EP6B | Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny" - Daily Life

Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, offers important reflections on the fragility of democratic systems and the rising momentum toward authoritarianism in contemporary politics.  Most importantly, it offers citizen tools aimed at fortifying vulnerabilities characteristically targeted by autocrats, dictators, despots and tyrants, each of whom aim at consolidating power for their own ends.

This week looks at the distinction between those terms related to fascism and tyranny.  We also look at those elements of the socio-political journey which, among Snyder's lessons lie closer to home, as new habits that we can integrate into our daily lives.  In particular, we look at the distinction between public and private lives, at remaining calm when the unthinkable arrives, and being reflective if we must be armed.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 
Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century Timothy Snyder. Thorndike Press, 2021.

Interview Clips Used

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Disclaimer:   The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of sponsors, underwriters, advertisers or guests. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. 

Transcript

Episode 6B: “The Daily Path of Timothy Snyder's “On Tyranny”

Welcome to American Musecast!   I’m your host, Susan Travis, exploring American politics using the construct of the hero’s journey and the archetypes of the psyche. 

In our last episode, we explored the lessons offered by Yale professor, Timothy Snyder, in his book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.  We learned that tyranny is that ugly anti-democratic system used by a person or group to deprive the people of their power.  Democracy is full of weeds and cracks; it has an innate openness that is both its strength and weakness; that’s how the threat gets in. Tyranny creeps in through our vulnerabilities, in great part through the growth of a cavalier disdain for our institutions, so we talked about strengthening our civic muscles to prevent erosion of our democratic principles.  

Ideally, the checks and balance of a democracy are designed to keep power with the people, all the people, inclusive of all their diversity of race, religion, and identities, so, ideally, we, the people have the leverage.  Well, even in the best of times, we’re still working on that.  

Because, exploitation is still a thing, throughout humanity.  That’s why a healthy democracy requires the stewardship of ongoing vigilance, integrity, and truth-telling institutions.  That may be a high bar, the human condition, being what it is, but is still a peak value of democracy.  These days, too many have all but abandoned these principles, opting instead for power at the expense of our constitutional protections.  But, however imperfect the young democratic experiment of America, democracy remains the fairest governing system, sharing power with the most people.  For that reason alone, MOST of us want to protect it. 

The problem lies with those who prefer to hoard rather than share power, and so they tug democracy from the people toward other systems likely to consolidate power in their own favor.  And though we continue to put our backs into making it better and fairer through policy, those of us dedicated to the stewardship of democracy first must defend the system itself, protect it from being demolished and replaced by those with anti-democratic ambitions; that’s our first order of business, the preservation of democracy.  

So, let’s chat about those anti-democratic ambitions which aim to remove power from the people.  The terms related to concentrated power tend to mush together and since I’m guilty of using them a bit loosely, I thought we might zoom in for some clarity to start us off, because there are discernible differences between tyranny, fascism, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism, and a few of their uglier friends.

Simply put, authoritarianism is a sort of umbrella term referring to STRICT authority requiring full obedience by the people, though it can occur in degrees.  As discussed in Episode 2, authoritarian systems always arise at the expense of democratic processes and individual rights, because oppression, by definition, stamps out freedom.  No more people power.  And as oppressive power becomes particularly cruel, it’s considered to be tyranny.

So, under that broad umbrella of authoritarianism, are various categories relating to the concentration of power. Each term refers to a powerful leadership lording over dis-empowered people . . . who puts the screws to whom.  The Greek suffix, “-cracy” (not crazy), means "power; rule; government'', and is attached to other roots to explain elements of concentrated power.  The word “democracy” comes from two Greek words that mean people (demos) and rule (kratos).  After that, the type of rule is found in the root of the word. 

So, when power concentrates toward an individual, and you’ll have an autocracy, run by an autocrat, dictator, or a “strongman” that’s a sort of slang for dictators and autocrats who have the political musculature to oppress the people.  

