butswana

Give the fundies absolute power like the taliban had. It wouldn't take long for the similarities to become evident to anyone.

Euromutt

Good one, butswana - we only have to (re-)read The Handmaid's Tale to get an idea of America run by "conservative Christians"!
Well, we have two groups - both claim to rigidly follow a book written some 1500 to 2000 years ago (only counting the New Testament), and wish to coerce others into conforming to what they claim are the guidelines laid out in it, despite the fact that leading professional theologians and linguists quibble about the proper translation and interpretation.
I don't see where Jews or Nazis come in to this comparison at any point. Well, as someone once mused on some discsussion board "There should be an unwritten rule in Internet debate that the first person to bring up the Nazis automatically loses the argument."
Falwell loses. Even before a debate began.

hezekiah jones

<a href="http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/legends/godwin/" target="_blank">The Godwin's Law FAQ</a>.

(Thanks to Pantera.)

Orpheous99

Probably made up by someone who was always compared to a nazi.

Beelzebub

I always get a kick out of those who would compare Nazi's to Israeli's. When they can give me the names of Jews in the third reichs parliment or the palestinian lampshades, I might even listen. I wonder if Fallwell ever heard of the christian reconstructionists? Sounds like Taliban to me.

bonduca

Since the Taliban/fundie comparison came up, here's a bit of entertainment:

<a href="http://www.pawcreek.org/Housewife.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pawcreek.org/Housewife.htm</a>

ModularGod

EVEN IF one did not compare SOME elements of jewish control over the palestinian territories to Nazi tactics during WWII .... (one COULD make a clear analogue ... Nazis, for instance, DID invade lands other than there own, and terrorize the populace ... think of the siege of the warsaw ghetto as a parallel to jewish incursions in the territories ) .... such metaphors have no bearing on the similarities between Christian and Muslim fundamentalism. Perhaps Mr. Falwell's memory is just too short (or perhaps he is simply ignorant of) the brutal tactics of the christian crusades ? ...... Certainly one could compare the destruction of 3000 innocent lives in the WTC to the siege of Jerusalem in 1099 (70000 innocent 'souls' lost) ..... or perhaps the subtle destruction of the Albi Cathari (200000 innocents over 25 years ) ...

The words of Nestorius to Theodosius in 428 AD:

"Give me, O Caesar!" he exclaimed, "give me the earth purged of heretics, and I will give you in exchange the kingdom of heaven. Exterminate with me the heretics; and with you I will exterminate the Persians."

LETS fast forward to:

"Give Me, O Mujahadeen ... a building purged of infidels, and I will give you 77 houris in heaven ...."

The metaphor is based on reality, and is legitimate .... Christian fundamentalism IS Taliban fundamentalism ....

and BTW: ..... I think the flame illuminated faces of the book burners in New Mexico STRONGLY resembled those of 30's germany ..... same evil grins .... same sanctimonious glee ....

Dont You ????

Heil Dubya !

Beelzebub

From Modulargod: (one COULD make a clear analogue ... Nazis, for instance, DID invade lands other than there own, and terrorize the populace ... think of the siege of the warsaw ghetto as a parallel to jewish incursions in the territories )


Except for this little aside, that was a good post. Now, out of all the countries that have invaded lands and terrorized the populace, why use the Nazi's? Why can't you say "just like when the U.S. invaded the Phillipines?"

ModularGod

Beelze: Now, out of all the countries that have invaded lands and terrorized the populace, why use the Nazi's? Why can't you say "just like when the U.S. invaded the Phillipines?"

Beelze ? .... though I would agree that a GREAT number of similar analogies could have been presented: ... one MUST clearly distinguish the aggressor from the aggressed: ... in NO WAY can anyone say that the US 'invasion' of the Phillipines mimic in ANY way the situation in Warsaw, nor that in Israel today ....

The US entered the Phillipines to dislodge a foreign occupation force, NOT to enrich the US with Phillipine resources, nor to plant the US flag on its soil.

One cannot say the same for the Nazi occupation of Poland (universally recognized as a MOST heinous treachery), nor for the present occupation of the palestinian territories.

Humanity does (or should) recognize the difference between aggressor and aggressed. ... One need only look to who has the tanks, and who has the rocks to see the reality of the present day debacle in the Levant.

ciao !

Grumpy

Likewise, Israeli treatment of Palestinians could be compared to the treatment of Japanese-Americans by the USA during WW2. In many ways, it is less severe (except for the use of helicopter gunships & such). But it was Falwell's point that it is absurd to compare Jews with Nazis. While the analogy is not the strongest one that could be made, it is certainly not outside the realm of consideration. Thus, Falwell is an ass.

To be fair, that observation was made by a columnist in a newsletter that Falwell published, not a statement from the man himself. And Tinky-Winky is gay. Or was. Or the performer at the time tried to portray it that way.