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Time Travellers: Please Don’t Kill Hitler
The Guardian ^

Posted on 02/23/2014 11:06:23 AM PST by nickcarraway

In almost any science-fiction scenario involving time-travel, the default action is to kill Hitler. As terrible a human being as he was, there are many reasons why this probably isn’t a good idea

If you find yourself suddenly gaining access to a time machine, what’s the first thing you’d do? If you said “kill Adolf Hitler”, then congratulations; you’re a science-fiction character. Actually, the whole “access to a time machine” thing suggested that already, but the desire to kill Hitler clinches it. Any time-travelling sci-fi character (at least ones created by Western society) seems to want to kill Hitler, so much so that there’s a trope about how it’s impossible.

That attempting to kill Hitler has become such a common sci-fi plot device speaks volumes. What about Stalin? He was arguably worse, killing 20 million of his own people to fuel his ideology. But no, Stalin went about his business unmolested by time travellers, all of whom are busy targeting Hitler.

It’s understandable. Who wouldn’t want to prevent the holocaust? It’s probably the worst thing in history. And I only say “probably” because I don’t know all of history, and the human capacity to be awful should not be underestimated. But as noble as it seems, killing the Fuhrer via time travel is a terrible idea, for real-world reasons, not just those in fiction. So should you get hold of a time machine and make plans to kill Hitler, here are some reasons why you shouldn’t.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: History; TV/Movies; UFO's; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: callingartbell; history; hitler; timetravel
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To: Secret Agent Man

Not to change this into the religion forum but “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” makes sense when people understand God’s perspective outside of time.


121 posted on 02/24/2014 11:50:12 AM PST by Starstruck (If my reply offends, you probably don't understand sarcasm or criticism...or do.)
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To: nickcarraway

This actually makes sense:

No Hitler, no holocaust. No holocaust, no Israel.

As for killing Stalin? Not sure it would have changed much.


122 posted on 02/24/2014 12:52:07 PM PST by RinaseaofDs
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To: Lazamataz

Himmler had the Waffen SS and the entire SS at his disposal to oppose the Wehrmacht. And I believe Hitler loyalists in the ranks would have revolt.

The Nazi Party was full of personal rivalries and animosities, Hitler was the glue that kept it all together, no one else would have been capable of uniting all of the various factions.


123 posted on 02/24/2014 12:55:00 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: nickcarraway
Might just as well have killed Hitler because nothing was learned from the Jewish holocaust........

Vietnam, Rwanda and Iraq under Hussein come to mind..........

124 posted on 02/24/2014 1:00:42 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Occam's razor was made by Gillette)
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To: max americana
they make the NYT look like Dick Cheney’s newsletter..

Could you please explain that statement? I have no idea what you are talking about.........

125 posted on 02/24/2014 1:12:15 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Occam's razor was made by Gillette)
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To: nickcarraway

My kids and I had a discussion over Sunday Morning breakfast about a hypothetical movie plot where the protagonists have access to a time machine then have heated debates over which 19th and 20th century Marxist philosophers and collectivists should be killed.


126 posted on 02/24/2014 1:18:38 PM PST by Rebelbase (Tagline: optional, printed after your name on post)
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To: nickcarraway

Ok. I wont kill hitler.

How about if I just play the lottery instead?


127 posted on 02/24/2014 5:04:46 PM PST by lowbridge
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