Concentrated into a small power group, (the prefix “olig” meaning “few”) and you have an oligarchy, as in Russia under Vladimir Putin.  If that few are wealthy, it’s a plutocracy because oddly the Greek word “pluto” means wealth.  

If power is concentrated through religious authority, that commingling of religion and state is a theocracy (think theology).  Modern theocracies are Saudia Arabia, Iran, and the Vatican – so the people live under the strict requirements of a single religion, whether it’s shar’ia law in the Middle East, or Catholic Christian law in the Vatican.  

If the power comes through the authority of corporations, it’s a corporatocracy; if it was stolen power, it’s a kleptocracy . . . . you get the idea.  

Totalitarianism is the most extreme form of authoritarianism where the government seeks to control virtually every aspect of public and private life – it is full state power.  Those buggers are pretty much the worst.  Totalitarianism, again, it tells you what it is, it’s TOTAL power.  North Korea is ranked as the most oppressive totalitarian regime in the world.  The North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Un is an autocrat – this is the guy from whom former President Trump received what he proudly called, “love letters,” because they had become so close.  

Eventually, with any of these, it’s bye, bye, democracy.   

The current threat faced in America today is twofold. First, the erosion of democracy due to our  failure to nurture our institutions and our truths.  And secondly, growing right-wing extremism as it sheds democratic principles, and embraces authoritarian characteristics known as “fascism.” 

Fascism, remember, is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology, and it grows as leaders threaten the people with military or police force, aimed at jailing opposition, that is, pro-democratic supporters.  As a right-wing extremist phenomenon, fascism often rolls in as a perversion of a religion, a religious fundamentalism with a big dollop of racism baked in.  It comes with those who believe one kind of people are better than another, perhaps believing in a divine favoring of one group over another, or a group as physically, mentally or morally inferior.  Fascism smashes down our civil rights and liberties, eliminating them due to a perceived good for that specific segment of society – that better-than-others group.  In America, right wing extremists have settled on White Christians as the TRUEST Americans . . . reminding us of Hitler’s plan for a white Arian nation.  

Because it’s particularly cruel, it’s understood to be a form of tyranny with horrific punishments and sentences associated with oppressive crimes.  Maybe all the women wear burkas, or maybe everyone is required to become a Muslim or a Christian, or else.  Maybe all the books are banned, or maybe even learning to read or own a business is outlawed with harsh punishments.  

Education is always a threat to concentrated power. It can happen here – because it already has.  As of 2024, Black people have only had the legal right to read for 159 years.  Basically, that’s two 80-year lifetimes, end to end, and that’s how recently blacks were not allowed to be educated.  Two lifetimes.  Such a short time ago, America was committed to its own brand of tyranny, to the extent that some Americans fought a war to end it and some Americans fought to keep it.  Perspective is interesting, isn’t it?  Only two lifetimes ago.

Today, we continue to explore Timothy Snyder’s work, looking at ways to posture our daily lives against threats of tyranny, through our civic engagement, education, and personal behavior.  This part doesn’t require a societal shift, just personal commitment to a healthy democratic lifestyle.  So, let’s start broadly, and work our way inward . . . understanding the value of HISTORY & A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.

When citizens encounter an ordeal, a political uprising or some social upheaval, that ordeal can serve as a catalyst to create solidarity among citizens.  In the face of adversity, such unity underscores the power of collaboration in overcoming challenges, and that’s truly the hallmark of the hero’s journey.  Solidarity in the face of tyranny:  it’s the bravest part of humanity threaded through history. With any encroachment or intrusion beyond boundaries, when we summon our courage and stand firmly in our beliefs and values, we stand with those throughout time who said ‘no’ to tyrants.  

History tells the tales of how others have historically fought against or succumbed to tyranny.  What a gift!  History holds the breadcrumbs and secret maps for navigating our challenges through power dynamics.  We burnish and polish the tools of history by learning more, adding insights, until we become ever savvier to the mechanisms of power and manipulation.  It’s part of our growth toward the dynamic citizenship needed to defend democracy.  

