Nazis? Really, Nazis. In pressed polo shirts.

I grew up in a time where Nazis were Sergeant Shultz and Colonel Klink, bumbling fools being hoodwinked by American POWs.  Everyday after school we'd watch Hogan's Heroes and the Rat Patrol and watch American's outsmart the Nazis every time. On PBS there were endless documentaries about WWII and the different offensives.  The documentaries about the sieges of St. Petersburg and Stalingrad showed civilian populations reduced to eating wallpaper glue. On the big screen we could watch Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List and understand that in popular culture Nazis were both dim and evil.

What changed? When did it become cool for Nazis, KKK and white supremacists to just show up, faces exposed?  How can the president of ALL Americans say there were "many fine people on both sides?" attending. One side was Nazis fascists and KKK.   Sadly, a tiki torch, a very gay haircut, and a new polo shirt is now the "look" for fascists these days. 

Trump's full throated defense of the "alt right" to the point of creating a new enemy "alt left" (where do I sign up?) is deeply, deeply troubling.  Yet at the same time he reminds me of the sweet bumbling Sergeant Schultz, who was so easily swayed by whomever was standing closest to him, and the exasperated Colonel Klink who would gesticulated in anger at being hoodwinked by the Allies at every turn.

What the president has done has given ambiguity to the White Nationalist cause.  That in those rallies there could be "good people" who have a legitimate beef with immigrants and people of color.  He has created a door into public discourse for ethno-nationalism. We used to think of Nazis as the "bad guys" in  Hogan's Heroes under this president they're not "bad" they're actually victims too.

Let's just reaffirm: Nazis are bad. Fascists are bad. Racists are bad.  There are no "fine people" on their side. None.