The Rise of Evil

When reading about the rise of Mussolini and Hitler, I noticed a quote in the textbook that really struck fear through me. When describing how these two men came to power, Strayer writes, "Both espoused an extreme nationalism, openly advocated the use of violence as a political tool, generated a single-party dictatorship, were led by charismatic figures, despised parliamentary democracy, hated communists, and viewed war as a positive and ennobling experience" (997). This not only described the vile men in this chapter, but it also seems to describe the current leader of our country. I know that many people look at the holocaust as an atrocity. That it was of the worst genocides in history and that it could never happen again, because we know better. I am not so sure anymore about that statement. Hitler and Mussolini rose to the top by striking fear into the public. They fed off their terror and that is how they succeeded in killing as many as people as they did. Our president won the election by doing the exact same thing. "Erna Kranz, a teenager in the 1930's, later remembered the early years of Nazi rule as a "glimmer of hope… not just for the unemployed but for everybody because we all knew that we were downtrodden… it was a good time… there was order and discipline. Millions agreed with her" (998). This echoes the voices of the young trump supporters of today. Unfortunately, many people think that trump is actually going to make everything that is wrong with America, "great again", but they do not see that he using the same tactics that were used by two of the most hated men in history. I am just hoping that we  have enough fighters that will not stand for what trump stands for. Monster's are not big scary creatures with one eye and claws, but they come in the forms of just everyday people. I chose these pictures, because it shows Hitler and Mussolini as two friends. From one glance, you would never think that these men would or could commit such horrible acts of violence.

The Taiping Uprising

The Taiping Uprising was something caught my attention, while reading chapter 19. The Taiping Uprising was a radical, political and religious battle that lasted for 14 years. It was probably one of the most important movements in China during the 19th century. This "peasant upheaval" was unique because it found their "primary ideology in a unique form of Christianity. Hong Xiuquan, the leader of the uprising, "proclaimed himself the the younger brother of Jesus, sent to cleanse the world of demons and to establish a heavenly kingdom of great peace" (934). The most revolutionary part of the uprising was its view on women and gender roles.

The Hakka women who had never had their feet bound fought alongside the men as soldiers. "Taiping officials ordered that the feet of other women be unbound" (935). Women were promised equal shares of land with the men, and were now being appointed supervisory positions. One thing that I was confused about while reading this was that Xiuquan valued the teachings of the Old Testament, which showed God demanding worship and obedience. However, at the same time, he wanted to prohibit slavery, foot-binding, prostitution, and opium smoking. I feel like those are all bad things, so I am not sure why he favored obedience. The New Testament, emphasized the ideas of kindness, forgiveness and redemption. Due to that, I feel like he would prefer the New Testament to the Old Testament.