On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

Friday, May 5, 2017

I bought a new audiobook the other day. It's called On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder.

I listened to this yesterday. And then I listened to it again. And I'll probably listen to again several more times until its message is burnt into my brain.

It is my opinion that every American who is concerned about the current administration and the shenanigans associated with the 2016 election should read this book. Actually, I think all Americans should read this book, but if this election has taught us anything, it's that Americans are not exceptional when it comes to falling for the con of nationalism and the emotional manipulation of would-be tyrants and oligarchs.

Timothy Snyder, the author of this work, is a the Bird White Housum Professor of History at Yale University. He received his Ph.D in modern history from Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar. He speaks five languages, and reads four more. He's written a number of books on the history of Europe, with particular emphasis on the Holocaust. I call this extremely qualified to speak on this subject, but I'm sure the alt-right would describe him as a "liberal academic" or an "elite tool of the left" or something. Because in 45's America, being extremely educated in a specific topic, and then speaking about that topic, is a bug and not a feature. But we know better, don't we?

For me, this book is so important because it's basically a professional historian's handbook for the Resistance. He compares sociological historical events from the twentieth century to our current situation here in the United States, and his conclusions are scary as fuck. So he provides some lessons - and some guidance - about how patriots (but not "America! Fuck, Yeah" patriots) can resist the historical trend and stand up for democracy in these most troubling of times. From where I sit, this could just as easily have been titled "How to be a Decent Citizen in a Representative Form of Government." That's not very catchy, though.

I don't want to synopsize the work, since it's really quite short anyway, and a good summary by the author may be read here. And while I encourage you to read the entire book, this article is a good place to start.

The main points:
  1. Do not obey in advance.
  2. Defend the institutions. 
  3. Beware the one-party state.
  4. Take responsibility for the face of the world.
  5. Remember professional ethics.
  6. Beware the paramilitaries.
  7. Be reflective if you must be armed. 
  8. Stand out.
  9. Be kind to our language.
  10. Believe in truth.
  11. Investigate.
  12. Make eye contact and small talk.
  13. Practice corporeal politics.
  14. Establish a private life.
  15. Contribute to good causes.
  16. Learn from peers in other countries.  
  17. Listen for dangerous words.
  18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives.
  19. Be a patriot.
  20. Be as courageous as you can. 
The book gives historical examples of why these things matter, and how citizens of other countries failed to employ these strategies to their everlasting grief. And it gives every citizen - every single one of us - a blueprint for the Resistance, things you can do now, today, to stop a historical trend that would most assuredly end badly.

It's certain that I have given more in service to the United States than 45 and his entire family combined. And I will not let them and their cronies continue to move us into tyranny, oligarchy, dictatorship. Not without a fight.

#RESISTANCE

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