I watched the Trump NC speech in its entirety to take measure of where we are. I saw a once in a lifetime communications and psychology / manipulation genius in full form. I told my fellow educated East Coast friends and family about it and that I see a greater than 50% chance we’ll be an autocracy this decade. No one wanted to talk about it. That’s the main problem as I see it. The other side is dying to talk about their grievances and conspiracies, this side save for the author, Nicole Wallace, Ross Douthat et al, is exhausted and wants to just breathe and live their lives. The last thing they want to hear is that democracy is dying and they need to fight to save it. That’s the real nightmare to me, that no one wants to be inconvenienced to stop tyranny.
Terrified. Letters, emails, calls to congresscritters result in form letters back. WTF are these people doing? Why is no one out front? Paul Revere, wherefore art thou? Cassandra, you play her part so well, Professor Snyder. I, too, feel alone in the streets. And as Fern says, connected to others in new ways, all of us doing our bit. Truly, our government, society, culture--all are at risk. Your prophecies growing real... Sometimes, I hide in my garden.
Tim's voice in a vacuum feels as though I am in the darkness of a very bright room, listening and envisioning his dream. Reading his recollection on the screen was more stark. Without his voice, there was no static - nothing between America coming down in my head as it happened in Tim's.
His dream reminds me of how I feel during the day. Seeing through America's myths of itself began for me in adolescence. I don't know why. It wasn't a family trait. These days, I am not further away from America than ever. In a way, I am a bit closer to more of the people; the ones who know what is going on. We are closer together, people of all races, classes, religions or not, sexual orientations...hybrids of all kinds.
We are separate and together. It is a strange land; always tortured; reaching for the stars and digging our grave.
I’m not ready to give up but this is a very likely scenario unfortunately. My question is where would be a safe place for a family to live when this goes down? Rural areas maybe? I have kids so very concerned. How else should we prepare?
I have read a half dozen of Professor Snyder’s books and watched dozens of his lectures, and I’m sure many if not all of the subscribers to this blog have similar experiences. I most say that I really enjoy listening to Dr Snyder read his work. Thinking about the issues he raises and the way he frames them helps me stay relatively calm, which can be a challenge as I live in a small blue island surrounded by a roiling red ocean.
I’d say you convinced a lot of people there was a threat including myself. So it continues. Thank you Professor Snyder for showing us how to be free people.
Professor Snyder, as someone who also used to have prophetic dreams, my heart aches for you. Mine actually stopped in my early 20’s, but that’s neither here nor there.
You are absolutely right in all that you stated about the future of America and it terrifies me! I knew Trump for YEARS before he became president and I honestly never thought he had a chance of becoming president, but I also would have NEVER imagined that narcissistic idiot to do the things he has done to this country! I think being in a position of power and his narcissism drove him to places even he didn’t expect, but now that he’s there he’s so proud of himself because he’s a deluded man!
If the powers that be don’t make the appropriate changes in our laws, and fast, then America, as we know it, is in fact, doomed! They had better take this as serious as the end of democracy that it is!
I watched the Trump NC speech in its entirety to take measure of where we are. I saw a once in a lifetime communications and psychology / manipulation genius in full form. I told my fellow educated East Coast friends and family about it and that I see a greater than 50% chance we’ll be an autocracy this decade. No one wanted to talk about it. That’s the main problem as I see it. The other side is dying to talk about their grievances and conspiracies, this side save for the author, Nicole Wallace, Ross Douthat et al, is exhausted and wants to just breathe and live their lives. The last thing they want to hear is that democracy is dying and they need to fight to save it. That’s the real nightmare to me, that no one wants to be inconvenienced to stop tyranny.
I wish Senator Manchin would listen to this and wake up.
Terrified. Letters, emails, calls to congresscritters result in form letters back. WTF are these people doing? Why is no one out front? Paul Revere, wherefore art thou? Cassandra, you play her part so well, Professor Snyder. I, too, feel alone in the streets. And as Fern says, connected to others in new ways, all of us doing our bit. Truly, our government, society, culture--all are at risk. Your prophecies growing real... Sometimes, I hide in my garden.
Chilling. And, sadly I live in West Virginia.
Thank you Professor Snyder.
Tim's voice in a vacuum feels as though I am in the darkness of a very bright room, listening and envisioning his dream. Reading his recollection on the screen was more stark. Without his voice, there was no static - nothing between America coming down in my head as it happened in Tim's.
His dream reminds me of how I feel during the day. Seeing through America's myths of itself began for me in adolescence. I don't know why. It wasn't a family trait. These days, I am not further away from America than ever. In a way, I am a bit closer to more of the people; the ones who know what is going on. We are closer together, people of all races, classes, religions or not, sexual orientations...hybrids of all kinds.
We are separate and together. It is a strange land; always tortured; reaching for the stars and digging our grave.
I’m not ready to give up but this is a very likely scenario unfortunately. My question is where would be a safe place for a family to live when this goes down? Rural areas maybe? I have kids so very concerned. How else should we prepare?
I have read a half dozen of Professor Snyder’s books and watched dozens of his lectures, and I’m sure many if not all of the subscribers to this blog have similar experiences. I most say that I really enjoy listening to Dr Snyder read his work. Thinking about the issues he raises and the way he frames them helps me stay relatively calm, which can be a challenge as I live in a small blue island surrounded by a roiling red ocean.
Well this is not a forgone conclusion. We need to mobilize. Get off the fence and get active.
One possible way is by peaceful non-violent protest.
I’d say you convinced a lot of people there was a threat including myself. So it continues. Thank you Professor Snyder for showing us how to be free people.
This is a powerful post
Professor Snyder, as someone who also used to have prophetic dreams, my heart aches for you. Mine actually stopped in my early 20’s, but that’s neither here nor there.
You are absolutely right in all that you stated about the future of America and it terrifies me! I knew Trump for YEARS before he became president and I honestly never thought he had a chance of becoming president, but I also would have NEVER imagined that narcissistic idiot to do the things he has done to this country! I think being in a position of power and his narcissism drove him to places even he didn’t expect, but now that he’s there he’s so proud of himself because he’s a deluded man!
If the powers that be don’t make the appropriate changes in our laws, and fast, then America, as we know it, is in fact, doomed! They had better take this as serious as the end of democracy that it is!