Category: On Tyranny
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On Tyranny wrap-up
No comments on On Tyranny wrap-upAs you are probably aware, I just read and posted responses to all 20 chapters of the book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder. Snyder is is an American historian specializing in the history of Central and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and the Holocaust. He is the Richard C. […]
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20 Be as courageous as you can
If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny. (From On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder.) Yes, that’s chapter 20 in full.
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19 Be a patriot
Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it. Something tells me that some of the people at the US Democratic National Convention has read this book. (I’m imagining “Be the patriotism you want to see in the world!” signs.) The chapter proper starts with what isn’t […]
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18 Be calm when the unthinkable arrives
For tyrants, the lesson of the Reichstag fire is that one moment of shock enables an eternity of submission. For us, the lesson is that our natural fear and grief must not enable the destruction of our institutions. Courage does not mean not fearing, or not grieving. It does mean recognizing and resisting terror management […]
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17 Listen for dangerous words
Be alert to the use of the words extremism and terrorism. Be alive to the fatal notions of emergency and exception. Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary. – From On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder When politicians use terms like vermin or illegals to refer to people they don’t like, it shows who […]
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16 Learn from peers in other countries
In this chapter, Timothy Snyder notes that in 2016, US journalists blithely stated things like, “Trump talks about a Muslim ban but he would be stopped by” Congress not passing it, or the Constitution, or the courts, or other guardrails. In 2017, new president Trump did it anyway. Snyder points out that there was one […]
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15 Contribute to good causes
Be active in organizations, political or not, that express your own view of life. Pick a charity or two and set up autopay. Then you will have made a free choice that supports civil society and helps others to do good. Some groups I have automatic donations to are local NPR and college radio stations, […]
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14 Establish a private life
Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware on a regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Tyrants seek the […]
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13 Practice corporeal politics
For resistance to succeed, two boundaries must be crossed. First, ideas about change must engage people of various backgrounds who do not agree about everything. Second, people must find themselves in places that are not their homes, and among groups who were not previously their friends. Protest can be organized through social media, but nothing […]
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12 Make eye contact and small talk
Why? It reinforces that you live in a society of people, not potential enemies. It’s a small step to help build relationships in your community. Finally, it keeps you aware of how others react. If neighbors shun you (or your ethnic group or religious group or, well, fill in the blank) that’s a sign things […]
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11 Investigate
I’m quite aware that not everyone can figure out everything. Lack of resources, information and time are real limits. But it’s smart to check a link or watch the video before passing it on. If you can support journalism via subscription or donation, do so. We know many media outlets are biased. A local TV […]
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10 Believe in truth
To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights. – From On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (p. […]
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9 Be kind to our language
Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books – From On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (p. 59) by Timothy Snyder. Snyder starts this […]
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8 Stand out
When Winston Churchill became prime minister in May 1940, Great Britain was alone. The British had won no meaningful battles and had no important allies. They had entered the war to support Poland, a cause that seemed lost. Nazi Germany and its Soviet ally dominated the continent. The Soviet Union had invaded Finland in November […]
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7 Be reflective if you must be armed
If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no. – From On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (p. 47) by Timothy Snyder Many of […]
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6 Be wary of paramilitaries
When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the end has come. From On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (p. […]
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5 Remember professional ethics
When political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become more important. It is hard to subvert a rule-of-law state without lawyers, or to hold show trials without judges. Authoritarians need obedient civil servants, and concentration camp directors seek businessmen interested in cheap labor. From On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth […]
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