Thanks for the feedback! I agree, you and I are not "just like Hitler". Rather, we are human beings, just like he was. The human condition is what contains the full scope of good and evil, on which most of us like to think we lean towards the former.
It sounds like you may have read something from the post which I did not intend (and if so, that's my fault). Does it read as a condemnation of humanity, or (worse) a vindication or justification of Hitler?
Thanks again for replying - this is my first post here, and I'll appreciate any tips on making my points more clear (or shown how they're wrong).
Adolf Hitler was born to an affectionate mother. He loved dogs. He was an aspiring artist. And he violently murdered millions of men, women, and children.
I believe that we find comfort in labelling those who do great evil as monsters. It distances ourselves from their actions. It lets us pretend that the evils in our world are perpetrated by outside forces.
But the truth is that Adolf Hitler was a normal human being, just like you and me. Driven by ambition, hate, and circumstance. Enabled by a society that looked the other way.
Nazi Germany is one of modern history’s darkest cautionary tales. But we must let ourselves be cautioned. We must acknowledge and confront the potential for evil in every single one of us, ourselves included. Only then can the good in us prevail.
Once on Platform 9¾, it's probably safe to say we're not in Kansas (or King's Cross) anymore.
From the chapter: "Okay, so either (a) I just teleported somewhere else entirely (b) they can fold space like no one's business or (c) they are simply ignoring all the rules."
Thanks for the comment. I think it's clear from this and the other feedback that I wrongly prioritized prose over accurate and comprehensive argumentation in this mini-essay.