George Orwell, in my opinion one of absolutely the best writers and philosophers of XX century, has once written review of Hitler's infamous "Mein Kampf" and among others he has commented that: "human beings don't only want comfort, safety, short working-hours, hygiene, birth control and, in general, common sense; they also, at least intermittently, want struggle and self-sacrifice, not to mention drums, flags, and loyalty parades." It is part of his diagnosis about how it happened that Nazism attracted so many...
We are not only rational but also - maybe even more so - emotional. How much emotion was in your choice of vacation destination/ buying car or house or last voting? Much mor than we willingly admit and in many cases it is a good thing - people are not (and shouldn't be) robots after all. Yet there are situations when the emotional, mythical part in us gets so upper hand that it suppresses completly rational part and that is potentially very dangerous situation.
Nazis are warning from history (as are communists except they are still very present). Those people didn't come from nowhere. Yes, their core was cynical and emotional at the same time but the rest? In 1928 elections they only scored 2.6% in elections (and they existed for good many years at the time), 2 years later - surprising popularity which led to parliamentary presence, than suppressing weak democracy, than.... we all know.
So, why do I write it now? The thing that triggered their first success was crisis of 1929 leading to people's desperation. Now we have similar (in some ways) situation. Europe is (and for at least 5 years will be) in crisis, possibly a very deep one. People's expectations have been elevated and now they have to be corrected. Just as Germans did not understand why they lost I WW now many don't understand why they have to give up current living style (and Germany lost I WW exactly as the massive debts in future generations culminated now). It is very fragile situation. We already hear in Europe (so far only from some extremists but the number of people talking this way is growing) about "betrial", "them" and so on.
Another example is many islamic countries with growing fanaticism. It sometimes comes from desperation but it doesn't diminish danger it brings.
Where do I aim? We are creatures of emotion and in hard times emotions take control much often and stronger. It is good for us to have them and sometimes they lead us to wonderful things. But they have dark side - hatred, vengance, blaming, believing in conspiracy, rascism. In times of trouble we are more vulnerable to this dark side. Understandable. But I want to ask you to be careful when you hear preachers of boycott, hatred, accusations, conspiracy theories etc. (many pointed against Israel, many having nothing to do with it but the former were the seed of this reflection) to be careful. It is ok to act on our emotions but let's try and not let some abuse them and mislead us as Hitler and his likes abused in this early time of Nazism emotions of so many in Germany.
It is a warning from history!
Finally an optimistic piece - here is a story of a man whose emotions were hijacked and abused during his upbringing and who freed himself and is now acting on his own emotions and rationale - it is always better to be one own's master (emotions, believes, feelings included). Here is
his story
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