Monday, Rod Schick complained in a letter to the editor that I politicized my recent travel talk at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. During that talk, I showed this photograph of a Berlin monument that memorializes the first people Hitler sent to his concentration camps: 96 members of the German parliament (the equivalent of the U.S. House of Representatives) who opposed him.
In 1932, Germany was a democratic republic with a constitution and an elected parliament. It was an election year, and Hitler promised his “lock ‘em up” base (the angry, frightened, racist and lesser-educated of that society, who were bolstered and funded by big corporate interests) that he would enact retribution against his opponents. The Nazi Party had a landslide victory in that election. And soon enough, Hitler became chancellor, created a new security force to stamp out his opposition, and enacted a totalitarian regime.
Each of the 96 slabs on the monument standing in front of Germany’s historic parliament building has the name of a German Pelosi, Romney, Kinzinger or Biden who spoke out against Hitler within a democratic system. And each of them was murdered outright or “locked up” in a concentration camp. Etched into each black slab are their name, political party (not Nazi), birth and death dates, and the location of their murder or the concentration camp they died in.
When we travel, we can learn from history. After standing before those slabs, what else could a good tour guide say, as a proud, freedom-loving American who lives in a land where a wannabe autocrat has essentially the same base, the same “drain the swamp and lock ‘em up” gameplan, and just wants to be our dictator for a day? This year, wearing my “Keep on Travelin’” t-shirt, I’ll be traveling far and wide across the US, from Edmonds to Charlotte, to share the value of travel. And like Rod Schick, a few of my attendees will walk out and vow never to use my guidebooks or take my tours.
— By Rick Steves
Good for you. As the (paraphrased) saying goes, those who don’t know or ignore history are doomed to repeat it.
The person writing to the editor seems to have forgotten January 6th, the fake electors, and the election meddling in Georgia. It’s not just “one comment” by a Presidential candidate. It’s a pattern of behavior, and people like you are telling an important cautionary tale.
Trump was president did he do as Hitler did? Did he lock up or kill his political enemies? Did the Democrats and establishment and media try to persecute him the entire time he was in office why yes they did. Have Democrats and media vilified not just him but all his supporters why yes they have. In fact one could argue Democrats the establishment and media have done much of what they said Trump would do because a outsider as president was unacceptable. I am not here to carry trump’s water but your comparison of what Hitler did and what Trump did during his time in office are apples and oranges. But thanks for the history lesson trump may very well be reelected should we all start packing our bags to leave the country because of your perceived risk?
Jim, Trump has been shouting from the rooftops that he plans to lock up his political enemies: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/11/trump-lock-up-enemies-biden-authoritarian-justice-department-trial.html.
Amy you don’t have to tell me all the awful or concerning things he has said. I look to the actions. My only concern with his action is his fit over the election I too have concerns because of the changes to the election enacted by Democrats by edict without time or manpower and agreed upon rules in the name of a emergency. Which gave a Avenue for a great deal of fraud. I don’t think either party wanted to dig very deep my opinion. But no I didn’t travel to DC to force my elected leaders to do something they shouldn’t of to over throw the government guess we had a few over zealous people not unlike the summer of love but certainly not a legitimate insurrection. If the people really wanted the halls of power there would be little to stop them. Do you know why?
Well, actually yes Jim, you are carrying Trump’s water. Mr. Steves is not comparing what Hitler did to what Trump did, he’s rightly pointing out that Trump’s behavior, language, and vision are all of a kind with Hitler and other dictators. Don’t want to believe history or the media, then take it from Trump himself who recently promised his supporters “to be a dictator on day 1”. Or take it from Trump himself the many, many times he has praised authoritarian leaders around the world including war criminals such as Putin. We almost lost our democracy in the aftermath of the 2020 election. We may not be as lucky if Trump is given another chance. What Mr. Steves is offering here is not a comparison but a warning, if one is willing to listen. Obviously, many are not.
If I was carrying Trumps water me and millions of other people would have taken the country by force. Your fear of those that think our priorities are going in the wrong direction is palatable.
Thanks Jim, could not have said it better. Trump, the DEA, some military personnel, confiscated tons of heroin and cocaine before entering the country. Did that makes the news? NO! Because it was a good deed! How was our economy under Trump? How were gas prices? How about getting people to pay their fair share in trade negotiations with other countries. We had no terrorists attacks. There was under the previous admin. Rememver the Boston bombing. Children were maimed, No war under Trump, now we are funding 2 wars! Rick you are being disingenuous. You push Marijuana (the gateway drug)and your staff said you have for years inspite of drugs weakening the mind and later the body. That’s not a free America, that’s an America politicians can control when others don’t have their faculties. I’m disgusted by your comparison and you are part of the dangerous establishment leading to a
more enslaved population of noncritical thinkers. Because you are a known figure here you think your views are more important and people should follow you. Sad for those who don’t see what you have become. A less free man pushing that narrative off on others. Jim, thanks for speaking the truth.
Obviously, not you!
Or maybe you might check out TFG’s latest rhetoric.
