"Anyone who says on the radio that everyone should read Mein Kampf must be a Nazi"

Janice Lang photo of a humble old man, enjoying his morning rolled oats on the back steps of his bunker.

The War Rant, Page III, February 28, 2003

Big-time rant coming up right now on war.

How do you feel about war? I probably shouldn't take sides, being privileged as I am to sit --- with your permission --- behind this microphone, but I am going to come right out and admit that I don't care for war. No, it's not the war itself that bothers me. It's the needless killing and starvation and destruction and expense part of war that bothers me.

You might argue with me and say that war is the only way we can control the world's population. You might tell me that birth control is not a good thing but there is nothing wrong with millions of young men dying gloriously on the field of battle defending their country. You might tell me that we've got to have wars because if the population continues to increase at the present rate, in 500 years there won't be standing room on this planet. And I've got to admit that you've got me --- I can't say a word about that.

Let's admit it. You and I know that there are people who do like war. Many of them are the simple flag waving folks who will stand right up in public to show their support for a wimpy looking, weasely faced war monger from way down south who didn't even get most of the popular vote. There. I've said it and I'm glad. But this is public radio so you shouldn't be surprised to learn where I stand. And besides the support from flag wavers, you know that when there's a war every big company stands to make money. So you'll find the unions standing right beside management when you're talking big time war.

It's pretty hard to stop a war when the man --- who calls himself the leader --- wants a war. You'll notice that he starts out by sword rattling --- lets all the other world leaders know that he's got to make a move very soon to protect the safety and well-being of his people --- no matter how far away it is. And if he says the same thing over and over and over there will be a few people out there who say to themselves, "Baaaa. You know, I think he's right. There are some bad guys out there who are killing our people. We've got more planes and tanks and guns and technology than anyone else, so why should we have to put up with it. Our leader says we'll hit them so hard and so fast it will be over before they knew what hit them. And before we are done, we will have restored order and sucked all the natural resources out of an unstable region."

All this while, even though the war-mongering, rat faced wimp knows what he's going to do no matter what, he's making a big public show of talking with the top guys in Russia and France and England --- trying to either get their support or keep them off his back while he blows half the world to kingdom come.

Agh. I've said enough about him. Every time I see him blabbing on TV I wonder how anyone could possibly have been stupid enough to vote for such an idiot. I comfort myself by knowing that most of the people who went to the polls didn't.

I'll bet you don't know that wimpy little weasel face wrote a book in which he very clearly outlines his plans. And it might surprise you to hear me say that if you haven't read it, you should. Got your pencil? The name of it is Mein Kampf.

Please click here if you've never cared for the war-monger you see descibed above

Thank you, Your buddy humble

Robert Skoglund

The next letter is from one of my closest friends who is so far right he makes Rush Limbaugh look like Joseph Stalin. His reference is to the reams of speaking related material he prints for me. I then mail it to meeting planners. humble

ppp

Robert,

I suppose it's just a question of time before cadres of red-suspendered, snowmobile-suited acolytes chanting "hum-ble! hum-ble!" in unison begin trudging up Route 131 in lock-shuffle to pay homage at the Center of the Universe, just to see where, and from whom, the clarion call was sounded.

It is indeed a Brave New World.

p.s. although Eva and I have had few calls for the printing of propaganda, we continue to welcome your business.

ppp

"Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

Private conversation of Hermann Goering and Gustave Gilbert

ppp

Mr. Skoglund,

I just read the transcript of your "rant" against war which you broadcast on MPR. You mentioned you received many positive responses.... this is NOT one of them.

We live in a free country and can say pretty much whatever we like. I would defend your right to do so regardless of whether I agree with you or not. If you lived in Iraq and spoke out against your "president" like you did on MPR (let's not pretend you weren't making a reference to President Bush), you would most likely have your tongue cut out. The people of Iraq live under a tyrannical, despotic dictator whose own people live in fear of his brutal regime. Saddam is the "Hitler", not President Bush.... yes, I said PRESIDENT because he was elected fairly and legitimately according the US Constitution. Get over your resentment about the 2000 election. Al Gore is NOT the president. Thank God.

