I wrote this to a friend after he posted something on FB regarding the gesture.
“Good morning Simon! Since we are real friends in the real world I am writing to you here. I saw your post on Elon Musk. I have no absolute truths, just 2 observations. Believe me I am on no side, just the love for humanity one. 1. That people (following the media, they are training us well) toxically interpret everything nowadays. It is what we do. And we feel so comfortable doing it on social media. 2. Whatever this is (like every other piece of news that goes suddenly viral), it is a distraction from bigger things happening. During these distractions, important issues/decisions are ignored by the public eye. They want us to be so fired up over something small and they succeed. Look at how much response this post received compared to your normal ones. Good food, animal attivism, a happy message, my book... Everyone is talking about it. Everyone has sides. It divides. Division. People are fighting on social media. It is doing exactly what it has been put out to do. Us feeding it (often innocently) by posting and talking about it. An easy topic for those who know less about the world to get into a discussion. Also, people like you said, are unfriending people for a point of view. For thinking differently. Again, they do their job well.
I am writing you here so that I do not feed the media and system and instead nourish our relationship. Again, this is just for reflection. You do not have to agree with any of this for my friendship. It is for forever. Have a wonderful day!"
Thanks for responding. I've read It a few times and I don't quite understand what you're saying.
Could you be more direct in the point you are saying? I sense you maybe disagree with my post, maybe saying I am toxically interpreting the gesture or something, but I am not quite sure. If you can respond by more explicitly stating your point, then I'll know what you mean! Thanks.
It is not that I am disagreeing with you. I am taking the entire issue from a bigger picture. Similar to John Lawrie's comment. We are all so conditioned to interpret everything and we are constantly being manipulated to take sides about whatever is being spoken about in the news. We believed to choose, but we automatically go in 'separation mode' with our absolute truths. We feed on the drama whether it is a small issue or a big one. And too often, we don't even do it face to face in a civil way (from a place of respect and with the desire to communicate and learn). We do it with 'toxic' language and tones on social media. I don't believe this is the place to argue. Everything is too susceptible to wrong interpretation and people get arrogant and mean when they don't have to face another person. We are feeding a system that wants to divide us and distract us. At least, this is what I believe. But, I am feeding into it to as I write this. It is too complicated and large of an issue to talk about here in a comment. To wrap this up, I invite us to return to a healthy evaluation of why certain news gets highlighted and for how long and what is really behind it. Why are we all speaking about Elon Musk and a gesture when we are less and less in the position of knowing the Truth. Did he do it bc he is a Nazi? Did he do it for publicity? Did he do it bc he is part of the game? Did he do it bc he just made an awkward gesture? We will never know. In the meantime, there are other things that need our attention, like showing love, respect, support, and kindness to one another. Staying united so we are stronger to deal with whatever the future holds. Again, this is only a partial explanation and only my opinion. It would be better to discuss it eye to eye over a cup of coffee. Finishing with this. I love your space here. Sending ❤️
I relate to a lot of what you say, and in general, I agree with the sentiment. Generally speaking, I don't post about politics - and I am fairly in the middle on most issues - I can see both sides, I can see the humanity on both sides.
But a Nazi salute is not something I am going to let pass by. I have worked for years in genocide reconciliation work - working with both survivors of the holocaust, and working with perpetrators and survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi, in Rwanda. It is my deep, strong conviction, that the actions of people matter. You talk about seeing the humanity in people - great. But an important part of this is seeing when humanity is closed off, when people are dehumanized.
We are in a current stage where avenues of communication are being cut off. When governments are saying traditional media are worthless, when the propaganda is to say that traditional media is propaganda. We have Elon Musk saying legacy media is dead and that truth should be what people on X say it is.
Like I said in my blog, and like you say in response, we can't know everything in Elon or anyone's head. We can only take people as they present themselves.
We are not debating whether Elon is making a good Tesla or bad Tesla. We are not debating his views on visiting the moon. We are debating whether he did a Nazi salute on the day on the inauguration.
If it wasn't a Nazi salute, great. But as I implied on my blog, if hundreds of thousands of people thought I did a Nazi salute, I'd probably apologise. If people in Germany looked at it and said 'yeah, that's a Nazi salute' - I'd realise I was wrong. Or at the very lease I would explain what happened. Elon gives us silence.
