Seattle Times Editorial Board Member Terminated for Drawing Parallel Between Lenin and Hitler on Twitter

A Journalist Fired for Alleged "Defense" of Hitler on Twitter

A journalist named David Josef Volodzko, who has a personal connection to the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, has been fired from his position as an editorial board member for The Seattle Times. The reason for his dismissal was his alleged "defense" of Adolf Hitler on Twitter.

Transition from Lecturer to Journalist

Volodzko, who initially worked as a university lecturer, transitioned to journalism to shed light on global injustices. Over the past 15 years, he has covered stories related to refugees, prisoners of war, and war itself. In an essay published on Bari Weiss' Substack called "The Free Press," Volodzko identifies himself as a democratic socialist and mentions that his wife works as a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) trainer.

Unexpected Consequences of Cancel Culture

David Voldzko Volodzko, a writer, and his family moved to Seattle, expecting to fit in with the progressive culture. However, he was not prepared for the current cancel culture movement. In his first column for the Times, he wrote about the statue of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Volodzko discussed how locals dress up the statue and make it a joke, but also highlighted his family's struggles and Lenin's history of genocidal killings.

The Controversial Tweet and its Consequences

The columnist, whose column received mixed reactions, faced consequences for a tweet he posted on Twitter. In the tweet, he compared Hitler and Lenin, stating that Hitler was less evil because he only targeted people he believed were harmful to society, whereas Lenin targeted even those he didn't consider harmful. The tweet has since been deleted, but it cost the columnist his job.

Reflections on the Incident

The content provided is an excerpt from an essay written by Volodzko. He acknowledges that the topic being discussed is better suited for in-person debates rather than on Twitter. He also admits that his argument was poorly delivered and that comparing someone to Hitler is not necessary to argue that they are evil.

Contradictions in Termination and Apology

The article discusses the case of a person who was accused of defending Hitler and subsequently received death threats. Initially, the person believed their job was secure after being told that the media outlet supported them. However, they were ultimately fired for "poor judgment" and "continuing to engage online." The article highlights the contradiction between the reasons given for the termination and the subsequent apology statement issued by the paper.

Volodzko's New Endeavors

The writer, Volodzko, is now using Substack, a platform for independent writers, to earn income. His newsletter, called "The Radicalist," focuses on political extremism, including communism, fascism, and the concept of cancel culture, which he claims to have recently experienced.

Elon Musk's Support for Individuals Facing Punishment

Elon Musk, the CEO of the company formerly known as Tesla, has announced that his company, now called X, will support individuals who face punishment from their employers for their actions on his platform. Musk took to Twitter to declare that X will cover the legal expenses of anyone who has been treated unfairly by their employer due to their posts or likes on the platform. He emphasized that there would be no limit to the amount of funding provided and encouraged those affected to reach out for assistance.

Potential Action from Elon Musk

David Volodzko, a journalist, received a response from Elon Musk on Twitter regarding an essay he wrote on Substack. Musk said that Volodzko's case sounded good, but it is uncertain if any action will be taken. This response has given Volodzko and his family some hope, although any potential action would not be immediate.