General Discussion

And Europeans, having gone through the 20th century, are far less inclined to ask, "how could you let this happen?" They know from their own experience: when too many people are too complacent, the ones who thought, "it could never come to that!" look on in dismayed amazement when it does, too, come to "that."

For decades, I have been, next to my day job, of course, been using what language skills I have to impress upon Europeans, as well as resident Africans and Asians, that we Americans who dissent forcefully from our dark, ugly side (i.e. the Republicans) are at least as full of conviction in our views as the extremist right, even if, as Unamuno mentioned when addressing the Spanish Fascists in 1936, we do not always have "la fuerza bruta" (brute force) equal to theirs to counter it to the extent we wish. Most in Europe understand.