Defending Lost Causes

 THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE (see below) discussed the nature of historical writing. Now we turn our attention to "lost causes", of which history is full. In 1961 German historian Fritz Fischer settled a long standing argument b publishing "Germany's Aims In the First World War", which became and remains the definitive analysis on the complicated circumstances and events which led to World War One. His essential thesis was that Germany ignited the war through expansionist, aggressive foreign policies, and fully intended, upon winning the war, the carve out a huge portion of Europe for its own keeping, and to dominate every aspect of the continent, economically and politically. History written by a "loser", placing blame upon his own country. Good history is not always written by the winners.  Late in the first world war, when it became evident that Germany would be defeated, Germans began fighting among themselves, blaming each other for the disaster.  This, of course, is not uncommon. Conservatives accused liberals, socialists, communists, and Jews, anyone within sight, of 'stabbing Germany in the back" by failing to contribute to the war effort, acting as traitors, and so forth. This notion became ingrained in the German national attitude, became popular, and Hitler used it to his advantage when coming to power as a right wing extremist, claiming that he alone could "make Germany great again". Today this sounds familiar, because it is. A "lost cause" grievance culture arose and spread,  conservative blaming liberals in post world war one Germany. Hitler came t o power a s populist right wing dictator, with the strong approval of Germany's right wing movement. Again, familiar. A lost cause grievance culture also arose in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Yankees traitors, runaway slave defectors ungrateful for their wonderful life as slaves, the blame game comes easy, culprits are easy to find. The lost cause movement lasted for decades, arguably endures today, in the form of conservative white southern males with confederate battle flags and MAGA ball caps. For this purpose finger pointing pointed in all directions post war; at damned Yankee profiteering Rhett Butler types, runaway black slaves ungrateful for their wonderful in bondage, Lincoln's treachery, you name, confederate lost cause crusaders blamed it. They blamed everyone but themselves, typical human behavior. And now we arrive at our most recent,, current lost cause; that of  Donald J. Trump and the stolen presidency. Trump and hie supporters are so intent on blaming folks other than themselves that they have fabricated the big lie, the lie of the stolen election. They know, of course, that the election was not stole. All of them know that, but refuse to admit it, even to themselves. The Germans knew that nobody stabbed Germany in the back, the rebels knew that they lost the war to superior manpower and industrial might, and Trump et al know that they lost the election because Trump was always unpopular with a majority of voters, and for on other reason. But lost cause grievances die hard, and this one will too. but they all die, at length, and good riddance.