Strange Legacy

Why We Keep Referencing the Nazis

I read an article on MSNBC.com today about the back-and-forth between President Bush and Senator Obama over a remark the President made comparing attempted negotiation with hostile states like Iran and North Korea to Nazi appeasement. Obama, who has advocated this type of direct communication, interpreted this remark as a personal attack. While I might be able to write an interesting article about this feud, I’d rather address a topic I think is much more important: why do we frequently bring up Hilter and the Nazis as we grapple with the difficult international conflicts of the 21st century? I believe the answer to this question has a lot to do with our modern foreign policy outlook, as well as our national self-image.

Of all the wars fought by the United States in the 20th century, World War II is the war most frequently referenced – and, if I dare use the term, fondly remembered. Hollywood has produced a slew of movies glorifying the heroic efforts of the United States and its allies in defeating the Axis powers. This heroism has compelled some – such as news anchor Tom Brokaw – to describe the War World II generation as the “greatest generation” in this country’s history. Yet, why do we glorify the efforts of the generation which fought this particular war above those who’ve fought wars before and after?

Think about some of the other wars fought by the U.S. in the 20th century: World War I and the Korean War are generally overlooked, Vietnam is roundly criticized – even the first conflict in Iraq barely shows up as a blip on history’s radar. What makes World War II so special? I believe that the distinguishing characteristic that sets World War II apart from every other major conflict we’ve fought is the clearly defined struggle between good and evil.

Hitler is unanimously regarded as one of the most wicked men to ever live. The atrocities committed during the Holocaust continue to shock the conscience even today. Far more than Hitler’s efforts to conquer Europe, it is his attempt at genocide which still defines the struggle between the Axis and the Allies as a battle between good and evil itself.

It’s interesting to compare World War II to other major conflicts where this good v. evil dichotomy is not so readily apparent. It is hard to clearly define who the “good guys” and “bad guys” were during World War I; we sometimes view the attempt of one country to grab territory from a neighbor as “evil”, but historically speaking this label is arbitrarily assigned by the winners to the losers of a given conflict. While time generally diminishes the potency of such labels, the moral judgments of World War II have remained steadfast to the present.

The impact of World War II on democracy’s self-image is hard to overstate. By making himself a perfect icon of malevolence, Hitler allowed the allied powers to clearly define themselves as the good guys. The U.S. and its allies didn’t merely prevail against a conquering dictator – rather, the forces of good triumphed over the forces of evil. This triumph linked democracy, and the United States specifically, with a perception of righteousness. This perception has had a reciprocal affect on all the conflicts leading up to World War II, and all of those since – in every instance, we define ourselves as the champions of justice. The status of the United States as leader of the free world in the latter half of the 20th century wasn’t just a product of its economic and military might; it stemmed from the moral authority it acquired by defeating the Nazis.

World War II is easy to define as a conflict of absolutes. Despite being a rare exception, our culture seems to promote the idea that these conflicts are the norm. Think about the Star Wars movies – it’s hard to ignore the obvious comparisons between the evil Galactic Empire and the Nazi Regime. Darth Vadar and the Emperor readily acknowledge their own wickedness and even relish it; however, in the real world this is rarely how things work. Most wars stem from the inability of two sides to reconcile their legitimate grievances with one another diplomatically. Both believe they are right, or “good” and that the other is wrong, or “evil”.

It’s fascinating that anytime we seek to legitimize our involvement in a particular military conflict, or define a particular group as evil, we immediately begin referencing World War II and the Nazis. While this reference is certainly potent, I believe that it overused and generally misapplied. Certainly our world continues to provide us with clear examples of malevolence, but we should be able to define these forces on their own merits – not those of a regime which existed more than half a century ago. Exercising restraint in the use of this powerful emotional symbol will allow our nation to analyze its decisions more objectively. We must recognize that World War II does not give us an eternal label of validation and righteousness, or we risk becoming the very things that we despise.

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