive the gains in moral and political wisdom from the past century. Both the Christian story and the Hitler story are part of the West's heritage. It's just that the latter should not over-shadow and erase the former."

      Jimmy