Thank you for your real thoughts regarding President Trump. Yes, the Democrats, print media and television,so called personalities, demonized him every day and continue to do so. Senators and House members who invented charges carry on today with the same vigor. No consequences ever touch them. How many of you have ever visited a Concentration Camp? It’s a chilling experience. The blood walls, guillotine, living quarters and lastly the cutting room where Germans butchered the bodies before putting in crematorium. I personally have. Perhaps those of you who profess President Trump is Hitler need further education and a real visit to any Concentration camp or Holocaust museum to be educated.
History can definitely teach us a lot, and right now a whole bunch of alarm bells are going off. Thanks for all that you do, Rick. Keep on keeping on!
Rick Steves you have my utmost respect and am grateful for your beautifully written response to resident Schick. Trump’s base has a lot in common and number one is in not being informed. Watching Fox entertainment is the equivalent of an entire day of cartoons in 15 minutes. Trump supporters aren’t capable of connecting the dots. IF trump had the support of the military on 1/06 he would have walked right back into the WH and sat on his gold throne, our democracy gone and the world forever changed. If you don’t get that please don’t be like trump…..READ!!
Mr. Steves, as someone who had family members (great aunts and uncles) murdered in camps during the Holocaust I found your politicizing this horrible tragedy with a partisan modern twist saddening. Shameful.
Trump’s rhetoric is frightening. Rod Schick doesn’t want to admit it and announces his intention to ignore Rick Steves’s warnings and boycott his tours, that’s fine by me. (Note: no relation to commenter Brad Holden; my father’s name was Hochfeld, anglicized when he took American citizenship in 1943.)
Thank you Robert. And fred this is Rick’s response vague in actual detail of of history but yet trying to justify his position so yes rick is going out on a limb politically. As am I for pushing back on his comparison.
Rick Steve’s correctly points out that Germany was a democratically-elected republic in 1932. It’s also important to remember Hitler was appointed, not elected, Chancellor in January 1933. The Nazi party actually lost votes from the Spring to Fall elections in 1932. It is a fascinating story well told by William Shirer in “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.” However, his segue from the “angry, frightened, racist, and lesser educated” to the “drain the swamp and lock them up” to “dictator for a day” is a gross misguided oversimplification of Germany in the early 30’s and the United States of 2024. The significance of Article 19 (War Guard Clause), runaway inflation, 30+% unemployment rate, to name a few, all factored into Hitler’s rise to power and don’t exist in our country today. The conditions are vastly different. To imply that the 74 million who voted for Donald Trump are “essentially the same base” and are racist, uneducated Nazis is passing judgement on a large group of people who might not necessarily like Donald Trump or his rhetoric, but don’t like the direction of our country either. Comparing Trump to Hitler is a quick way to lose your credibility.
Perhaps Rick isn’t the one “politicizing” this.
Thank you Rick! My partner and I are looking forward to joining a Rick Steves tour to Bulgaria this fall. Your approach to travel and understanding that it is a political act, and your knowledge and emphasis on history are why we and our extended family support your company..
The comparisons with Trump are timely and apt. You are late to the game. Trump did not do all of what he wanted, not because he was restrained or observant of democratic guardrails — he was incompetent and even those under him resisted his dark designs. It’s appalling that you see January 6 and all the not so veiled antisemitic rhetoric and promises to lock up his enemies if re-elected as anything but aspirations to destroy democracy and perpetuate his power. You’re not carrying Trump’s water. You have drunk his Kool Aid.
Thank you, Rick Steves, for pointing out so forcefully how history repeats itself. As some Trump supporters argue, we should ignore his voiced intentions should he be returned to office. If you believe that to be correct please view “Fascism in Europe” in the 1920s-1930s on PBS stations. Mr. Trump has already declared his plan to nullify his political opponents if re-elected. Until Steves pointed it out I didn’t realize that Hitler’s first holocaust crime was nullifying his political opponents.
All my life I’ve been judgmental about the good German citizenry who enabled Hitler’s rise to power. Today I witness the same process happening right under my nose in our country with millions supporting a wanna-be autocrat. I am shocked by the similarity and while I don’t excuse those folks of a century ago I’m less critical of them. And I’m apprehensive about the future of our democracy. . . .
Trump is just a talker and showman and as typical talkers and showmen, tends to bark more than bite, as we saw during his tenure in the White House when none of his persecutors were persecuted. Quite the contrary. He spent all his tenure defending himself from stuff that if applied to several other politicians (including the current one in the White House) would have landed them in prison for many years. I remember his opponents spending millions investigating him and could not come up with anything really serious. Conversely, if we used the same metrics on that farce in the White House, there are corruption, grafting, tax evasion and a lot worse hovering over his and his family’s heads.
However, if we will use the persecution of political opponents as a metric, the democrats have been breaking records, including making things up and using differentiated measures when dealing with their allies and their opponents (e.g. Jan 6 demonstrators vs. antifa and blm – just for starters).
I’m not happy with the current lack of quality candidates to run for POTUS (and other positions as well) but let’s be honest and call a spade what’s really a spade.
Thank you Rick! Your response to Mr. Schick’s letter is respectful, thoughtful, and articulate. It probably does not need to be said, but your commitment to basic human decency, education, and building community are deeply appreciated here in Edmonds and around the world. Please keep up the good work.
Thanks as always to readers for expressing a range of viewpoints. This thread is now closed.