The most common reasoning for studying history lies within various versions of that time honored warning, “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.”  Yet, our ability to draw lessons from those before us isn’t really front of mind, for most Americans.  There’s a resistance to history as too many see no value in it.  “History? Who cares about that dusty stuff, the past is in the past – let’s move on!”  “Let’s get over it, we didn’t do it, let’s just move forward. Everyone has the same rights, NOW, what’s the excuse.  Bygones.”  Yet, when we poo-poo history as dry and irrelevant, we toss aside a precious tool.  Timothy Snyder has a few words to say on that matter in a recent interview. 

QUOTE (Snyder on history)

Learning from our past. The history of the world has the same importance as the patterns within our personal lived story – our history.  Whether its personal history or broader social history, our past teaches us what to expect; it’s a manual for how to bob and weave, and dodge the worst blows . . . but only if we listen and are truthful with ourselves about what history holds.  

The human experience is one of family, work, loves, spiritual journeys . . . and through that journey, we learn.  We learn what happens when we are out of balance, when we overshare, ignore red flags, or succumb to temptations.  Or trust blindly.  We learn what happens when our family experiences trauma, and how finances color our hopes and dreams, and indeed, our very survival.  We also learn about the consequences of building trust, of maintaining a healthy vigilance and boundary maintenance . . . and as we learn, we mature.  

But when we deny or try to rewrite our story, well, there’s that resistance to the journey again.  It’s a misstep, every time.  Whether it’s me, and my issues, or America and its issues, none of us get very far by lying to ourselves, by ignoring our character flaws or by thinking our resume or our tourist brochure tells the sum of our story.  Yet, somehow many of us develop denial into art-form in order to avoid introspection . . . and perhaps the same people avoiding personal shadows are also avoiding the shadows in our American history.  

We all know those who can’t cope with aspects of their past, and sometimes it’s us, let’s not kid ourselves. Sometimes we can’t acknowledge places of guilt or misdeeds toward others, places of trauma, insecurities, and shattered dreams, or the consequences of failed integrity.  Sometimes its new information about gender, addiction, race or spiritual reckonings that throw us off our game.  Sometimes the story we tell ourselves about ourselves can only withstand so much in terms of new information. So, our human fragility is tricky.  

We also know people who also can’t cope with similar issues within the narrative of American history.  Folks who insist on a simplistic, pristine, heroic version of who we are.  But we’re not noble because we tell a noble story about ourselves; we’re ONLY noble and mature if we are not afraid to confront the shadows that have been cast within our story.  Our history is neither a resume nor a tourist brochure; it’s our truth, a truth that learns and discovers, and grappling with it, warts and all, is part of our redemption – how we make our way through the rough terrain and forests of social conflicts toward our future.  The lessons that we learn emerge from our worst moments, but as in our personal lives, we aren’t defined by our worst moments, only in how we process them, how we hold ourselves accountable and step up – or don’t.   

Coping with truth is how we find a place of peace with our past.  We explore the history of our nation, and of our world, for the same reason we journal and reflect on our personal lives.  We aren’t meant to carry guilt about our past or the choices of our forefathers;  but we are desperately guilty if we let it sit, steadfastly denying and petulantly refusing to process, acknowledge, and amend through a new healthier way forward. Whether it’s one of us or a lot of us, when we deny a shadowed segment, we miss critical lessons, and lose important keys to our growing.  

Curious Americans research, read multiple accounts and piece together a three-dimensional mosaic explaining the steps and mis-steps of a nation in its journey of growth.  They uncover lost bits and scraps of history which help us to understand more fully, how our roots inform the context of current events. History made us who we are – it’s the story of how we fed the wolves and listened to angels, so when we maintain defensively, “well, IIIII didn’t do it,” we deny that we are where we are as a consequence of which of those wolves our society chose to feed and whether our better angels were our guides.  Who screwed whom, and who to this day, stands atop the bounty as a result of that screwing.

