A few days ago I got an e-mail from a friend that contained an article comparing Trump\u2019s reluctance to concede and give up power to a similar situation in Nazi Germany. I hadn\u2019t read that particular article, but it was similar and contained essentially the same information as a few other sources I had read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, for some reason that got me to thinking about a story that I read to our kids by Dr. Seuss titled \u201cYertle the Turtle.\u201d In case you haven\u2019t read the story, Yertle is the king of a pond, but he wants more. He demands that other turtles stack themselves up on top of each other so he can sit on top of them and survey his kingdom. Mack, the turtle at the bottom, is exhausted. He asks Yertle for a rest but Yertle ignores him and demands even more turtles so he can have a better view. Eventually Yertle notices the moon and he\u2019s furious that anything dare<\/em> be higher than himself, and is about ready to call for more turtles when Mac burped. The sudden movement topples the whole stack and sends Yertle flying into the mud, freeing the rest of the turtles from their stacking duty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This story, like a lot that Dr. Seuss wrote, is actually about much bigger things than it seems and has a deeper meaning than just being a \u201ckids story.\u201d This story is an acknowledged representation of Hitler and the Nazi regime during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yertle the Turtle represents Hitler. Yertle\u2019s dictatorial rule of the pond and takeover of the surrounding area parallel Hitler\u2019s regime in Germany and invasion of various parts of Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story\u2019s symbolism can be interpreted in various ways \u2014 Mack, the little turtle on the bottom represents the German society, representing the German people who follow Hitler\u2019s rules and beliefs due to fear. Mack supports Yertle by keeping the king up high even though he is going through pain. Mack said, \u201c\u2026 but down here below, we are feeling great pain. I know up on top you seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights. We turtles can\u2019t stand it. Our shells will all crack! Besides, we need food. We are starving!.\u201d This describes how the German society felt about Hitler being in power. The people were poor and had to live with rationed food, while Hitler was in great shape at the top \u2014 the people did not have rights and were suffering greatly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, Mack decided that he had taken enough \u2014 he got mad. He got so mad, he burped! And his burp shook the throne of the king. His action caused the whole stack of turtles to shake, causing Yertle the Turtle to fall off his throne and into the mud. This illustrates the German people not being able to tolerate their suffering any longer and having enough of Hitler and the Nazi regime. Mack\u2019s burp symbolizes the uprising of voices from society. The story ends with \u201c\u2026. all the turtles are free as turtles and maybe, all creatures should be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n During an interview after Yertle the Turtle was published, Dr. Seuss was asked why he used \u201cmaybe\u201d in that last sentence and not \u201csurely.\u201d He said, \u201cI wanted other people to say surely in their minds instead of my having to say it.\u201d During the past few years, I\u2019ve often thought about this story\u2026 it\u2019s said that \u201cout of the mouths of babes\u2026.\u201d Maybe sometimes it takes a good \u201cKids\u201d story to make us think. A few days ago I got an e-mail from a friend that contained an article comparing Trump\u2019s reluctance to concede and give up power to a similar situation in Nazi Germany. I hadn\u2019t read that particular article, but it was … Continue reading
In my mind, that makes a pretty good point\u2026 no one should tell us what to think or do.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"