Here Come the Nazis

In elementary school, we were slowly introduced to the fact that Nazis once roamed the world, and that their ideas must never again take hold. In 5th grade, I recall writing a book report on The Diary of Anne Frank. Then in 7th grade, I remember being given an assignment to create an illustration for The Hiding Place. The book was written by Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman who ended up in the concentration camp Ravensbrück for hiding Jewish people in her home.

Movies and television shows I grew up with also reinforced the idea that Nazis and their goals were reprehensible. There were re-runs of Hogan’s Heroes, and old films like The Sound of Music and Casablanca. Movies that came out when I was a teen, such as The Blues Brothers (1980) and Indiana Jones (1981), included scenes celebrating the rejection of Nazis and their propaganda. One of my favorite scenes in The Blues Brother’s ends with John Belushi muttering, “I hate Illinois Nazis.”


By middle school we understood that the Nazi goal of preserving a “pure” or “master” Nordic or Aryan race led to a genocidal campaign against Jewish people. We learned that this goal included imprisoning, brutalizing and murdering those from many other groups as well– Roma people (“Gypsies”), people who were gay, people with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. Among the first to suffer at the hands of the Nazis were the Communists, Socialists, and trade unionists who opposed Nazi ideology. By high school we understood that Nazism was a form of fascism that fed off extreme nationalism.

Jump ahead to 2016 when the New York Times runs a puff piece on the fashion make-over of “white nationalists” (neo-Nazis) like Richard Spencer.

By 2017 propagandists like Spencer were booking lectures promoting white nationalistm at public universities like Auburn University in Alabama. The argument that the “real Nazis” are the people opposed to giving white nationalist ideology any quarter gained popularity on social media.

In 2017 “white nationalists” (KKK, neo-Nazis, etc.) organized online and descended upon Charlottesville, Virginia where cell phone video captured them chanting things like “Jews Will Not Replace Us”, and chasing and beating women and black men. One man was filmed literally shooting into the crowd of protesters (miraculously not hitting anyone). That gathering ended with a neo-Nazi running down more than a dozen people who were protesting against fascist and racist ideology. Five were critically injured; one woman died. The attack was captured on film by bystanders. Even after viewing that, a growing segment of the U.S. proclaimed that “both sides” were at fault and simply needed to learn to get along.

Today, there are a number of self-described Nazis and white supremacists running for state and national office in the U.S. (for instance, do an online search for Arthur Jones of the American Nazi Party, or Corey Stewart, or Russell Walker).

Certainly, there have been neo-Nazi groups in the U.S. for many decades –there were even references to them in popular films. The difference was that when the Blues Brothers ran a parade of “Illinois Nazis” off of a bridge in the 1980 movie, audiences cheered.

Back then, we knew Nazis were not “very fine people.”

*First published as a column by Quest Lakes in the MVN in July of 2018.

A History Rhyme

Television political commentator Tucker Carlson recently said of the Trump Adminstration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the southern border, "A lot of people yelling at you on TV don't even have kids, so don't for a second let them take moral high ground. Their goal is to change your country forever." Carlson’s claim was about his frequent lament that demographics in the U.S. are changing. He and his fans fear that in thirty years “non-Hispanic whites” may no longer be the majority. In response to his statement, someone on Twitter noted, “Tucker Carlson came close to saying the 14 words.”

I wasn’t sure what was meant by “the 14 words,” so I researched the term a bit. White supremacist David Lane, the leader of the terrorist organization The Order, coined the term while he was serving a 190-year sentence in federal prison for his role in several armed robberies and the murder of Jewish talk show host Alan Berg. The 14 words are, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." Lane also used the phrasing in his manifesto the 88 Precepts, which urged people to reject “miscegenation” and support racial segregation. White supremacists later adopted both terms, and use the numbers 14 and/or 88 as racist dog whistles. Lane publicized his writings through Fourteen Word Press, which helped popularize the concepts and his writing.

Lane was inspired by one of Adolf Hitler's most quoted passages from Mein Kampf,"What we must fight for is to safeguard the existence and reproduction of our race and our people, the sustenance of our children and the purity of our blood, the freedom and independence of the fatherland, so that our people may mature for the fulfillment of the mission allotted it by the creator of the universe. Every thought and every idea, every doctrine and all knowledge, must serve this purpose. And everything must be examined from this point of view and used or rejected according to its utility." ( Mein Kampf, Vol. I, Chapter 8)

As public declarations of white supremacist beliefs become louder and more common in the U.S., I’m reminded that the goal of a humanities education isn’t simply memorizing that “Hitler murdered 6 million Jews.” The point is to recognize when history might be repeating itself. One reason to study history is to understand how millions of Germans were convinced that fascism would “make Germany great again.” How were so many persuaded to disdain democracy, and embrace antisemitism, scientific racism, racial hierarchy, Social Darwinism and eugenics? Many were complicit through their silence. German-American rabbi Joachim Prinz said, “When I was rabbi in Berlin under the Hitler regime, the most important thing that I learned was that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent problem is silence."

