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Morning Joe–Now With Subtle Auschwitz References? |
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I was just saying yesterday that it will be unbearable to watch the pundit class prattle on about the tanking economy. It took less than 24 hours for Joe Scarborough to make my point. On this morning’s show, he was speaking with a guest about the economy. The guest said this is a sort of teachable moment for her kids–now, she can encourage them to get a job. Scarborough responded enthusiastically, “yes, work will make you free.” (I’m pretty sure it was Joe–I had the TV on as I was brushing my teeth, so I didn’t see his face, but it sounded like him. I guess it might have been Willie Geist or Mike Barnicle, but I’m pretty sure it was Scarborough).
Joe is not the first to make this observation: the same statement appeared above the entrance gate at Auschwitz.
Anyone can make a slip–especially Scarborough, as we saw recently when he cursed several times on live TV. But, did nobody on the show catch this? I guess not, as no one acknowledged the comment before the show ended. Would have been nice for someone to say “hey, of course we didn’t mean it, but you may have noticed we inadvertently quoted a Nazi slogan on air…”
Imagine their confusion. It takes a moment to translate ‘Arbeit macht frei’, I suppose. This is typical though of the “they’re all victims” libertarian mantra. If you are losing, you are presumed to be not holding up your end of things. And of course, regulation is the problem, not the solution. That’s how we got into a worldwide economic disaster.
thanks Ruth. yes, Scarborough’s comment rubs me the wrong way on several levels. First, the whole Nazi thing, as noted. (as I think about it more, this bothers me more–Scarborough doesn’t know where that slogan comes from? no one on the show knows??) Second, as you suggest, the wealthy Joe S. says the solution to the economic crisis is simply for people to work harder! kind of Marie Antoinette-esque. I guess he doesn’t realize that (a) some people who want to work can’t find jobs and (b) some people have jobs that don’t pay them enough to make ends meet.
I don’t mean to be overly petty and I guess it’s not crucial for your point, but the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign you linked to was/is at Birkenau, not Auschwitz. I think you meant this notorious asshole Nazi gate:
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/ho locaust/images/arbeit_macht_frei.jpg
Oh, and good ear! The apparent nonchalance with which that phrase seems to have been uttered is indeed rather disturbing.
thanks Caspar–you’re right, the link you have is the correct one. and not a petty point.
thanks for your comment. Yeah, it was odd to me…no one on the show, none of the producers knows where that phrase comes from? weird
Chris,
I grow weary of these excited reactions responding to something that had the least bit to do with the Nazis. Hitler had a moustache; shall we fear the moustache? Hitler created the program that gave us Volkswagon. Shall we ban that?
“Work shall set you free” is not a bad philosophy. The Nazis were crazy but that expression has merit, which you would find if you just took the “Nazi” element out of the equation. If you search wikipedia for “arbeit macht frei”, you’ll find an article on it, which is where this exerpt comes from:
– Begin Quote –
In 1872 the German nationalist author Lorenz Diefenbach used the expression “Arbeit macht frei” as the title for a novel, causing the expression to become well-known in nationalist circles. It was adopted in 1928 by the Weimar government as a slogan extolling the effects of their desired policy of large-scale public works programmes to end unemployment, and mocking the Medieval slogan “Stadtluft macht frei” (”City air brings freedom”).
– End Quote –
Does the phrase seem so evil now?
All the best,
Sean
Thanks for the comment Sean. To me, it’s not really a question of whether “work makes you free” is a bad philosophy, or if others besides the Nazis have used the phrase. The swastika also had usage well before the Nazis. To me, the phrase “work makes you free” immediately makes me think of the sign at Auschwitz. The usages you cite aren’t really as well known these days. My guess is that if you asked 100 people who had heard of the phrase “work makes you free”, most or all would associate it with the Auschwitz sign.
Please note that I am not saying Scarborough is a Nazi. I’m just saying that it’s an odd phrase for him to use given the association many people have with it.
Chris,
I think a change of perspective is needed for people who ascribe “work makes you free” to Nazis. I’m not saying people who believe that are bad people or stupid; I’m saying they need to realise the bigger picture, which is that the expression does not originate from a bad place nor intimate a bad thing.
From what I know of Joe Scarborough — and this is a separate issue — his past has an outstandingly questionable incident involving an aide and his office. I don’t know any more than what has been posted on the Internet, but it certainly makes you wonder. Anyway, that was to point out I have no particular bias towards Mr. Scarborough.
Cheers.
- Sean
I don’t think i will ever erase the image in my mind of “Arbeit Macht Frei” above the gates at Auschwitz. And I could try for 50 years, but the swastika will always make me think of the Nazis and Hitler. I understand your point in theory, but some symbols or words take on meaning or connotation that is difficult or even impossible to shake. I also wouldn’t want to change how I feel about this–to me, it is important to remember how these words were used.
Chris,
I won’t belabour the point after this, though I will read your reply:
I realise the words may give you pause for one way they were used, but these words do not have concrete meaning; only meaning that you give them. To give you a basic example, the word “sinister” has roots in “left handed,” as people who were left handed were held in very ill-favour. The word ‘hysteria’ comes from “the womb” (i.e. “hysterectomy”) as it was originally thought of as a female condition. “Witch” used to have a positive meaning; they were herbalists who knew how to heal, though in the witch-hunting days, the feelings were quite far from that, and the negativity continues to this day.
Words mean nothing more than the meaning we give them. Personally, I can never think of “work shall set you free,” as something bad. Concentration camps, on the other hand, hardly give me the warm and fuzzies.
Lastly, on topic, I agree with Jim Moss (below) who hinted at the idea that the execs should not be exempt from this same philosophy of working hard.
All the best,
Sean
absolutely–I am aware of the changing meanings of words. Also, there is, of course, subjectivity involved in how we perceive and understand words.
My guess is that, as time goes by, new generations will not necessarily think of Auschwitz when they hear/see the words “work makes free”. I think I always will–and as I said, I prefer it that way as I think it is important to remember. But I can understand your take on this. Thanks for the comments.
Chris - I’m more concerned about the conservative philosophy Scarborough was espousing than any associations with the Nazis that phrase might have. He was making the argument, as you have noted, that the way out of this crisis is for folks to just hunker down and work a little harder - and it glosses over all the abuses and incompetencies of government and big business that have caused this whole mess. Yes, we all need to work hard - but the soultion lies in rooting out the greed and the corruption in our system.
good point Jim. as I noted in response to Ruth’s comment, Joe S. seems to think all that is needed for people to do ok is hard work. Of course, it’s not always as simple as that e.g. for people who are unemployed, underpaid. I just wanted to post on this bc the phrase “work makes you free” causes an immediate, visceral reaction — for me, at least
Chris,
You need to shut off the boob tube, if only for your own sanity (and so you can concentrate more fully on brushing your teeth, which requires a laser like focus). There is a simple way to make Scarborough Country go away - don’t watch. As long as you keep watching, you’ll be endlessly annoyed and Joe S. will keep slinging slogans.
you’re probably right…I do kind of like to monitor Morning Joe when I can, some odd stuff gets said at times. but there are sanity issues…