Thread by @sltax

Beginning in 1934, the members of the German military took the following oath: "“I swear by God this sacred oath: I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Führer of the German nation and people, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces,

and will be ready as a brave soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath.”

Tonight, Sec. Defense Mike Esper, General Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and retired general Mattis made clear that this is not the way things work in our democracy.

Milley said: "Every member of the U.S. military swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution and the values embedded within it. This document is founded on the essential principle that all men and women are born free and equal , and

should be treated with respect and dignity. It also gives Americans the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. We in all branches, all components, and all ranks remain committed to our national values and principles embedded in the Constitution."

His letter is here: slnews.us/pbgl060420a
Gen. Mattis said: "Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us.

We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society.

This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children." His statement is here: slnews.us/pbgl060420b

We have been sliding into fascism. That slide has, perhaps only temporarily, been stopped.