I can think of nothing more important than discussing this topic, which is why I wrote about it. To push it aside, to have an attitude of 'oh maybe it was a nice friendly gesture' is to normalise what he did. To be dull to it when it happens again.
I hope I'm wrong.
I agree with you that we don't know what was in his head.
But you wrote: "Did he do it bc he is a Nazi? Did he do it for publicity? Did he do it bc he is part of the game? Did he do it bc he just made an awkward gesture?"
I missed a point when I talked about traditional/legacy media being ridiculed and belittled by those in power. I meant to add that this is at a time when the culture is shifting in a nationalistic way, when certain types of people are being viewed as bad/wrong/eating their pets, etc. The humanity you seek is being eroded, and when that's coupled with offensive salutes, we have to start asking questions.
I agree. I like to think about what and who is behind this. Excessive attention to some things and none to others. Again, I am not talking about the gesture in itself, but in general the type of focus (manipulation involved) given, and as a result, how this effects our behavior and communication.
No none of these are ok and I agree that an apology would have been due in any case. I am not condoning silence. And I understand why you wrote what you wrote. In fact, I was not saying that your piece was toxic. I never thought this. I suppose I am just frustrated with all the lies and separation going on. All the not seeing that as long as we take a side against another one of us (not the 'leaders' of the world and the entire system (as a whole bc everything is connected), we are on the wrong side. I really would like to sit down with a coffee and listen to different views as long as the goal is to create a community. Truth is a very fragile issue. This is what feels scary to me. Sorry if I began a misplaced discussion here. I really am not speaking about this specific gesture or my opinions on Musk and understand your point of view. Thanks for giving us good media. I appreciate your presence here.
Also... as a journalist I think it would be important and interesting to dig into why certain things become news and others don't, why at certain times and the reason why they are spoken about for a certain amount of time and then dropped.
One thing you say here that I think is very important is that we do not know what was going on in Elon's mind. I have seen all kinds of takes on this from all kinds of different people with often very different conclusions.
One commonality I see is that everybody seems to be absolutely positive they know what was going on in his mind. And when we assume we know what is going on in the mind of another person, we are highly prone to making mistakes. We all view the world through our own lens and are primed to see certain things.
In a meticulous analysis of the recent inauguration event for former President Donald Trump, it has been observed that Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, executed two conspicuous gestures reminiscent of the Hitler salute. These actions were deliberate and unambiguous, embodying a symbol historically associated with the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, which resulted in the deaths of millions. The pertinent inquiry arises: what motivated such a display?
Upon rigorous examination, it becomes evident that Musk’s actions were not merely performative but emblematic of a deeper ideological alignment. Historical records indicate that Musk’s maternal lineage harboured sympathies towards Nazi ideology, with documented instances of Holocaust denial. His father, Errol Musk, has been characterized by pronounced elitist and eugenicist beliefs, further complicating the familial narrative.
The nomenclature of “Elon” is purportedly derived from Errol’s fascination with rocketry during the apartheid era in South Africa, specifically influenced by Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi scientist. This connection is further substantiated by references to von Braun’s science fiction work, “Marsprojekt,” wherein a leader named “Elon” governs a Martian colony. Such historical intersections suggest a deliberate cultivation of ideological continuity.
Musk’s public persona reveals inclinations towards eugenicist thought, advocating for increased reproduction among certain demographics and expressing views that can be interpreted as supportive of hierarchical social structures. His endeavours, ranging from support for specific political movements in Europe to ambitious projects like Mars colonization, can be viewed through a lens that perceives a pursuit of ideological propagation.
The public execution of gestures associated with Nazi symbolism serves multiple functions. It acts as a litmus test for societal tolerance, gauging the extent to which such actions can be normalized or dismissed. The relative silence or muted response from mainstream media and political entities may indicate a broader desensitization or unwillingness to confront such displays, potentially due to complex socio-political dynamics.
In summation, Musk’s actions and historical affiliations suggest a nuanced and deliberate engagement with ideologies that warrant critical examination. The interplay between personal history, public behaviour, and societal response underscores the importance of vigilance in recognizing and addressing the resurgence of such ideologies in contemporary contexts.
I wrote this to a friend after he posted something on FB regarding the gesture.