Snyder also urges us to learn from peers in other countries.  In 1982, I traveled with a group called Up with People. At the time, there were five casts traveling each year, and our cast numbered about 120 students between 18 and 25.  During my year, I had 78 host families, and traveled to 8 countries.  We performed a professional musical production to communities, and our aim was to learn about other people and their cultures, how they lived and worked in their cities and villages, and what those communities had to offer.  We toured every factory and point of interest in every community we visited.  I later spent time in Maine, as a national exchange student.  Some years after that, I spent a year as an assistant dean of students for an elite international college in Lugano, Switzerland, traveling, learning Italian, and generally managing life in a foreign country.  Many people never leave their hometowns, and yet, my travels seem to have only just slowed in recent years. Although I learned a lot at the time, I find that now, as I’m settling into a permanent home here in New Mexico, I continue to learn lessons from those years.

These days, international news is the news of my friends. I have friends in war-torn countries and places with natural disasters, so I care deeply about their access to humanitarian support.  I’m concerned when their country falls to a dictator, or when their economy collapses.  I worry the effect of the pandemic on those countries.  I have a sense of how they experience their health care programs.  I know how many of my friends fit meaningfully into world history. . . how their relatives changed the world as we know it, how they experienced regime changes, and how they escaped situations of persecution in the dead of night.  For me, the world is personal. 

The benefits of travel and robust exchange programs build these experiences.  When we have a personal understanding of other places and peoples, we shed much of our stereotypes and gain humility as we look to our own nation.   

From the days of pen-pals, people have enjoyed and learned from distant friends.  Yet, comparative to other countries, only about 42% of American citizens have passports, so most of us are unlikely to engage with anyone who has experienced fascist regimes and authoritarian governments.  Yet when we befriend beyond our borders, beyond democracy, we come face to face with those who insightfully help us to recognize and make sense of authoritarian tendencies. 

Such new friends warn us to be wary of temporary of exceptions, that fascism creeps in as we normalize the unthinkable.  They might remind us to remain calm when the unthinkable arrives.  Here’s Timothy Snyder, sharing his thoughts on this practice.

QUOTE (Snyder on unthinkable)

Many of us remember the ways that life changed overnight after 9-11.  We were not calm, and while our leaders weren’t tyrants, we well remember how our panic justified their claim of extra powers, extra powers and overreach now calcified into American life.  In fact, the attack on the US was intended to sow discord and chaos, to pit us against one another so that we would destroy ourselves from within.  It worked.  We are forever changed because we welcomed a narrative leading to the consolidation of power as a means of terror management.  Our collective shock offered an easily manipulated opportunity.  

The weird thing is, that my graduate classes in International Relations, a good ten years before 9-11, were predicting every aspect that later occurred – it would come from the Middle East – the easiest assault would be planes into our skyscrapers, the goal would be to sow chaos.  When President Bush said, “No one could have predicted any of this,” I well-remembered how very predictable it actually was . . . right down to my syllabus noting the consequences that would unfold, a good ten years in advance.

Now, there’s the kind of terrorism we experienced on 9-11, and then there’s the kind of domestic terrorism we experienced through the January 6, 2021 insurrection and through the epidemic of mass shootings.  Our normal vigilance gets a bit flabby when we think rules and lock-down will protect us from a perpetual emergency.  Our focus is constantly redirected from solutions.  In each case, terrorism and extremism come to us as emotionally charged with the intent and design to separate and sow chaos.  It doesn’t take much to inject the kind of fear that has us nervous at best and freaking out at worst, and yet, it’s an abusive fear-mongering that has us reaching for weapons and locking down “just in case.”  

Snyder’s rule then is to remain calm, when the unthinkable arrives. 

QUOTE (Snyder on the unthinkable)

To address the unusual as it is and to quell it without panic.  It takes clear heads to discern what is normal from what is unusual, and refuse to allow the unusual to become normal.  So far, we struggle with this, because for us, anti-democratic rhetoric and actions are being normalized. 

