The GOP Just Named its Hot New Innovation Lab After a Nazi Pistol

[Newsjock]

Source: Gawker

The Republican National Committee today excitedly announced the launch of a new startup lab to bring techies and creatives together, Silicon Valley-style, to get Republicans elected. Oh, and they named it for a Nazi gun, a type of ammo, and a philosophy that puts war before peace.

Welcome to Para Bellum Labs, America! "Para Bellum Labs will help create a culture to allow the RNC to innovate faster and recruit more talented people who can build digital platforms to understand public opinion, engage voters and power elections," RNC Chairman Reince Priebus gushed in a press release this morning. Para Bellum plans to recruit on top engineering school campuses and hold fun hackathons.

... The thing about Para Bellum, though, is that name. In Latin, it literally means "for war." That's dumb enough, probably: Hey, idealistic young programmers! Let's save the world by crushing our enemies, seeing them driven before us, and hearing the lamentation of their women.

In fact, it's part of an old Roman cliche, "Si vis pacem, para bellum"—if you seek peace, prepare for war. That's been quite an inspiring little phrase through history, at least to militarists. It was especially inspiring to Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, the German government's arms manufacturer from the late imperial era to World War II.

Read more: http://gawker.com/the-gop-just-named-its-hot-new-innovation-lab-after-a-n-1515675052

[Berlum]

1. The Repubbies gots an OCCULTIST digital stategery wanktank

America: beware Republicon occultism, digital or otherwise.

[Sentath]

5. If one starts digging into security and or conservative orgs

There are all sorts of real world and fantasy mysticism names mentioned.

I like to start with Themis, Goddess of Justice. Like a cranky old aunt no one wants her at the party, but you dare not be the one to not invite her.

(I know the source may be considered flaky, but we're discussing right wing mysticism here, come on) http://wiki.echelon2.org/wiki/Team_Themis

Oh hey, there's our old friends Panaltir http://wiki.echelon2.org/wiki/Palantir Named after the hypnotizing corrupting magic panopticon network from Tolkein.

[Octafish]

17. Jawohl, Herr Arnolt!

http://www.bartcop.com/nazigop.htm

[Enrique]

2. I demand that Gawker apologize to Reince Priebus!

oh wait, Gawker isn't MSNBC.

[JaneyVee]

3. How fitting.

[tridim]

4. Are they going to hire Dr. Evil for their new high-tech evil lair?

[Berlum]

7. the Repubbies probably have him on a retainer already

[global1]

6. If The Dems Did Something Like This The Repugs Would Be All Over This And.....

making a big issue of the name. This needs to be talked about and communicated to the people that the Repugs idea of an innovation lab is given a name that means "for war".

What is wrong with a Party that puts war before peace? Rich before poor?

[NickB79]

8. The Luger Parabellum was invented in 1898, actually

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luger_pistol

30 years BEFORE the Nazi party came into power.

And was actually adopted by the Swiss in 1900, 4 years BEFORE the Germans did.

Also, to this day the common 9mm cartridge is officially designated the 9mm Parabellum.

It's a stupid name for a startup company, but the author is REALLY stretching on this one, IMO.

[Paladin]

9. Yeah, because Luger pistols are always thought of as Swiss implements. (nt)

[NickB79]

12. If you asked 100 random people what they associate with "Parabellum"

I'd be amazed if more than one or two said "Nazi" or even "Luger pistol".

Hell, I'd be amazed if a sizeable minority could associate "Luger pistol" with "Nazi" these days.

Like I said, the author is REALLY stretching to connect the dots here. That doesn't make him altogether wrong, but if that's all he has, it's not much to write a story about.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I associate it with a pistol round

Silly me I know.

A very specific pistol round. Still, stupid named for a start up. Unless that is an NRA start up

[Paladin]

16. +1. (nt)

[Newsjock]

10. And that silly, innocent, poor, maligned swastika

Nobody thinks of it as anything but an Arizona road sign:

[NightWatcher]

11. Wasting Away Again in Benghazi-ville wasn't good enough?

[bluesbassman]

13. I guess "Morans 'R' Us was already taken.

They must be sad.

[linuxman]

15. That was one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

I hope that whoever wrote that wasn't paid for it, otherwise someone got fucked.

9mm parabellum (also known as 9x19, or 9mm luger) is a cartridge name. It distinguishes between 9mm largo and other types of rounds with similar specifications.

It was also invented when Hitler was 12 years old. My, what a forward thinker young Adolph must have been.

History is hard. Mental gymnastics is an emerging field, from what I understand.

Dumb name for a political anything. Sort of asking for it.