To the editor: I learn with deep unhappiness the article by Jackie Calmes reflecting on the writings of Hannah Arendt (“What Hannah Arendt saw in Hitler’s Germany, we can see in Trump’s America,” April 10). As a former instructor of American Historical past, I taught my college students in regards to the Structure and the rule of legislation.
My college students had been instructed on what occurs when the stability of energy is uncontrolled. My eighth-graders discovered about Nazi Germany and what led to the rise of Hitler. My courses usually would ask how individuals simply stood by and watched because the ugliness of genocide unfolded.
By no means may I’ve imagined the potential for that occuring in our nation. However we live in instances that recommend that we worth one-man rule as a substitute of democracy. We have to be a part of the answer of saving our valued establishments or we too shall be held chargeable for our democracy’s demise.
Micki Wooden, Fullerton
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To the editor: In Calmes’ wonderful column about Arendt, she doesn’t explicitly point out Arendt’s vital idea of the “banality of evil,” which observes that evil might be perpetrated and assented to by unusual individuals, not simply monsters, by way of thoughtlessness, ignorance, disinterest or lack of essential pondering. It will also be allowed to take maintain due to the unquestioning obedience to a pacesetter of bureaucrats who is probably not inherently evil however produce other egocentric pursuits that trigger them to miss or disregard the damaging intents of the individual they serve. We should all develop into extra conscious of the warning indicators.
Lewis T. Rosenthal, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Studying the column on Arendt’s writings about Hitler’s rise to authoritarian energy, I used to be reminded of the saying by thinker George Santayana: “Those that can’t keep in mind the previous are condemned to repeat it.” We could also be right here once more, solely 9 a long time later.
Evelyn Goodman, Culver Metropolis
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To the editor: I’d wish to congratulate Calmes on her article. She nailed it! Every part that President Trump is doing is the beginning of a dictatorship. Everybody ought to learn this column. It’s incredible. Hopefully, I’ll watch the PBS documentary on Arendt on June 27.
Lolita Coffey, Torrance
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To the editor: Arendt’s “The Origins of Totalitarianism” is a much more encompassing evaluation of authoritarian, freedom-denying regimes than Hitler’s Germany. Upon studying, it’s simple — if no more probably — to conclude that Arendt’s a lot higher worry can be of at this time’s Democrats and it’s Marxist wing (progressives), each culturally and economically, and supported by academia, the leisure trade and far of the media.
Kip Dellinger, Santa Monica
