Excellent, excellent piece. I'll admit I'm fearful -- fearful of Americans -- and, yes, Democrats -- obeying in advance. When speaking with friends, I make it a point to push back on the "Biden is too old" mantra that is influencing the minds of too many. Instead of talking about his age, I remind others how history will remember him as one of the greats, adding his accomplishments. Often I get that perplexed, worried look. Continuing to push back, I'll say forcefully, "Look. These are the two candidates. We are fighting for our democracy. We need to stop playing into their hand. This is their tactic." It's time to push back, to stand up, to remember history. My mantra? "I'm proud to go with Joe." Try it. Say it often. Do not obey in advance.
It’s terrifying to see such a weak man — Mike Johnson — be in such a position of control. God help us and God help Ukraine. My opinion of this particular weak man is not a kind one.
Trump’s lawyers were just in front of the Supreme Court arguing the American President should have the same impunity Putin does to murder rivals.
I’m concerned there is more of a connection from the likes of Musk and Johnson than merely fear and tribalism. I certainly don’t rule out coercion, blackmail and bribery. It would still be pathetic weakness, perhaps more detestable.
The inability to recognize the consequences of abandoning Ukraine and of worshiping brittle-masculinity-driven fear will end our democracy. Not learning from the past or foreign examples - absolutely where too many Americans are now. Thank you for pointing out the piece about fatigue - in a long campaign there's someone who takes the baton when one is exhausted. We're not tired of being outraged.
'Beware the Weak Man' reminded me of Timothy Snyder's 'The American Abyss'. To quote, it
opened, 'When Donald Trump stood before his followers on Jan. 6 and urged them to march on the United States Capitol, he was doing what he had always done. He never took electoral democracy seriously nor accepted the legitimacy of its American version.' See gifted link to the piece below.
In 'Beware the Weak Man' he takes us on the crucial journey we have embarked upon. What will our
path be?
'It is absurd, in such a world, where so much is at stake, where so much is to be won, to speak of our “fatigue” either with the struggle in Ukraine or the struggle for our own democracy. Doing so is the prologue to a story of weakness, which ends with the victory of the weak man. When we fall in line behind the fearful, when we forget the “spirit of freedom,” we help the weak men create a politics of fear. When we obey in advance, we invite the weak man to take power over our souls, which then means power over our politics.'
'We will need the courage to admire the courageous, and to say something that might feel risky. For example: we believe in our values, and we believe in our strength. Ukraine can win this war, Biden can win this election, and democracy can thrive.'
One of your finest essays. Thank you. Your work has been my guide since 2016. Like so many others across the country, we have mobilized volunteers, organized phonebanks and canvasses, hosted debates and all sorts of events to promote civic engagement. We are not tired. We are engaged and it makes all the difference. (Well, we are tired of the naysayers nattering on about Biden’s age.) Thank you for all you have done to inspire so many.
A show of strength would be to give the $300+ billon in frozen Russian assays to Ukraine. Call it the “Navalny Act” to defend and rebuild Ukraine. That should weaken the weak man!
Authoritarians feed on the weak and the weak feed on Authoritarians. Fortunately, there are those who do not submit to fear - from the soldiers defending Ukraine to the soldiers who fought in WWII (my father included). Like Navalny, each put their life at risk to defeat those who seek to force us to live in fear. And we, your readers are soldiers too, fighting the forces of fear, by getting out the vote, writing op-eds and letters to the editor and contacting our elected officials. Jessica Craven said it best in her post yesterday: "So let’s breathe in strength, breathe out fear, and get into action one more time."
I support Joe Biden and I think he has been a better than just good president. But I do not understand his campaign and its strategy at all. Here we are faced with a genuine, real, actual, not fictional, not made up threat of an authoritarian government and the campaign feels strangely passive and quiet. First, while nothing will move the vast majority of the MAGA thugs and certainly not Mike Johnson, making the threat to democracy very clear - early and often- will move the few percent that Biden needs to win. Second, in the awful case of a Trump win we know there will be an immediate attempt to rewrite history. The bill of account against Trump and the other thugs has to be made clear now so it will be harder to rewrite next year.
Anyone who has read the book that gave Vance his 15+ minutes of fame (Hillbilly) knows that he's a self-important twat (UK meaning) and a poor writer who promoted his supposed accomplishments at the expense of most of his family, a kind of MAGA messenger. For a story about someone who really broke away from a stifling background, Educated by Tara Westover is a much better book by a much kinder person. The saddest thing is that all thse so-called Christians are completely lacking in kindness towards their fellow human beings.
Excellent, excellent piece. I'll admit I'm fearful -- fearful of Americans -- and, yes, Democrats -- obeying in advance. When speaking with friends, I make it a point to push back on the "Biden is too old" mantra that is influencing the minds of too many. Instead of talking about his age, I remind others how history will remember him as one of the greats, adding his accomplishments. Often I get that perplexed, worried look. Continuing to push back, I'll say forcefully, "Look. These are the two candidates. We are fighting for our democracy. We need to stop playing into their hand. This is their tactic." It's time to push back, to stand up, to remember history. My mantra? "I'm proud to go with Joe." Try it. Say it often. Do not obey in advance.
