NUREMBERG
THE FILM
During our recent trip to see The Hope and Dreams Tour, I got a chance to watch the Nuremberg Movie on the flight. It came out briefly last year at a time I could not see it. So, first and foremost:
SEE THE MOVIE!
The film is presented primarily as a sort of intellectual duel between Hermann Göring and U.S. Army Psychiatrist Douglas Kelley. Of course, there are other characters but that back and forth is a major part of the film. Without a doubt, the release of the film during our fascist period is hardly accidental. I saw an interview with Russell Crowe last year where he said that. Here are some key elements that struck me:
The importance of the Hippocratic Oath and Dr. Kelley’s struggles with it while engaging with Göring.
“It started with laws.” Laws as a weapon of fascism. We clearly face that now.
“Reclaiming Our Former Glory” Sounds a lot like Make America Great Again, doesn’t it?
Hate and Blame. A lot of the revisiting of what the Nazis were doing rings true now.
Göring as a brilliant narcissist. There is a point during the trial where he deliberately rises last and sits last. Historically, he was put in solitary confinement to avoid his influence over the other defendants.
The use of the word terrorism should be looked at in a modern context and considered.
People Let It Happen. Dr. Kelley is looking for how and why this happened and at first believes it is a specific German pathology but eventually comes to recognize that it could happen anywhere. He is mocked and ignored and there is a clear link to McCarthyism, although his death was after that. In the end, we now know he was right.
There were fears during the story of the prisoners reviving Nazism through the trial. We failed to realize that we just delayed it until now.
They tie Göring’s suicide to the duel with Dr. Kelley. In truth, that mystery has never been solved.
So, first, yes I took notes on the plane. ;-)
Second, I want to eventually read 22 Cells in Nuremberg by Kelley. The book did not sell at the time but has been reprinted.
Third, we need to push to have our current set of bastards tried or punished. My guess is that it will have to be the Hague. Nothing can be done about that now but support anyone collecting evidence and keep that in your back pocket as something to advocate for.
NO MERCY FOR FASCISTS!
15 ROUNDS
I DIDN’T HEAR NO BELL!
TRANS LIVES MATTER!
DEFEND THE TRUTH!
NEVER AGAIN IS NOW!
DO NOT SURRENDER!
KEEP THE WATCH!
This film is exceptionally well done. Recently, I've been researching the atrocities Japan committed during WWII. There was little accountability for them after the war; although, there was a tribunal. There are many reasons for this, mostly political and advantageous to the U.S. and Russia. To this day Japan has not publicly acknowledged or apologized for their atrocities committed.
If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang.
From your finger tips to the world’s ears! ❤️