This morning I finished watching the 3-part series on the BBC which documented the rise of the Nazi party in Germany starting in the early 1930s and ending with Hitler taking full power in 1934. I learned a lot about the internal struggles within the Nazi party and how they seized power. Mas the story of Rohm and the Storm Troopers. The documentary showed that Rohm was Hitler’s closest ally. Himler and Goring conspired to make it seem that Rohm was plotting with the conservative elite to stage a coup at Hitler’s expense. The evidence was all fabricated yet ended with the commanders of the Storm Troopers and Rohm being rounded up and executed on Hitler’s orders. One commentator in the documentary urged us not to feel too sorry for Rohm as he was prepared to use the same tactics.
The other interesting/shocking part of the documentary was how the Nazis blamed a fire at the Reichstag on the Communist party and subsequently rounded 4,000 of them up and either executed them or sent them to concentration camps. It’s deeply distressing to know that you could be executed for having different political views. I sensed some similarities with the current global climate; partisan politics has become more prevalent over the past 10 years and more and more people have become polarised. I have to always remind myself to have empathy for those I disagree with and remember that even people with abhorrent views think they are doing what is “right”.
My key takeaway from the documentary is that you must never silence dissent or scapegoat people to further your own cause. I also do not see how a violent revolution can ever be justified. This is something I will look in to further but from my understanding of the French and Russian revolutions, violent revolutions are doomed to failure as they give certain people too much power.
I have also tidied the bathroom this morning and was able to get the reflective services cleaner than usual by using white vinegar to clean them. Whilst cleaning the bathroom I listened to the BBC World Service 2020 review of misinformation. Most of the topics had been covered by them on previously programmes throughout the year but it was still interesting to hear all the main points again. I still struggle to deal with conspiracy theories; I now tend to be more compassionate to those that regurgitate them and try my best not to judge but I do find them troubling.
Today I’m feeling grateful for the apartment that I live in. It’s relaxing and full of natural light. I’m excited by the prospect of 2021 and I’m keen to continue improving and implementing more good habits.
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