Back to the package store today to buy some good German beer, I told the young clerk that it reminded me of what I drank in Nurnberg while stationed in the Army. He suggested with a laugh that I might be old enough to remember Hitler. Not quite, I told him but my company did police and clean the stadium where he gave many of his speeches. It's torn down now but I knew men who knew German and went downtown to the library to listen to Hitler's many saved tapes. They told me that they could understand how he came to power and his speeches were convincing. My young clerk says he does not like Hitler and he will never understand how that man ever came to power. (What a perfect setup. I could not resist.)

I told him we are lucky. It almost happened here. The man put up his hand and says "whoa." He looked shocked and then said "it is what it is."