Originally published as a column in the MVN in June 2018 by Quest Lakes.

Floral Design for Adults and Teens July 24

Silver City, Nevada – Bring your own vase and create beautiful floral arrangements with wildflowers you’ve collected, or flowers from your own garden, with expert tips from Floral Designer Lynnette Edmondson of Community Roots & Shoots. No flowers? Lynnette can bring some for you.

This class has limited space. To reserve your spot, please RSVP to quest@theodata.com.

The class takes place on Tuesday, July 24 from 10am-noon at the Silver City School House at 385 High Street, Silver City, Nevada (3 miles from Virginia City; 7 miles from Dayton; 12 miles from Carson City).

Community Roots & Shoots is Healthy Communities Coalition’s nonprofit garden center, floral and gift shop where proceeds benefit school gardens, job training programs and more.

For more information, see https://www.communityrootsnv.org/

Morning of Fun for Preschoolers and Parents Tuesday July 17th

Silver City, Nevada- United Way's annual "Tune into Kids" Fun Fair for preschoolers and their parents takes place Tuesday, July 17th from 10am to noon at the Silver City town park (next to the Silver City School House/community center at 385 High Street). Silver City is located on the Comstock, 3 miles from Virginia City and 12 miles from Carson City.

The event, which includes free children's books, plus arts and crafts and hands-on literacy activities provided by United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS), is for parents and their children ages 0 to 6 years (babies to 6 year olds). UWNNS supports parents with various resources as they nurture their children’s development, early literacy, health, nutrition and play. One of their goals is to double the number of children in northern Nevada who read proficiently by the end of third grade. With that goal in mind, UWNNS focus on early childhood development and learning, kindergarten readiness, early grade success and strengthening families.

About the Silver City Summer Program: Each summer, the historic Comstock community of Silver City partners with local and regional groups and volunteers to offer free, public programming in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), with events at the town's park and community center. This year, activities include a kids’ robotics mini-camp with Society of Women Engineers, a floral design class for teens and adults with Community Roots, a family friendly music concert sponsored by the Resident Artist Program in Silver City, a gentle stretching class for adults, and more. The July 17 Fun Fair is sponsored in partnership with UWNNS and Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties.

For more information about the annual summer program and additional upcoming events, contact Quest Lakes at 287-7598.

2018

Science and Art Fun in Silver City Tuesday July 10

Silver City, Nevada - Parents and their children ages 8-12 are invited to a fun class combining science and crafts on Tuesday July 10 from 10am-noon with instructor Jim Barcellos of University Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE). The hands-on activity Tuesday will be about chemical changes in paper. Kids will make and take home their own "nature prints."

The free event takes place at the Silver City School House (community center) and Park at 385 High Street. Parents are asked to stay and join in the fun and help with clean up.

About the instructor: For more than ten years Jim Barcellos has served local schools in afterschool programs, bringing science engagement through interactive lessons that stress involvement, curiosity and science vocabulary and literacy. He is a member of the Nevada Afterschool Network

Free Annual Summer Program: Each summer since 2003, Silver City has partnered with Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties to make possible a program of free STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities led by guest teachers from many different groups. This year, activities include science experiments with UNCE, a robotics mini-camp with Society of Women Engineers, a floral design class with Community Roots, a music concert sponsored by the Resident Artist Program in Silver City, a preschool fun fair with United Way, and more.

Where is Silver City? These events are opportunities to discover Silver City, one of the hidden gems of the Comstock. Silver City is located within a federally designated historic landmark, 3 miles from Virginia City, 7 miles from Dayton, 12 miles from Carson City, and 30 miles from Reno and Lake Tahoe. When you’re exploring western Nevada, Silver City has lots to offer. Throughout the year, the town's many community groups offer free public programming in art, music, theater, poetry, history, and science at the local park, outdoor stage and community center (School House), with something to appeal to every age group, from toddlers to elders.

Questions? Contact Quest Lakes of Healthy Communities at quest@theodata.com

Mylo McCormick in Concert in Silver City Sunday July 29th

Silver City, Nevada - Bring a lawn chair and a picnic and enjoy an evening in the Silver City Park with a blues, funk and classic rock concert by Mylo McCormick on Sunday, July 29th from 6:30pm-8pm.

