Something Interesting about Many Comments Here (And a Question)

Last updated on: July 22, 2020 at 7:04 am by Roger E. Olson

Something Interesting about Many Comments Here (And a Question) 2020-07-22T07:04:27-05:00 Roger E. Olson

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Something Interesting…about Many Comments Here…and a Question…

Some of my recent blog essays (“musings”) here have been about history. For example, I wrote about how Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany and what role Christians played in that. I also wrote about the beginning obvious signs of totalitarianism in certain South American countries. These are events everyone should know about. Many do not know about them. My point was simply that those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it (George Santayana).

Very interesting to me is how many people, on both sides of the current American political spectrum, thought that I was talking about America today and specifically about our current executive branch and our head of state and government. I didn’t even mention that/him.

Apparently, many of his and its supporters recognized enough similarities between the historical situations I wrote about and what is happening or possibly about to happen in America that they drew the conclusion that I was writing about that.

Isn’t that strange? Since they don’t think the comparison is valid? I didn’t make the comparison; they (some of you) did!

*Sidebar: The opinions expressed here are my own (or those of the guest writer); I do not speak for any other person, group or organization; nor do I imply that the opinions expressed here reflect those of any other person, group or organization unless I say so specifically. Before commenting read the entire post and the “Note to commenters” at its end.*

From now on I will not post comments here that do not stick to the subject of what I wrote. If I write about a particular historical event or sequence of events, don’t waste your time jumping to a topic not even mentioned in the blog post. Stick to the historical event or series of events described in the post. You can say “Well, if and insofar as similar things are happening today…,” but do NOT assume that I am talking about something I do not specifically mention.

Since so many did assume, rightly or wrongly, that I was really talking about current events in America, I will ask them/you this question: What would it take to convince you that our current American administration is stepping over a line into totalitarian territory? What signal would you look for? Is there anything our current administration would do that would cause you to say “That’s going too far; I can’t support it anymore?”

Don’t bother saying something silly like “If it became ‘leftist’ or ‘supported abortion’ or anything like that. Keep it real. If the current administration stayed the same with regard to policies and promises, what actions of it would cause you to stop supporting it because you decide it is too authoritarian?

Keep it real; be civil and serious. I will not post comments containing insults or hostility or sheer argumentative rhetoric.

*Note to commenters: This blog is not a discussion board; please respond with a question or comment only to me. If you do not share my evangelical Christian perspective (very broadly defined), feel free to ask a question for clarification, but know that this is not a space for debating incommensurate perspectives/worldviews. In any case, know that there is no guarantee that your question or comment will be posted by the moderator or answered by the writer. If you hope for your question or comment to appear here and be answered or responded to, make sure it is civil, respectful, and “on topic.” Do not comment if you have not read the entire post and do not misrepresent what it says. Keep any comment (including questions) to minimal length; do not post essays, sermons or testimonies here. Do not post links to internet sites here. This is a space for expressions of the blogger’s (or guest writers’) opinions and constructive dialogue among evangelical Christians (very broadly defined).

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