Hi Michael, I listened to this podcast. I didn't hear you say anything about the history of the "Nazi salute". As you can read in Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_salute?form=MG0AV3 ), there is some evidence that this salute originated in ancient Rome. So, I feel that the entire incident is sad because so many people perseverate about what Elon Musk did. This irrational response to Elon Musk's salute demonstrates an abject lack of clarity of thought. It's sad. Anyone can do what I did to learn the history of Elon's salute. So, after all, is said and done, labeling someone a Nazi based solely on a hand-and-arm gesture is so, so shallow.
Finally, I end with a bit of humor with a verse from Gilbert & Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore":
I have to disagree with your point. The history of the salute is not relevant as it has a very specific meaning in modern world history. (Just ask the Germans. In Germany they don't even show photos of it!) You could say the exact same thing about the swastika. You can look up its history and see that it pre-dated Nazi Germany by thousands of years. However, today, nobody would look at a swastika painted on a their garage and say, "Oh look! How charming, someone painted a Native American symbol!".
So, while, as I stated, I don't believe Musk is a Nazi, I certainly understand the reaction to the gesture.
If you'd like a deeper dive into Musk, a former colleague and employer of his has been posting this in several places.
Hi Michael, I listened to this podcast. I didn't hear you say anything about the history of the "Nazi salute". As you can read in Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_salute?form=MG0AV3 ), there is some evidence that this salute originated in ancient Rome. So, I feel that the entire incident is sad because so many people perseverate about what Elon Musk did. This irrational response to Elon Musk's salute demonstrates an abject lack of clarity of thought. It's sad. Anyone can do what I did to learn the history of Elon's salute. So, after all, is said and done, labeling someone a Nazi based solely on a hand-and-arm gesture is so, so shallow.
Finally, I end with a bit of humor with a verse from Gilbert & Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore":
"Things are seldom what they seem,
Skim milk masquerades as cream;..."
Regards,
Meir Silver
Hi Meir!
Thanks for listening and commenting.
I have to disagree with your point. The history of the salute is not relevant as it has a very specific meaning in modern world history. (Just ask the Germans. In Germany they don't even show photos of it!) You could say the exact same thing about the swastika. You can look up its history and see that it pre-dated Nazi Germany by thousands of years. However, today, nobody would look at a swastika painted on a their garage and say, "Oh look! How charming, someone painted a Native American symbol!".
So, while, as I stated, I don't believe Musk is a Nazi, I certainly understand the reaction to the gesture.
If you'd like a deeper dive into Musk, a former colleague and employer of his has been posting this in several places.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A5wwQ2azX/
Take care,
Michael