You mentioned your opposition to war due the destruction and cost of such war. Imagine the destruction if Iraq was allowed to develop nuclear weapons and then use them. The ensuing destruction and cost of allowing this will far exceed the cost of liberating the people of Iraq and establishing a democratic government in which the citizens of Iraq enjoy the same freedoms you do, including making ignorant, indefensible comments on the radio.

One more thing. It's disgusting to me that you have to revert to calling Bush names such as "wimpy weasel face" and "rat faced wimp". Does that help you feel superior? Do you own a mirror? I guess since you can't articulate a viable alternative to disarming Saddam so you must resort to calling President Bush a "Hitler" to hide your shortcomings.

Your comments were pathetic and opportunist. I am grieved that my hard-earned taxes go to support Public Radio. You should not be able to use my tax dollars to turn around and call me an "idiot" or a "sheep" for supporting my government. Public Radio should not be used as a forum for spouting your liberal, anti-american drivel.

Nobody wants war. It sucks. Sometimes it's necessary. Historically, war has stopped slavery, nazism, fascism, and communism. Inspections and appeasement would not have stopped Hitler. It won't stop Saddam. The regime change in Iraq will free the Iraqi people, protect America, and will be the prototype for a free, democratic society throughout the middle east.

Next time, try and voice your opinion using the facts, not by name-calling and bashing others. Then maybe someone with a brain could respect your position.

Dave

Camden, Maine

ppp

Hi Mr. Neilson,

Thank you for taking the time to write. I hope that you have also read on my web pages my apology to the many dozens of friends who stood and cheered because of what they thought I said. I also owe you and two others an apology because you were unhappy with what you think I said.

Because I have done nothing but answer mail for four days and post my comprehensive apologies along with the letters on my web page, I hope you will forgive me if I suggest that you read my several apologies there instead of writing them here again for you.

I will only repeat that I regret that I called Hitler a rat faced wimp and I want to apologize to you again for doing so. I have filled two web pages with every letter that came in, and feel that is enough. I'm weary from all the undeserved applause and although I do appreciate your insightful comments, I want the whole business to go away.

I had no idea that my personal opinion on an evil monster dead and gone for 58 years could raise such a fuss among my radio friends. You are certainly familiar with Hitler's life and could see him in every line of my rant.

Thank you for helping me learn a hard lesson: people hear what they want to hear, even if they have to twist every word to hear what they want to hear. I am surprised by your reaction because I know that if I heard someone whispering about a skinny slut I would not bristle and assume that they were talking about my wife.

I appreciate your taking the time to write and want to apologize again for the obvious distress I have caused you.

Hope you will come by the farm for cookies and milk in June. Look forward to meeting you.

Thank you again for your unique but valuable insights.

humble

ppp

Mr. Skoglund,

Your apology is not accepted. While you are busy patting yourself on the back for being so clever to disguise obscure historical facts and present them in a way that obviously reflects the ideology and opinions of today's anti-Bush crowd, please do not think you can simply excuse yourself by saying your remarks were about Hitler.

Mr. Skoglund, your ideology was exposed by your remarks. You knew your remarks were inflammatory. Contrary to what you think, I did not "hear what I wanted to hear" !! What I heard was you abusing your position on MPR (and my tax dollars)by expressing the opinions shared by a small percentage of Americans who have compared our President to Adolph Hitler. You knew this when you said it. Any denial from you is disingenuous at best.

I would have more respect for you if you simply stated your position. Tell the world you support Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime. Tell the world you trust Saddam's intentions more than those of your own government. Tell the world you think Bush's election was illegitimate.... you are entitled to voice your opinion in our wonderful and free nation. But, PLEASE, do not hide behind the lie that you were only making a reference to Adolph Hitler because if that were the case, you wouldn't be getting such a reaction to your comments.

