When a leader acts without respecting the law, no one is safe

This election evokes haunting memories. During my career as a classroom teacher, my students and I have studied Germany in the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s. These horrific nightmare years provide a window into how a democratic, state-based society law, can turn into a lawless society – without the majority of its citizens having the intention of doing so.

How did this happen? We must look to Hitler and his attack on the rule of law. By attempting to overthrow Germany’s democratic government in 1923, he placed himself above the law. He used force by inciting a violent crowd. His attempt failed. He declared the crowd members innocent and patriotic, then praised them in “Mein Kampf”: “How those guys fought!” »

During his trial for his illegal act, he went on a long, repetitive, grievance-laden diatribe, portraying himself as a victim sacrificing himself for others. Convicted, he declared himself innocent, the judicial system being corrupt.

The same goes for Trump. Charged four times in four different jurisdictions, his violations of the law are well documented in both word and deed. Claiming he was the winner of the 2020 election, he said legal voting was corrupt. He summoned and implored a mob to storm our Capitol in an effort to thwart the people’s vote. His attempt failed. He hailed these court-convicted mafia members as “incredible patriots” and promised to pardon them if he came to power.

Tried and convicted in his trial involving the discreet payment of money to a porn star, Trump portrayed himself as a victim in a rambling, grievance-filled speech, saying, “If they can do this to me, they can do it to anyone. » He declared the trial “rigged”, the judge “corrupt”.

Once Hitler was in power in Germany, anarchy ruled the country. Citizens found they had no protection against threats, job loss, informants or door knocks in the dark of night that could lead to arrest, torture and the prison. Even those who had once supported Hitler could be roused to his will.

No one was safe. This can therefore happen when a manager acts without complying with the law.

Witness the fate of Mike Pence a century later. No disciple had been more faithful to his leader. Yet a disagreement with Trump put Pence’s life in grave danger.

Today, Trump is proposing “revenge,” “retribution,” and “prison” for those he perceives as his enemies if he comes to power. This is not the language of someone committed to the rule of law.

Germany’s experience with anarchy took a turn that created a human catastrophe beyond the reach of human understanding. Witness the horrific scenes in the camps that our brave troops watched, in horror, as they fought their way into Germany in 1945. Watching such indescribable scenes, these men had no doubt about the consequences possible in a society not protected by law.

Scenes that our American commander, General Eisenhower, ordered preserved on video footage so that this absolute depravity, this inhumanity, would never be recalled or denied. In accordance with this directive, our occupying forces ordered German citizens to view the images. Images which, years later, were revealed to be a dark educational message in the classroom. We would do well to steel ourselves to see it today. Sordid testimony of a private protection company against the rule of law.

To their great misfortune, the Germans did not know what they were getting into under the leadership of a leader who did not respect the law. Once they found out, it was too late. There was no way out. Democracy and the rule of law were never again on the agenda. There was no vote.

Trump said: “In four years, you won’t have to vote anymore. »

Living through this election cycle, I can empathize, better than ever in the classroom, with those tormented German citizens who once fought to preserve a society based on the rule of law.

JD Vance once asked himself: Is Trump “American Hitler”?

Not if we, citizens of a democracy, deny him our vote.

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