QUOTE (Snyder on the normalizing)

Our daily lives are the best place to cultivate CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & RESPONSIBILITY

Timothy Snyder urges us to be wary of paramilitaries.  We often forget that within a democracy, the state’s monopoly on force is legitimate because it’s accountable to the people, both directly and indirectly.  Force is supposed to be solely the purview of the government in form of law enforcement and military.  If using weapons is your gig, and it’s not about hunting or protecting your home, as we’ve long been told, then who exactly are you planning to shoot and under what circumstances, if you aren’t part of the military or law enforcement? Me? The guy next door?  “The Government” – meaning like, what, your mayor, your governor,  Congressmen – the president?  The army?   

So, why the do-it-yourself DIY paramilitary gig?  Why the cosplay, the military play-acting which many perceive as a menacing reach?  What gives?  And let’s not delude ourselves, trouble arises when those against the system are not only armed and uniformed, but intermingled with police and military.  Snyder reminds us that the means to wage violence jeopardizes political order, and that privatized mercenaries and militias operate with their own agenda in support of mob emotions.  Outsourcing force creates dangerous lawless zones, or at least zones with an agenda counter to American democracy, to transparency, and peaceful rule of law.  Here again, is Timothy Snyder.

QUOTE (Snyder on paramilitaries)

We have more guns in our country than we have people, and those guns are the leading cause of death for children. We don’t have to be AGAINST guns, but doesn’t it seem strange that SO many people are not really against gun violence.  Not really agitated at the personal and social violence that too often comes from the end of a gun.  To that end, Timothy Snyder points out that we must be reflective if we are to be armed.  Carrying a weapon that can kill your fellows, particularly quickly and in large numbers, is a sacred trust, it’s life-death power.  Being armed in service to the public is a grave responsibility, and it requires more than blind obedience – it requires our individual reflection as an added step of legitimacy.  We need to know in our personal bones that a directive to shoot is legitimate and just.  And perhaps we need to think twice about how we so casually arm the mean and reckless. 

We can’t just disagree with the government and shoot them up; there’s a system that prevents violence.  Within a healthy democracy, our role is to actively organize ourselves and demand change, because that is OUR government, our representatives, inseparable from ourselves.  If we want to be represented differently, we replace our representatives through our vote.  We demand change through democratic channels. When we passively wait for the government to act, we risk that the government might empower themselves, separating themselves from the people, into their own independence, taking away the people’s rights, and shrinking the sphere of what can be kept private.

Now, another of Snyder’s points is the practice of corporeal politics.  Corporeal – it means physically, with our physical bodies, actively, not just online.  Physically.  Corporeal politics requires people to take action, with their hearts and minds and bodies.  When Snyder argues that people must “draw the line” between public and private, he means that people must actively engage in politics—the public sphere—so that the government is restrained from incrementally encroaching and take control over the private sphere.  

QUOTE (Snyder on corporeal politics)

So let’s PRACTICE our political will.  Exercise our rights.  Embrace new diverse people with different perspectives.  We benefit more than we realize when we get out of our comfort zones and do challenging things . . . things that show we’ve not been made soft and compliant through our screens.  Touch grass.  Engage, face to face.  Flex our political muscles across diverse perspectives and commonalities.  Have a public and private distinction, because a civil society gives us choice of association.

And while we’re at it, Snyder has another tip:  "practice disciplined nonconformity, to stand out, and value the power of the individual.”   This cracks the status quo, offering a softer permission and path to opposing political bullies.  I know, it’s hard to stand out on your own, but once one person breaks through, others more easily follow.  Don’t be afraid to step up.  Be seen and heard.  Lean in and use your personality . . . because it’s your superpower. Think about how to best to be an inspirational example.  Collective action offers comfort that the fight against tyranny is a shared endeavor rather than an isolated struggle, and that’s a powerful source of strength for stewards and heroes of democracy.  

The stronger the forces of tyranny and authoritarianism, the more likely activists are to be at the butt end of social ostracism, political backlash, or personal sacrifices.  That said, our job is to confidently proclaim, “that’s right, we are disciplined in our resistance to tyranny.” That’s why we need those bonds of solidarity and collaboration among citizens, professionals, and organizations committed to upholding democracy. That’s the journey; to embrace our moral responsibilities, to uphold ethical standards and to resist complicity in oppressive systems.  