It’s terrifying to see such a weak man — Mike Johnson — be in such a position of control. God help us and God help Ukraine. My opinion of this particular weak man is not a kind one.
Love your idea of the 'submission chain' and how it ends in a vacuum. Thanks for the great article!
Trump’s lawyers were just in front of the Supreme Court arguing the American President should have the same impunity Putin does to murder rivals.
I’m concerned there is more of a connection from the likes of Musk and Johnson than merely fear and tribalism. I certainly don’t rule out coercion, blackmail and bribery. It would still be pathetic weakness, perhaps more detestable.
Excellent piece, thank you
The inability to recognize the consequences of abandoning Ukraine and of worshiping brittle-masculinity-driven fear will end our democracy. Not learning from the past or foreign examples - absolutely where too many Americans are now. Thank you for pointing out the piece about fatigue - in a long campaign there's someone who takes the baton when one is exhausted. We're not tired of being outraged.
'Beware the Weak Man' reminded me of Timothy Snyder's 'The American Abyss'. To quote, it
opened, 'When Donald Trump stood before his followers on Jan. 6 and urged them to march on the United States Capitol, he was doing what he had always done. He never took electoral democracy seriously nor accepted the legitimacy of its American version.' See gifted link to the piece below.
In 'Beware the Weak Man' he takes us on the crucial journey we have embarked upon. What will our
path be?
'It is absurd, in such a world, where so much is at stake, where so much is to be won, to speak of our “fatigue” either with the struggle in Ukraine or the struggle for our own democracy. Doing so is the prologue to a story of weakness, which ends with the victory of the weak man. When we fall in line behind the fearful, when we forget the “spirit of freedom,” we help the weak men create a politics of fear. When we obey in advance, we invite the weak man to take power over our souls, which then means power over our politics.'
'We will need the courage to admire the courageous, and to say something that might feel risky. For example: we believe in our values, and we believe in our strength. Ukraine can win this war, Biden can win this election, and democracy can thrive.'
___Timothy Snyder, 'Beware the Weak Man'
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/magazine/trump-coup.html?unlocked_article_code=1.XU0.vNOC.WBGcaeaOCKsw&smid=url-share
One of your finest essays. Thank you. Your work has been my guide since 2016. Like so many others across the country, we have mobilized volunteers, organized phonebanks and canvasses, hosted debates and all sorts of events to promote civic engagement. We are not tired. We are engaged and it makes all the difference. (Well, we are tired of the naysayers nattering on about Biden’s age.) Thank you for all you have done to inspire so many.
"So there is no need for inaction."
A. Navalny
A show of strength would be to give the $300+ billon in frozen Russian assays to Ukraine. Call it the “Navalny Act” to defend and rebuild Ukraine. That should weaken the weak man!
https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/how-frozen-russian-assets-could-pay-rebuilding-ukraine
Excellent as always thank you
very good analysis!
GQP = Government of Putin 🇷🇺
Europe and NATO have Ukraine’s back. 🇪🇺
Outstanding post, Professor Snyder.
Authoritarians feed on the weak and the weak feed on Authoritarians. Fortunately, there are those who do not submit to fear - from the soldiers defending Ukraine to the soldiers who fought in WWII (my father included). Like Navalny, each put their life at risk to defeat those who seek to force us to live in fear. And we, your readers are soldiers too, fighting the forces of fear, by getting out the vote, writing op-eds and letters to the editor and contacting our elected officials. Jessica Craven said it best in her post yesterday: "So let’s breathe in strength, breathe out fear, and get into action one more time."
I support Joe Biden and I think he has been a better than just good president. But I do not understand his campaign and its strategy at all. Here we are faced with a genuine, real, actual, not fictional, not made up threat of an authoritarian government and the campaign feels strangely passive and quiet. First, while nothing will move the vast majority of the MAGA thugs and certainly not Mike Johnson, making the threat to democracy very clear - early and often- will move the few percent that Biden needs to win. Second, in the awful case of a Trump win we know there will be an immediate attempt to rewrite history. The bill of account against Trump and the other thugs has to be made clear now so it will be harder to rewrite next year.
Well said. Hope and Change > Fear and Ruin. Pass it on.
Anyone who has read the book that gave Vance his 15+ minutes of fame (Hillbilly) knows that he's a self-important twat (UK meaning) and a poor writer who promoted his supposed accomplishments at the expense of most of his family, a kind of MAGA messenger. For a story about someone who really broke away from a stifling background, Educated by Tara Westover is a much better book by a much kinder person. The saddest thing is that all thse so-called Christians are completely lacking in kindness towards their fellow human beings.