Hitler is just not that into you

Israel for me is one of the most troubling conundrums of the modern world. It demonstrates a key schism in thought and practice for the West which claim renaissance values but still actively supports apartheid, colonialism and violence in that pocket of the Middle East.

As the Palestinians are cornered more tightly every day, paradoxically their demonisation increases. While the flotilla incident may have woken the world, it will be just a micro-wake. The status quo shall remain, and the inhuman treatment of the Palestinians shall go on without respite.

Muslim anger is justifiable. The rage in the Muslim world is also rooted in the intractable nature of the problem because of blanket protection given by the US, and their utter helplessness in doing anything about it. This frustration, understandably, creates perversions as bad as the injustice in Israel.

In part, this reasoning is why the Tehreek-i-Taliban can justify the slaughter of the average Pakistani because they live under a government that is allied to the US. Not only has this hurt Muslims, but also decreased the standing of Islam in front of those not born into it.

But one thing I find interesting is the occasional lauding of Adolf Hitler (thankfully never in the mainstream press). While this is not something pervasive generally, I found a few grumbles on his recent death anniversary and post the flotilla incident online and in conversations.

It’s twisted, and dangerous, logic at work. While I am no historical expert by any means, there are no conclusive tracts that demonstrate what Hitler thought of Muslims. Some will say there is evidence that he admired Muslims for their martial tendencies. But, he was of the same opinion of Shinto (the imperial Japanese religion of the WWs). So, less than an understanding of actual teachings of religion, he was interested in whether they would be amenable to fighting. He was, by most estimates, at least nominally Christian.

Why I bring this up is to assert that Hitler’s actions cannot be compatible with Muslims. Hitler massacred an innocent people systematically in cold blood. We cannot forget that not all Israelis are Zionists, and that Jews all over the world cannot face collective responsibility for what one state does. It’s like our domestic argument to the world, these terrorists don’t represent us.

But if Hitler had won, in all likelihood Muslims would not enjoy equal partnership with him. His master race theory would have precluded the vast bulk of the Muslim world. For the few exceptions, we would have to forgo the universality of equality of man in Islam. Greenness of eyes and not good action would determine status. In the 1936 Olympics Hitler could not bring himself to shake the hands of Jesse Owens, the black American sprinter.

Hitler was an empire builder, and he would easily turn on any demand to revive the Ottoman Caliphate once he had consolidated his victories. Of course, historically Hitler did support the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, but the nature of the alliance was opportunistic and not very deep. The Arab’s only had the Axis powers to turn to because they were the only ones outside the realm of the colonising and Zionist Allies.

Even though there maybe some ambiguity regarding Hitler’s exact views on Muslims, one can supplement the gaps by looking at the present through the examples of neo-Nazi’s who try to live his ideology. Neo-Nazi groups ultimately find their way into racism and xenophobia.

There is frustration at Israel, but no amount of wrongs bundled together shall ever make a right, or even right a wrong. If anything, Hitler’s actions are one of the enduring justifications for Israel’s continuing paranoia, one which has led to a repetition of history. The irony is that some Jews are now doing what was once done to them.

So, if you ever hear someone angry at Israel praising Hitler, talk some sense into them. Because, if he had lived to see his plans through you might have had the same conversation as an indentured slave, ultimately facing the same fate at his hands the Jews got.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2010.