When I got to one of my offices yesterday (I won't say which, lest you hold it against them, which I certainly don't), people were crowded around the computer, watching the latest video on YouTube. And laughing.
You've got to see this, and I did. It's called "Hillary's Downfall." It's a subtitled clip from a German movie depicting Hitler going on a major rant, having kicked all but his top men out of the room, and then letting them have it for the failings on the Russian front. In the latest version, Hillary is Hitler. Told by her advisers that she is losing the nomination battle, she kicks all but four — Carville, McAuliffe, Wolfson and Bill — out of the room and then blames them, the voters and the superdelegates, and insults Obama, Howard Dean, etc. Reading this, I know, it doesn't sound funny. But believe me when I tell you that everyone I saw watch it found themselves laughing, and cringing, too, despite themselves.
When I got home and told my in-house arbiter of popular culture that I had actually seen a video he hadn't, my 15-year-old son quickly pulled up all the earlier versions of the same clip, which were, in a way, funnier still — Hitler ranting about being kicked off of Microsoft Live, losing his Xbox account, being reduced to playing with a Wii because his World of Warcraft character had been caught botting, etc. My "find" was only the latest in a series of funny Hitler videos.
That Adolf Hitler! Ha! Ha! What a riot. A laugh a minute.
There is, obviously, something very troubling about this very popular series. Hitler is not funny. Killing six million Jews is no joke.
Waging war across Europe, slaughtering millions of people because of their religion, or because they were gypsies or gay, is just not humorous. Sixty years, almost to the day, from the founding of Israel out of the ashes of the Holocaust, can it be that putting words to the rant of the most evil man of our time is the key to Internet fame, if not fortune? In the six days it's been up, "Hillary's Downfall" has received nearly 300,000 views — and four stars out of a possible five. Nearly a thousand people have posted comments, most of them positive.
When I was growing up, the Holocaust was a fresh memory for the people of my parents' generation, and because of that, for mine as well. My Hebrew schoolteacher had a number on his arm. He made us look at the pictures, to the chagrin of some of the parents, who wondered if we weren't too young to be exposed to such horror. But of course no one was too young to be a victim. The point was never to forget.
The generation that witnessed Hitler's evil first-hand is dying. The "survivors," even the youngest of them, are old now. The Holocaust, to today's teenagers, is something that was over nearly 50 years before they were born. World War I never meant much to me personally, yet it was closer to my birth than the Holocaust is to theirs. The danger isn't simply that we will forget, but the way in which we remember.
Do the people making these videos have any idea what the "real" Hitler is actually saying? Or, even more importantly, what he did? The reality is that the kind of hatred he fed on, spewed and spread is still very much alive. It it weren't, he might be funny.
The image that stuck with me was not of Hitler ranting, but of myself, my son, my colleagues, laughing.
To find out more about Susan Estrich and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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8 Comments | Post Comment
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That is sick. It reminds me of that repulsive, brainless television "comedy" show Monty Python's Flying Circus. That disgusting program made light of such beyond-the-pale topics as Hitler, the Spanish Inquisition, and the plight of sexually repressed lumberjacks. When will people learn?
Comment: #1
Posted by: Steve
Wed May 14, 2008 6:48 AM
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Susan, Did you ever stop to think that Hillary is a socialist? And that she (or BHO) would ruin this country if elected to the presidency? To compare her to Hitler is a mild comparison. She is pure evil, and until you see that, you are her accomplice. You stoop to unbelievable levels to defend her. You are her puppet. She is dishonest, a liar, a person who cares only to become the most powerful person in the world. She will stop at nothing (as she has already proved). Please stop defending and promoting this power-hungry person who has already destroyed almost everyone who stood in her path to power. Please, Susan. Please stop defending this faker. Thanks for reading my rant.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Tammy
Wed May 14, 2008 4:39 PM
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COnsidering you fall all over yourself defending Hillary and her Marxist agenda I'm not surprosedyou would be offended.
You have never had a problem w Dems comparing our troops to Hitlers or to GWB being compared to Hitler or to any non-communist being compared to Hitler.
Now you're concerned ??
How fake.
How disingenueous.
How perfectly partisan.
How stupid.
How fawning.
You are a useful idiot.
Comment: #3
Posted by: samuel tillman
Thu May 15, 2008 6:01 AM
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Of course Hitler isn't funny. The world could never forget what an atrocity his life was, or what evil happened as a result of his being. We cannot forever whisper his name in frightened solemnity, we should laugh. He and his kind should be mocked and giggled at whenever possible. Every syllable they utter and every action they take should be mined for its ludicrous content and held up for everyone to enjoy.
I am frankly a little surprised that someone who earns a living on their intellect should have such a two dimensional take on this. Where exactly is the part where the joke is the millions that Hitler murdered? Isn't the joke a power mad crazy deluding themself into being the victim of the cruel world? I know you love Hillary but come on don't you think you're being a little obtuse?
