Gays: the Neocons scapegoat?

[Ready4Change]

Shortly after securing the majority of government power, the Nazis needed a scapegoat against which they could "fight", and thus further secure their power amongst the fearful populace.

After to 2004 election, should we be concerned about the potential scapegoating of gays? What signs should we look for? Are there signs right now?

[aquart]

1. Or Muslims.

They can't quite decide.

In their defense, the Nazis persecuted diverse groups, including gays. People tend to forget that.

I take note that the neocons strongest argument that they are NOT Nazis is that they include Jews among the chosen. It's not a good argument.

[Maat]

3. Just because you have Jews in the group, or the previous victims,

doesn't mean that you aren't totalitarians.

[Ready4Change]

4. True, regarding diversity of hatred.

Not that I'd use the term "in their defense." :)

[donachiel]

2. It was more than just our gay friends

They focused on everyone, fear, loathing, contempt for anyone different from what they thought was the "norm" and pushed that issue whether it be religion, sexual preference, or belief in science and medicine. I'm a Catholic mother and believe me, I've got values as I think we all must because we're here. :)

Prejudice is wrong no matter what.

[Ready4Change]

5. True.

I thought that they started after the jews, then the other groups as they found they were able to?

And I agree regarding the harm inherent in prejudice.

[Pig_Latin_Lover]

6. Liberals next?

They're always blaming them for everything, even when it's all Republicans in control.

[Ready4Change]

8. Maybe, but there are more liberals.

Such things tend to start small. A group that is easily isolated from the rest of society is chosen, verbally attacked, separated "for it's own protection." Then, as support and phobia grows, other larger groups are "handled."

First gays, then round up arabs "for their own protection, then some subgroup of liberalism?

[justa]

7. The signs are there that they are testing the waters

They openly hold up gays, Muslims, immigrants and other minorities to see which ones will hold up in the eyes of the public. All they need is a "them" to point to. Someone to blame when things don't go they way people want them to. If you give the general public a target they might not notice who created the problem or failed to find a solution. It takes the pressure off an administration that has no imagination or is to busy working in the back room to address the problems at large.

[OneBlueSky]

9. their ultimate goal is to criminalize homosexuality . . .

or at least homosexual activity . . . from an article at salon.com . . .

"Lawrence vs. Texas, which ruled that states can't jail gay people for having sex in their own homes, was decided 6-3, with both Scalia and Thomas dissenting. With the change of a justice or two, Lawrence would be overturned and states would be allowed to criminalize sodomy."

when Lawrence is overturned, BushCo will not only ALLOW states to criminalize homosexual activity . . . they will actively ENCOURAGE it . . . in some states, by putting initiatives on the ballot, just as they did with gay marriage this year . . .