I have been listening to the podcast “Ultra” by Rachel Maddow. It is frightening and at the same time reassuring. Reassuring in that our current political situation is not unique; we have been there before. And frightening in that our democracy can be so fragile.
“Ultra” takes us back to the 1930s and ’40s when American First Committee and the Rev. Charles Coughlin’s inspired Christian Front reared their ugly heads. Thousands of Americans belonged to these organizations, including many members of Congress. Some of them were on Hitler’s payroll to spread Nazi propaganda.
The similarities between then and now are jarring. Their white Christian nationalist goal was a violent insurrection to overthrow the U.S. government and install a racist authoritarian state. They tried to delegitimatize the 1940 election. They used fear, intimidation and harassment to divide Americans along racial, religious and political lines. They attacked the Justice Department and the press.
The Justice Department did bring members to trial on sedition charges. But powerful politicians quickly turned the trial into a circus and chaos ensued. The trial ended without charges being made. However, thanks to a diligent press, the scandal did not die and the American public voted those congressmen who were involved out of office.
Hopefully this time around the Justice Department will not cave and, no matter the politics, will bring those involved in the insurrection to justice. If not, we citizens will again vote them out.
Joanne Garing
North Huntingdon