Re: Jon Drukman's Theories

[Lazlo Nibble <lazlo@ariel.unm.edu>]

Ed Suryani writes:

> I simply can't believe that
> anybody in Europe in 1939 wouldn't recognize Hitler -- unless
> Kate is portraying a very stupid girl in this song.  Is this
> what you're suggesting?

1939 was not 1989, Ed.  There was no television, and no real concept of
"mass media" at the time.  If you didn't read the newspaper or watch
the newsreels it would be very possible to get through life in Europe
in 1939 without having the slightest idea what Hitler looked like, and
without being "stupid" because of it.  Even if you *had* seen the man
once or twice in the paper, it is *also* more than possible to have met
him is person without recognizing him . . . "You don't look anything
like your picture!" syndrome.

Hitler wasn't the internationally-known lunatic and mass murderer then
that he is today.  He was barely getting started.

                                                   Lazlo (lazlo@ariel.unm.edu)
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