Comment: #4
Posted by: Mark
Thu May 15, 2008 3:46 PM
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I am in total agreement with Tammy. Where were you when the democrats compared President Bush to Hitler. I am in total belief that all that is happening is biblical and the second coming is happening sooner then we have feared . I don't think you are an idiot like Samuel does but I am surprised that you support a person like Hillary or is it just for recognition from the democratic party and a pay check. You are worried about the above but where is the mention of Russia and how it is silently building strength. Russia is independent in oil and if our supply is cut off we are paralysed even our military because of the struggle for power and stupidity of the democrats. Look at the connection of Iran and Russia. You better tell your democrats to WAKE UP and look around for it is change alright but not in the way Obama states it. In my 53 yrs I am scared. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Comment: #5
Posted by: Kathaleen McCausland
Thu May 15, 2008 5:11 PM
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Is Hitler Funny??? Is this the question???? Is he funny??? My grandfather fought him on the mountains and on the fields. Yet some no good writers who have been given a pencil and column to fill in have decided to write whatever doesnt infringe the wwants and needs of the few. Who in the name of any god would say that the Jews are fair, Who is actually paying attention to the voices around the plannet that say that the WW2 was a plot well thought of. Well at least those who have been offered the columns to write never make any remarks cause it is against Semites and is regarded as highly anti-semitic. The truth however is that Americans are supposedlly suppoprting Democracy. Yet they have two parties only...Democrats and Republicans, two words one Latin and One Greek both meaning the same. I think lads and Gals that you just runned out of Democracy in your freedomless country in view of security. The Jews were some of those who suffered but not those who suffered the most. Some lady wrote GOD BLESS AMERICA. Bless who???????????? The universal Cop who destroyes countries to feed its power fed nation with oil???? Where is the sence in you people.... You know all the things you do will get back to you..... You resemble to a stupid Giant. As stupid as it gets..... Hitler thought he was free to do whatever he wanted and yet......he got what he deserved.....So will you.... Its coming just wait and see..... As for the republicans..... I think you are the worst race of people cause you need wars all over the world so that you have a reason to exist....McCain is even more war hungry than Bush.. Liars liars liars, I just want to tell you that we in EUROPE dont know what to feel for you anymore.... Pitty, Aversion, HAte, Lough at you for the stuppidity that you grow your young people with.....You name it..... 90% of your people are regarder as rednecks for most Europeans..... I hope you wake up before its too late..... Please understnd ....... I M BEING FRIENDLY AND THIS IS ALL THE FRIENDLY ADVISE I CAN GIVE TO YOU
Comment: #6
Posted by: tppdpls76@yahoo.com
Fri May 16, 2008 7:19 AM
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Re: tppdpls76@yahoo.com
I find it funny that a European is ranting about the United States, in a Hitler related article. I wish I could of taken my Great Uncle, and two Grandfather's time in the military saving Europe back right now. I have a great uncle that hasn't had a life because of being shot up bad on the beaches in Normandy. Those wars you speak of, are to promote democracy across the Globe, and the freedoms of all people, men, women black and white. Not bow down to aggressors like yourself. We had to save Europe from an aggressor before, and we are in the midst of doing it again, even though it wasn't in the best interest of our country. So before you whine about how bad Americans are bud, remember a lot of us have died and sacraficed just so you can have the democracy and freedom you deserve.
As for the Hitler movies, is everyone just that sensative anymore? We all have our insecurities, but we expect everything to not hurt our feelings. If the Hitler rant was instead a Howard Dean rant would that be funny? The comedy behind the Hitler rant is the other language. It would not be half as funny to someone who spoke German, because they would know what he was saying. I am by far not a hitler fan, and I understand he was an evil man, but at some point come on! One of my best friends is Jewish, and he finds the Hitler rants humerous, because he knows what is being done in them, that it is satire, through using someone screaming in another language.
So my advise to everyone. Don't watch it if it offends you, and if you hate America. Go ____ yourself, because we have most likely saved your ass at one point, and at some point if you keep it up, we are going to get a President and a group of people that says, you know what? Let them fight it out on their own see how they can do. It is coming soon, because our ability to pay for bailing these countries out have dwindled. Since there are never any repayments of their debt.
Comment: #7
Posted by: Pete
Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:28 AM
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There are dozens and dozens of these parodies now....and yes, they are funny. It's not Hitler that is funny but the concept of Apple or Ebay or World of Warcraft having control over Hitler and his henchmen. It's very funny when Hitler can't get a refi after his ARM resets and hell its even funnier that he thinks Vista was better then XP. In every single case....every parody....Hitler is never depicted as funny....he is depicted as a madman; but the concept is very funny. So, when this Jew looks out his office window at the Rhine as Hitler is ranting because the IPad has no camera....its funny, its very funny....and I know I'll never forget...
Comment: #8
Posted by: David
Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:30 PM
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