The Language of NationalismBartu Kaleagasi

Gabriele Zatterin

The Nazi Enabling ActMarch 23, 1933

Background

0 “Law for Removing the Distress of the People and the

Reich”

0Change in German constitution

0Enacted in 1933

Background

0And who was blamed?

040,000 members of the opposition arrested

0Nazi majority achieved

0 Lies, lies and more lies!

The Enabling Act

0 All other political parties were dissolved 0 Trade unions were liquidated0 Hitler became Fuhrer of the German Reich0 Hitler became commander-in-chief of the army

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 “We chose red for our posters, since it is vivid and was the color that most aroused our opponents. It forced them to notice and remember us.” – Adolf Hitler

Nazi Political Propaganda

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 “Who is Adolf Hitler? The man from the people, for the people! The German front soldier who risked his life in 48 battles for Germany! What does Adolf Hitler want? Freedom and food for every decent working German! The gallows for profiteers, black marketers and exploiters, regardless of religious faith or race! Why is Adolf Hitler not allowed to speak? Because he is ruthless in uncovering the rulers of the German economy, the international bank Jews and their lackeys, the Democrats, Marxists, Jesuits, and Free Masons! Because he wants to free the workers from the domination of big money! Working Germans! Demand the lifting of the illegal ban on his speaking!

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 Use of red0 “National Socialism: The

Organized Will of the Nation.”0 Ideological Bias0 Generalization0 Speculation

0 To eventually reach national consensus

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 “Two million dead. Did they die in vain? Never! Front soldiers! Adolf Hitler is showing you the way!” 

0 Alarmist Tone0 Evokes Nationalism and

Patriotism0 Subliminal (war) message

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 “Death to Lies.”0 Misleading conception

0 Marxism is a lie0 High Finance is a lie

0 ‘High finance’ indicates the Jews

0 Snake is a reference to the bible0 Ironic Contradiction?

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 “We are voting for Hindenburg – We are voting for Hitler, Look at these faces and you’ll know where you belong!”

0 Juxtaposition of Nazis and opponents

0 Celebrity Endorsement0 Alfred Rosenberg0 Joseph Goebbels

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 “The last stab” 0 Poster for the 1932 elections0 Misconception

0 Alliance between Catholic Centre Party and the Marxist parties

0 Victimizes the Nazis

Nazi Political Propaganda

0 Poster for the 1932 elections0 Completely different from

everything else0 Grim serious mood0 Fear-based sensationalism

Consequences0Nazi Totalitarian control 0Racial Persecutions Holocaust0European Crisis World War Two

The USA Patriot ActOctober 26, 2001

Background

0 “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing

Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and

Obstruct Terrorism Act”

0Enacted in 2001

0One month after 9/11

The Patriot Act

0 Title I: Enhancing domestic security against terrorism0 Title II: Surveillance procedures0 Title III: Anti-money-laundering to prevent terrorism0 Title IV: Border security0 Title V: Removing obstacles to investigating terrorism0 Title VI: Victims and families of victims of terrorism0 Title VII: Increased information sharing for critical

infrastructure protection0 Title VIII: Terrorism criminal law0 Title IX: Improved Intelligence

Article of Analysis

“Patriot Act a vital tool against terrorism”

Written by Kevin V. Ryan

Published on September 11th, 2003

SFGATE news – San Francisco

Date of article

Published on September 11, 2003

Second anniversary of the 9/11 commemoration

0Media manipulation0 Use of emotional impact of 9/110 Attempt to ignite nationalist feelings0 Sense of guilt for opposing views

Introduction sentence

“Two years ago today, we all bore witness to the callous viciousness of our terrorist enemies, as well as the devastation they seek to inflict.”

0Fear-based sensationalism0 Callous = showing or having an insensitive and cruel

disregard for others.0 Viciousness = the trait of extreme cruelty0 Devastation = great destruction or damage

First paragraph

“That day, more than 3,000 Americans lost their lives, and the fight against terrorism became the Justice Department's first and highest priority.”

0Alarmist reporting0 Implies ongoing ‘war’ against terrorism0 Use of “Justice Department”0 “First and highest priority”

Second paragraph

“I have instructed my prosecutors to use every legal weapon at their disposal to fight the war against terrorism -- particularly the USA Patriot Act.”

0Use of anecdotal evidence0 Personal example0 “legal weapon” = language of war + nationalism0 “particularly the USA Patriot Act” = emphasis

Third paragraph“Unfortunately, a small but vocal group of protesters have been mounting a campaign against the Patriot Act. Swayed by these protesters, a few local city councils have passed resolutions opposing the Patriot Act ... such efforts are largely based on misinformation and threaten to place the community at greater risk.”

0Speculative claims0 “Unfortunately”0 “misinformation” = denouncing opposing views0 “threaten” and “risk” = alarmist reporting

Fifth paragraph“While the Patriot Act is a key tool in the fight against terrorism, it provided for only modest, incremental changes in the law. The Patriot Act simply took existing legal principles and retrofitted them for the challenges posed by a well-financed and highly coordinated global terrorist network”

0Misleading statement0 “modest, incremental changes”0 “existing legal principles”0 Reality: massive changes in judicial criminal system

Eleventh paragraph“The Patriot Act does not allow federal law enforcement free and unchecked access to libraries, bookstores or other businesses. The act only allows a high-ranking FBI official to ask a federal court to grant an order in specific investigations to "protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities.“

0Misleading statement0 Reality: The act allows the FBI and the NSA to access any

information without a “court to grant an order” or even a probable cause

Thirteenth paragraph

“Lastly, some critics have claimed that the Patriot Act deprives Americans of their constitutional rights. To date, however, not a single provision of the act has been declared unconstitutional by any court. ”

0Use of ‘expert’ views0 Courts have not declared it unconstitutional yet (in

2003, only 2 years after), therefore it is entirely constitutional

0 Reality: Act allows unconditional targeting of all American citizens, without any proof of crime

Last paragraph“The Patriot Act, however, provides important tools that law enforcement can and should employ to fight the war on terror. I will not shrink from my sworn duty to do everything I can within the law to protect this district from terrorist attacks. Peoples' lives may well be at stake.”

0Fear-based sensationalism0 “fight the war on terror0 “my sworn duty”0 “people’s lives may well be at stake”

Conclusion0Stylistic devices used in order to create a hypodermic

syringe idea0Asks people to blindly trust government’s decision-

making0 Ignores the basis of democracy

0 Checks and balances between judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government

0Abuses American citizens’ emotions to pass a massive legal act without opposition

Consequences

0USA Patriot Act empowered NSA (National Security

Agency)

0Wire-tapping of phones, e-mails, social media

0Snowden revelations – internet surveillance

0USA spying on Germany, EU, neighbour countries

0Unlimited power with claim of anti-terrorism

Thank you!