When we get involved in certain things, we may make comparisons that aren’t quite accurate.
While protesting or arguing against political leaders, it doesn’t take long before they’re compared to Hitler, even if they are wildly different from him and have done nothing close to the atrocities he issued.
It’s not limited to one side of the political aisle, either. While those on the right may be making this comparison with President Barack Obama, there were those on the left doing the same under President George W. Bush.
Obviously, either comparison is grossly incorrect and only works to minimize Hitler’s egregious decisions but doesn’t help political discourse.
Yet there’s another comparison going around recently that I find just as misguided. If you watch the news or follow any of the Occupy movement’s activities, you have most likely heard it compared to the Arab Spring.
At first, it seemed like those on the streets in cities around the country simply wanted to draw inspiration from the events that have been taking place across North Africa and the Middle East. While the circumstances are miles apart, I felt drawing such inspiration couldn’t hurt and would only possibly help steer the movement in a positive direction.
After all, the successes of Arab Spring are nothing to scoff at. Ranging from the ousting of presidents like Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hoshi Mubarak in Egypt to the recent overthrowing and killing of Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, the effects of these changes will be felt for years to come.
Where there were once brutal regimes that violated human rights, more democratic societies now have the chance to flourish. The road may still be bumpy in the years ahead for these countries, but the 30,000-plus lives lost during the conflicts should not be in vain.
I’m sure most of you have already figured out why a comparison between the Occupy movement and Arab Spring is so misguided.
As much as some people may disagree with the current political situation and the influence of corporations, it isn’t the same as what happened in many of those countries. Our president is not a dictator — despite what some people might claim — and in the areas that have been “occupied,” there has not been any killing of protesters.
Yes, there have been injuries as a result of police actions. However, these are not on the same level as troops opening fire on their own citizens. Additionally, these police actions only take place when the protests cross the line into illegal activity.
Whether it’s throwing firecrackers at police officers, vandalism or even selling drugs, to name a few, the police will not simply stand by and let such chaos occur. The areas many of these movements have occupied have deteriorated since the protesters started camping out — graffiti and vandalism have occurred and the many sanitation problems are no better.
Improperly stored food, public urination and defecation, irregularly cleaned public showers and toilets — all of these things are a health hazard not only to the protesters, but also to the city itself. To expect the city and police to sit by idly while all of this occurs is naive — just like the comparison.
If you’re breaking laws during your protest, and refuse to listen to and comply with police, there will undoubtedly be injuries. Until these protesters can prove their fellow Americans are firing on them with lethal means for unjust reasons, making any comparison to massive rebellions simply makes them seem absolutely foolish.
Yet, as with the comparisons to some of our politicians to Hitler, it only serves to minimize the actual event you compare. As much as many protesters may want to believe it, their fight is not the same as the struggle for which tens of thousands gave their lives this year, and we should be thankful for that.
Zachary Davis is a 20-year-old history junior from Warsaw, Poland. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_zdavis.
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Contact Zachary Davis at [email protected]