That’s the journey of a patriot, as we confront our greatest fears and challenges along the way. In the context of On Tyranny, our inmost cave of challenge involves grappling with complacency in the face of authoritarianism. Snyder’s lesson, "Be a citizen," urges us to embrace our role not just as passive observers but as active participants in shaping our societies. Because democracy is a lifelong process, it requires the habits of a healthy democratic lifestyle!

QUOTE (Snyder on patriotism)

So let’s be clear about that difference between a patriot and a nationalist.  Where patriots align their acts with ideals and universal values, nationalists embrace their national identity with the air of narcissism, of “we’re the best,” discounting the world, resentful of other successes and advancement, believing our nation to be both invincible and infallible (unbeatable and without fault).  And although we are actually ranked 19th on the prosperity index, 17th in freedom, and 59th in human rights, in 2016 we were downgraded from a full democracy, to a flawed democracy ranked 36th in the world in 2020.  I’ll place citations for these figures in the show notes, but all of this shows that this rather immature myth of being number one holds us back from empowering ourselves toward the real prize, our authentic potential as a healthy democracy.  We should love our country with all our hearts, and believe in its potential.  We should be like a proud mother who believes Little Baby Democracy to be the best and brightest; but so much of its potential rests in our arms, how we nurture, how we spoil, or how we abuse this marvelous gift.    

Being a patriot requires introspection.  It requires a deepening commitment to democratic values. It challenges us to confront our own beliefs and biases, and yes, facts and truths along our journey in pursuit of justice. In that way, the journey becomes ever more personal, as we confront our fears of failure, rejection, or even persecution for standing up against tyranny.

Snyder reminds us that part of being patriotic, is to contribute to good causes.  The idea that the people could have a voice and a drive for change is the last thing a fascist regime will allow, so they target charities and NGOs (non-governmental organizations, that is) to undermine democracy.  Freedom is a sort of standoff between empowered individuals and tethered government behaving as free.  Our support of human rights organizations helps to keep us free as well.  This is where the people move with greater freedom and autonomy, often outside official channels. 

Timothy Snyder’s counsel on posturing ourselves against tyranny drills down, asking us to cultivate our psyches toward PERSONAL AGENCY & RESILIENCE by ensuring that we establish a private life.    Authoritarian regimes begin with the blurring of public and private life.  A private life ensures that we can make personal decisions and pursue our interests without external interference. This autonomy is fundamental for a free society where people can express their beliefs and opinions freely, and act without fear of retribution.  Without that assurance, we begin to self-censor and to refrain from expressing dissenting views out of fear of surveillance or punishment.  Respecting privacy upholds human dignity by acknowledging that we have the right to control our personal information and to live without intrusive oversight. It’s at the heart and foundation of our democratic values and human rights.   Here’s Timothy Snyder to explain further.

QUOTE (Snyder on the blurring of public and private life)

Snyder also speaks about the importance of staying in touch with our friends. There’s no question that a struggle against tyranny will be fraught with trials and rich with obstacles, so staying in touch with our friends and forming trusted alliances is critical.  We aren’t in this alone. This is not a one-man-band or one woman drummin’; we need one another, and our self-respect and integrity buttresses collective ethics and professionalism.  We build coalitions and amplify our voices through our unity with others, so we need our best selves forward . . . the best part that listens to our better angels.

So, give your fellow citizens the benefit of the doubt.  Make eye contact and small talk.  I’m not a fan of small talk, and I tend to just approach someone and get to the point.  But small talk has an important role in our social interaction - it’s polite, and in a world of disintegrating manners, that’s more important than ever.  It’s important that we make eye contact and show a genuine interest in our fellows.  Otherwise fear escalates, and we begin to surrender our social connection with others, Yet, its purpose is to soothe and calm by virtual of its normalcy.  It says, “I see you and I care how you’re doing. We have each other and we need not be so frightened that we cower and fear greeting one another graciously. Be authentic, mindful. Lean into that.  Our familiarity helps us to share one another’s strengths and find trust in humanity. Our neighborly gestures make us feel better, less threatened.  Bonding making friends, that catalyst for embracing change.