Your apology is not accepted because it was a non-apology. You apologized for calling Hitler a "rat-faced wimp". That was insincere, Mr. Skoglund. All you needed to do was simply apologize for inappropriately voicing your personal ideology on the MPR format. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but please show better judgement next time.

Regards,

Dave

Camden, Maine

ppp

From The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William Shirer

"I myself was to experience how easily one is taken in by a lying and censored press and radio in a totalitarian state. Though, unlike most Germans, I had daily access to foreign newspapers, especially those of London, Paris and Zurich, which arrived the day after publication, and though I listened regularly to the BBC and other foreign broadcasts, my job necessitated the spending of many hours a day in combing the German press, checking the German radio, conferring with Nazi officials and going to party meetings. It was surprising and sometimes consternating to find that notwithstanding the opportunities I had to learn the facts and despite one’s inherent distrust of what one learned from Nazi sources, a steady diet over the years of falsifications and distortions made a certain impression on one’s mind and often misled it. No one who has not lived for years in a totalitarian land can possibly conceive how difficult it is to escape the dread consequences of a regime’s calculated and incessant propaganda. Often in a German home or office or sometimes in a casual conversation with a stranger in a restaurant, a beer hall or a café, I would meet with the most outlandish assertion from seemingly educated and intelligent persons. It was obvious that they were parroting some piece of nonsense they had heard on the radio or read in the newspapers. Sometimes one was tempted to say as much, but on such occasions one was met with such a stare of incredulity, such a shock of silence, as if one had blasphemed the Almighty, that one realized how useless it was even to try to make contact with a mind which had become warped and for whom the facts of life had become what Hitler and Goebbels, with their cynical disregard for truth, said they were."

ppp

Hitler was a scary man, my friends.

For years I have read about Hitler and the slick way he could get honest, well-meaning people to defend his oily words and ways. I admit it. I am fascinated by the man. I admit it. I also suggested to my radio friends that everyone should read Mein Kampf. I admit it.

Wouldn't anyone able to think clearly immediately assume from this that The humble Farmer must be a Nazi?

If someone were to suggest to me that I should read Mein Kampf, shouldn't I raise my eyebrows and quietly report her to the Committee of UnAmerican Activities?

ppp

...every time I think that the Humble Farmer is jabbing at me with a right, inevitably, he'll sneak around with a left hook that floors me. It never fails to impress me how many ways you can do that and how many times I can be gullible enough to fall for it. I had to laugh and think of you this past week, ( the two usually go together ) when I saw on the news that a woman in Philadelphia, I think it was, actually fell for those e-mails from Nigeria. She's out about ten grand because of it. Keep on keepin' on Humble !!

You're the best we got.

........ kb

ppp

Good Friends,

I can never thank you enough for permitting me to entertain you (and perhaps even sneak around with a left hook --- many will pretend to see double meaning there --- that floors you) over these past 25 years.

It somewhat distresses me to know that when Hitler spoke, people stood on chairs and cheered.

I have spoken to hundreds of live audiences, and I thank you for permitting me to entertain you with my commentary on more than 1300 radio shows. But the only time my friends stood on chairs and cheered at my words was on February 28th --- when nobody seemed to hear what I was saying.

Please remember that I have learned much more from you than you have from me.

Thank you again for writing and thanks for listening.

And please stop bugging my friend Charles Beck. Get off his back. Charles and I are both doing our best to put an end to this thing. I want to get on with my life.

Do stop in at the farm this summer for a glass of milk and a cookie. Marsha, The Almost Perfect Woman, and I are always glad to see you.

humble

Meeting Planner: For fees and availability, call 207-226-7442, or email your snail mail address and the approximate date of your meeting to:

Robert Skoglund  
Hear The humble Farmer 
Clients & Reviews 
Products Available 
Spaghetti for the Single Person 
Stephen O. Muskie's Portrait of The humble Farmer