McCormick will perform on the town's outdoor stage, the Silver Pavilion, located adjacent to the town community center, known as the School House, at 385 High Street.

At just 18, McCormick has already earned a reputation in the Tahoe, Comstock, Reno and Carson region as a masterful young guitarist with tasteful riffs and solos comparable to Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

PHOTO by J.P. Niehuser Jr.

McCormick was born in Silver City, where he learned to play guitar with singer/song writer/musician Will Rose. After moving to Carson City, he began taking vocal lessons from Linda Badinger of Music Lessons Unlimited.

By age 16, he was invited to join Mo'z Motley Blues, a Northern Nevada band performing blues-infused rock, pop, and variety music. Band leader Monique De Haviland says, “Mylo fires up the audience and is the driving force behind the Motley ‘blues’ flavor.”

He also performs with his band the Mylo McCormick Project, which recently kicked off the summer festival season at Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park in Minden with a well attended concert.

The grandson of Jim McCormick, a well-known champion for the arts in Nevada, Mylo carries on the torch with music, offering solo performances for arts and culture events in the region.

A complete list of his upcoming shows in Tahoe, Virginia City, Reno, Carson, Minden, Genoa, etc. can be found on his Facebook page, Mylo McCormick Music. https://www.facebook.com/Mylo-McCormick-Music-1052592938115029/

The free concert in Silver City is sponsored by the Resident Artist Program in Silver City. Donations are appreciated.

For more information, contact program director Quest Lakes at 775-847-0742.

Where Is Silver City? The concert is one of many opportunities to discover Silver City, a hidden gem of the Comstock. Silver City is located within a federally designated historic landmark, 3 miles from Virginia City, 7 miles from Dayton, 12 miles from Carson City, and 30 miles from Reno and Lake Tahoe. When you’re exploring northwestern Nevada, Silver City has lots to offer. Throughout the year, the town's many community groups offer public programming in art, music, poetry, science and more at the local park, outdoor stage and community center (School House), with something to appeal to every age.

Silver City Won't Let It Happen Here

In November of 2005, Silver City residents passed a resolution during their town advisory board meeting affirming the Bill of Rights and opposing the overreaching sections of the PATRIOT Act, including 215, the section that the National Security Agency (NSA) used to justify collection of phone metadata and internet surveillance with PRISM. The resolution also detailed opposition to the use of local resources for immigration enforcement, which is the responsibility of the federal government

Among other points, the resolution included the following language, “Be it further resolved that an agency or instrumentality of Silver City may not 1) use state, county or city resources or institutions for the enforcement of federal immigration matters, which are responsibilities of the federal government. 2) collect or maintain information about the political, religious, or social views, associations, or activities of any individual, group, association, organization, corporation or business or partnership unless the information direclty relates to an investigation of criminal activities based on probable cause, not mere suspicion, of criminal conduct. 3)engage in racial, religious or etnhic profiling or use national origin or any other identifiable characteristics as factors in selecting individuals or groups to target for investigation except where race, religion, ethnicity or natioanl origin is a part of the description fo a specific suspect.”

One area newspaper reported at the time that “the town board and about 20 residents” were in attendance, but that was incorrect. I was at that meeting, which was at the Fire House because the original School House/community center had been destroyed in a fire the year before and hadn’t yet been rebuilt. It was a packed, standing room only meeting and I was among a number of people who stood throughout the meeting because all other chairs were taken. I’d estimate there were 40 to 50 people in the room (Silver City has a population of about 150, so that represents a sizeable chunk of the adult population).

This is significant because the vote to pass this resolution took place back in the good old days when Silver City residents were still able to nominate and vote for their own town advisory board members (the County Commission has since stripped communities of this option), and during the time when strawpoll votes were allowed on issues presented during the monthly town board meetings. In other words, the Resolution was adopted by Silver City townsfolks in a fair and representative process.

The Silver City Town Advisory Board’s 2005 action affirmed the Bill of Rights and opposed any provisions of the Patriot Act that violate peoples' civil rights. Among other things, the resolution opposed government efforts to collect information about a person's library lending or research records, or book purchases. Also forbidden: ethnic profiling or gathering information about a person's political, religious or social views.

This essay by Quest Lakes was originally published as an column in the Mason Valley News in May of 2018.

PHOTO by marksearch.org from their summer 2017 research in Silver City as part of their residency with the Resident Artist Program in Silver City, Nevada.