“Good morning Simon! Since we are real friends in the real world I am writing to you here. I saw your post on Elon Musk. I have no absolute truths, just 2 observations. Believe me I am on no side, just the love for humanity one. 1. That people (following the media, they are training us well) toxically interpret everything nowadays. It is what we do. And we feel so comfortable doing it on social media. 2. Whatever this is (like every other piece of news that goes suddenly viral), it is a distraction from bigger things happening. During these distractions, important issues/decisions are ignored by the public eye. They want us to be so fired up over something small and they succeed. Look at how much response this post received compared to your normal ones. Good food, animal attivism, a happy message, my book... Everyone is talking about it. Everyone has sides. It divides. Division. People are fighting on social media. It is doing exactly what it has been put out to do. Us feeding it (often innocently) by posting and talking about it. An easy topic for those who know less about the world to get into a discussion. Also, people like you said, are unfriending people for a point of view. For thinking differently. Again, they do their job well.
I am writing you here so that I do not feed the media and system and instead nourish our relationship. Again, this is just for reflection. You do not have to agree with any of this for my friendship. It is for forever. Have a wonderful day!"
Thanks for responding. I've read It a few times and I don't quite understand what you're saying.
Could you be more direct in the point you are saying? I sense you maybe disagree with my post, maybe saying I am toxically interpreting the gesture or something, but I am not quite sure. If you can respond by more explicitly stating your point, then I'll know what you mean! Thanks.
It is not that I am disagreeing with you. I am taking the entire issue from a bigger picture. Similar to John Lawrie's comment. We are all so conditioned to interpret everything and we are constantly being manipulated to take sides about whatever is being spoken about in the news. We believed to choose, but we automatically go in 'separation mode' with our absolute truths. We feed on the drama whether it is a small issue or a big one. And too often, we don't even do it face to face in a civil way (from a place of respect and with the desire to communicate and learn). We do it with 'toxic' language and tones on social media. I don't believe this is the place to argue. Everything is too susceptible to wrong interpretation and people get arrogant and mean when they don't have to face another person. We are feeding a system that wants to divide us and distract us. At least, this is what I believe. But, I am feeding into it to as I write this. It is too complicated and large of an issue to talk about here in a comment. To wrap this up, I invite us to return to a healthy evaluation of why certain news gets highlighted and for how long and what is really behind it. Why are we all speaking about Elon Musk and a gesture when we are less and less in the position of knowing the Truth. Did he do it bc he is a Nazi? Did he do it for publicity? Did he do it bc he is part of the game? Did he do it bc he just made an awkward gesture? We will never know. In the meantime, there are other things that need our attention, like showing love, respect, support, and kindness to one another. Staying united so we are stronger to deal with whatever the future holds. Again, this is only a partial explanation and only my opinion. It would be better to discuss it eye to eye over a cup of coffee. Finishing with this. I love your space here. Sending ❤️
Hey Danni,
I relate to a lot of what you say, and in general, I agree with the sentiment. Generally speaking, I don't post about politics - and I am fairly in the middle on most issues - I can see both sides, I can see the humanity on both sides.
But a Nazi salute is not something I am going to let pass by. I have worked for years in genocide reconciliation work - working with both survivors of the holocaust, and working with perpetrators and survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi, in Rwanda. It is my deep, strong conviction, that the actions of people matter. You talk about seeing the humanity in people - great. But an important part of this is seeing when humanity is closed off, when people are dehumanized.
We are in a current stage where avenues of communication are being cut off. When governments are saying traditional media are worthless, when the propaganda is to say that traditional media is propaganda. We have Elon Musk saying legacy media is dead and that truth should be what people on X say it is.
Like I said in my blog, and like you say in response, we can't know everything in Elon or anyone's head. We can only take people as they present themselves.
We are not debating whether Elon is making a good Tesla or bad Tesla. We are not debating his views on visiting the moon. We are debating whether he did a Nazi salute on the day on the inauguration.
If it wasn't a Nazi salute, great. But as I implied on my blog, if hundreds of thousands of people thought I did a Nazi salute, I'd probably apologise. If people in Germany looked at it and said 'yeah, that's a Nazi salute' - I'd realise I was wrong. Or at the very lease I would explain what happened. Elon gives us silence.
