Sharon Kennedy: Another 'Mein Kampf' written in jail
All the hullabaloo about the possibility of a former U.S. president serving time might be a good thing. Remember the Nazi who spent a few months confined to a cell? He was treated as a celebrity and dictated his famous book to Rudolf Hess, the man in a cell next to him. History tells us Hess typed as Hitler talked. He might have been an excellent typist, but, like his idol, he was also mentally deranged.
So what do Adolph and Donald have in common? I suppose it could be argued that each had an agenda they were unable to complete on their first attempted coup to overthrow their respective governments. Jail time gave the former a chance to concentrate on his manifesto. His only interruptions came from visitors who reportedly brought him tea and cakes. When they left, he continued ranting and Hess resumed typing. Don’t take my word for it. Do some poking on the www and find out for yourself.
The Donald hasn’t had ample time or energy to put his “struggle” in book form. For readers who don’t know, "Mein Kampf," is translated as “My Struggle.” Prison would provide him a wonderful opportunity to dictate his thoughts on the past, where he seems to live, and his vision for the future. I’m not sure which form of government he would chose, ours or an authoritarian one, but that’s beside the point. Just like Adolph, he would be given the same preferential treatment. Chances are slim he’d be placed in with the general population of murderers and rapists. His cellmates would be non-violent liars and thieves who could share their stories and plot coup strategies to implement upon their release.
For years, DJT has withstood stress that could have landed him in the hospital or a mental ward. His unflappable endurance under such pressure is nothing short of amazing.
Most people would have collapsed months, if not years ago, if subjected to the same intense scrutiny. If “only the strong survive” then Mr. T is more insect than human. Either that or he’s a freak of nature, a robot or a Manchurian candidate. Take your pick.
It’s not a secret he conducted shady deals throughout his lifetime and walked away unscathed. As confirmed by reliable sources, he’s a common crook. FOX News reports all the good he did while in office, but it isn’t difficult to find opposing views. After their love affair with him ended, MSNBC commentators started picking apart everything he did and said. You decide what to think about his domestic and foreign policies, and his admiration for autocratic leaders. Time will tell if they were good or evil.
If a jury decides his actions demand incarceration, his time will be well spent. He won’t waste away, alone and miserable. He’ll be seen as a hero, a defender of the faith and a true populist. There’s no point in getting excited about the possibility of cell bars. They won’t exist in physical form. In 1742, the poet, Richard Lovelace, wrote “Poem to Althea.” The first line of the final stanza has been quoted for centuries: “Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cell.”
Years ago Donald crafted his own mental prison. He’s bound by demons that give him no rest. Serving time might be a welcome relief, a reprieve from the current madness surrounding him and a chance to dictate his version of "Mein Kampf" to his cellmate.
— To contact Sharon Kennedy, send her an email at authorsharonkennedy.com. Kennedy's new book, "View from the SideRoad: A Collection of Upper Peninsula Stories," is available from her or Amazon.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Sharon Kennedy: Another 'Mein Kampf' written in jail