Maintaining normal styles of social interaction is crucial and calming.  Small gestures hold great significance in protecting the private sphere, because they demonstrate our power over our own lives, and when we refuse to let the government affect our private interactions, we remind each other that not everybody supports an authoritarian government. It doesn’t control everything.  

I’d like to add several components to that social interaction which Snyder encourages, and one is to commit to being particularly gracious to our fellows, beyond small talk.  Too often, we’re inclined to demonize those people we believe have such poor judgement as hold anti-democratic inclinations.  I know I find this challenging, that’s for sure.  So I stretch to be on my best behavior in the face of my anti-democratic fellows.  When we start to see that we can all step up to take a sick neighbor soup, dial back the social media snark, remember birthdays, just show little gestures regardless of ideology, we begin a new bonding, restoring a trust that the “other side” does not deserve our disdain.  They are not vermin.  It's going to take a while, but we need to be that change we want to see.  Perhaps that tide of hate will recede if it finds only love – remember, shadows diminish in the presence of light. 

Indeed, our representatives are responsible for representing ALL of us once they get into office.  It’s unconscionable to withhold monies and benefits based on party lines, as we are discovering among the inclinations of our 45th president.  So let’s reset that example and expectation among the citizenry.  Let’s not withhold a gracious nature from our peers based on party, whether in person or online.  Tough, and idealistic, perhaps, but what others do is on them.  What we do, is on us.

Another element of our personal autonomy is to truly denounce acts of hate – the bomb threateners and the death threatening letter writers, even, and perhaps especially, when such acts are directed toward our anti-democratic neighbors.  Our veterans often say, “I fought for Americans, regardless of party, for the people’s right to say things I don’t agree with” and that should be our fight as well. 

Whether we are inclined to celebrate assassination attempts toward Trump or hammer wielding violence against the husband of Nancy Pelosi, in doing so we are at fault for undermining a compassionate response to acts of violence.  Our snarky comments feed the rudest wolves.  Instead, let’s reach for compassion aimed at our common humanity and show that democracy emerges through the voice of those better angels.  Together, let’s make vile behavior unacceptable, no matter the aim of violence and malevolent acts.

Snyder’s lessons encourage us to recognize the lasting impact of our actions on the health of our democracy.  Good behavior embraces our potential for positive change, as we step into our best selves.  Even in the face of adversity, the steps encouraged by Snyder inspire us to continue the struggle for justice and democracy, fostering a sense of optimism about the potential for change.  

Let’s imagine for a moment that fascism recedes and tyranny does NOT come to America. That all of these lessons and suggestions in the end are not needed to oppose and survive a dictatorship.  Well, I’d suggest that these are important exercises posturing us to PREVENT the erosion of democracy – like practicing a healthy diet, they are important to the discipline of dynamic citizenry.   We’d do well to defend and reform our institutions, to strengthen our neighborly bonds and be reflective if we must be armed.  In other words, these suggestions are for more than just surviving frightening times; they are critical to the prevention of frightening times.  They posture us as a robust dynamic citizenry in defense of democracy.  So in the coming week, let’s consider the value of these lessons as assets to our current daily lives and think of how they might be integrated into our very ordinary days. 

My hat is off to Timothy Snyder with heartfelt thanks for his work which so deeply informs this podcast.  I urge you to get a copy of On Tyranny.  He also has a great workbook by the same name, and a wonderful, somewhat fun illustrated version of the book that makes for a great gift.  Also, many of his interviews are found on various podcasts, and on YouTube. 

Remember to tune in for the next episode as we begin our exploration of Project 2025, that right wing manifesto, that plan to, in their words, “to take the reins of governance, and to dismantle the administrative state.”  We’ll begin looking at the contrast between that anti-democratic plan and the elements of a healthy democracy.