I can think of nothing more important than discussing this topic, which is why I wrote about it. To push it aside, to have an attitude of 'oh maybe it was a nice friendly gesture' is to normalise what he did. To be dull to it when it happens again.
I hope I'm wrong.
I agree with you that we don't know what was in his head.
But you wrote: "Did he do it bc he is a Nazi? Did he do it for publicity? Did he do it bc he is part of the game? Did he do it bc he just made an awkward gesture?"
Absolutely none of those are okay.
I missed a point when I talked about traditional/legacy media being ridiculed and belittled by those in power. I meant to add that this is at a time when the culture is shifting in a nationalistic way, when certain types of people are being viewed as bad/wrong/eating their pets, etc. The humanity you seek is being eroded, and when that's coupled with offensive salutes, we have to start asking questions.
I agree. I like to think about what and who is behind this. Excessive attention to some things and none to others. Again, I am not talking about the gesture in itself, but in general the type of focus (manipulation involved) given, and as a result, how this effects our behavior and communication.
No none of these are ok and I agree that an apology would have been due in any case. I am not condoning silence. And I understand why you wrote what you wrote. In fact, I was not saying that your piece was toxic. I never thought this. I suppose I am just frustrated with all the lies and separation going on. All the not seeing that as long as we take a side against another one of us (not the 'leaders' of the world and the entire system (as a whole bc everything is connected), we are on the wrong side. I really would like to sit down with a coffee and listen to different views as long as the goal is to create a community. Truth is a very fragile issue. This is what feels scary to me. Sorry if I began a misplaced discussion here. I really am not speaking about this specific gesture or my opinions on Musk and understand your point of view. Thanks for giving us good media. I appreciate your presence here.
Also... as a journalist I think it would be important and interesting to dig into why certain things become news and others don't, why at certain times and the reason why they are spoken about for a certain amount of time and then dropped.
One thing you say here that I think is very important is that we do not know what was going on in Elon's mind. I have seen all kinds of takes on this from all kinds of different people with often very different conclusions.
One commonality I see is that everybody seems to be absolutely positive they know what was going on in his mind. And when we assume we know what is going on in the mind of another person, we are highly prone to making mistakes. We all view the world through our own lens and are primed to see certain things.
Elon Musk - An Analysis of His Behaviour
( Roman/Nazi Salute)
In a meticulous analysis of the recent inauguration event for former President Donald Trump, it has been observed that Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, executed two conspicuous gestures reminiscent of the Hitler salute. These actions were deliberate and unambiguous, embodying a symbol historically associated with the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, which resulted in the deaths of millions. The pertinent inquiry arises: what motivated such a display?
Upon rigorous examination, it becomes evident that Musk’s actions were not merely performative but emblematic of a deeper ideological alignment. Historical records indicate that Musk’s maternal lineage harboured sympathies towards Nazi ideology, with documented instances of Holocaust denial. His father, Errol Musk, has been characterized by pronounced elitist and eugenicist beliefs, further complicating the familial narrative.
The nomenclature of “Elon” is purportedly derived from Errol’s fascination with rocketry during the apartheid era in South Africa, specifically influenced by Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi scientist. This connection is further substantiated by references to von Braun’s science fiction work, “Marsprojekt,” wherein a leader named “Elon” governs a Martian colony. Such historical intersections suggest a deliberate cultivation of ideological continuity.
Musk’s public persona reveals inclinations towards eugenicist thought, advocating for increased reproduction among certain demographics and expressing views that can be interpreted as supportive of hierarchical social structures. His endeavours, ranging from support for specific political movements in Europe to ambitious projects like Mars colonization, can be viewed through a lens that perceives a pursuit of ideological propagation.
The public execution of gestures associated with Nazi symbolism serves multiple functions. It acts as a litmus test for societal tolerance, gauging the extent to which such actions can be normalized or dismissed. The relative silence or muted response from mainstream media and political entities may indicate a broader desensitization or unwillingness to confront such displays, potentially due to complex socio-political dynamics.
In summation, Musk’s actions and historical affiliations suggest a nuanced and deliberate engagement with ideologies that warrant critical examination. The interplay between personal history, public behaviour, and societal response underscores the importance of vigilance in recognizing and addressing the resurgence of such ideologies in contemporary contexts.
GQ