Thank you. I am sad that I mostly agree with this wonderful article. I think that the foundations are shaky. While I think Trump is likely to enact policies that I think will cause harm, what I find really unbearable is not that he was elected, but that he could be elected. Mainly because this demonstrate that the system has failed to convince most people that it is worth keeping.
there have also been concerted, well-funded attempts to sway people into believing it should all be burnt down. in some aspects there is truth; some of these organizations have lost their way. but the overarching ethos of interplanetary cooperation for the purpose of peace cannot be abandoned.
Thanks for the reply. I do not think we should burn it down, I think, many people do. Clearly mistakes have been made but as you point out there is a lot worth saving. Largely I still think the ideals of the enlightenment, the ideals of the EU are good ideals. But there is an every important need to convince others to cherish them. I fear this may no longer be possible.
If this response is to my comment then id suggest looking at the difference between "will cause harm" than "likely to enact policies." Secondly, what "I find really unbearable is NOT that he was elected."
To your first point. His first term saw a massive amount of job losses. Management of covid was terrible. The judges he appointed overturned Roe v Wade which has already resulted in loss of life. Most economists said that his proposed plans are likely to be worse for the economy and have a bigger impact on lower/middle class. I do not think words are violence but the kinds of discourses that this has.... I think all politicians lie but Trump has taken that to another level and this will serve as a model for other authoritarian leaders.
perhaps. but we must be sure not to confuse ideologues and charlatans with those who've acquired hard-earned expertise. on social media and in today's press, the former regularly pose as the latter.
Agreed. We know they’re not experts, but the average person doesn’t, unfortunately. I guess that’s where your plea for better internet literacy is so important.
Thank you for your article Jason. There are many of us in the history space who are reflecting on all that has happened and what is about to happen. In the calm before the storm we need to connect with as many likeminded history thinking people. Not just academics but in the teaching profession to all those in classrooms trying to make sense of what is happening to our world.
agreed, thank you Daryl. I need to be better about being part of that connective tissue, so we can all learn from each other. I will be better moving forward.
Hi Jason, there are so many historians who have been doing such a great job since 2017, I think you mention a few in your book. And they are fired up in Trump's first administration - Timothy Snyder, Ruth Be Ghiatt, Jason Stanley, Heather Cox Richardson, and many more. But also indispensable are the historians, theologians, pastors, and other writers from the Christian Left (for want of the better word) who are critiquing Christian nationalism and are pushing back. They do us a service by explaining the origins, development and impact of Christian nationalism. eg Jim Wallis, Kristin du May etc. I'm reading 'The Power Worshippers' by Katherine Stewart and she has another book coming out soon. The more that all of these experts in different fields compare notes and connect with each other the moire effective will be the resistance to Trumpism that will rear its ugly head in the field of history and education. I'm an Australian and my son and his family live in Connecticut. I'm going to Boston the week after next to visit him and also to take part in the NCSS conference in Boston where a number of high profile historians will be speaking, including Heather Cox Richardson and Ken Burns. Also, I want to mix with fellow teaching colleagues to get a sense of how teachers and educationalist in the US see things. I will be interested in anything that you initiate through this network. All the best.
Thank you. Your insights are inspiring and have giving me more context and understanding after 11/5. Your last three paragraphs resonate with my Unitarian Universalist grounding of love, justice and compassion. You've helped me recenter, many thanks.
Thank you for taking time and thought to reflect on our current political "situation" and add context. These ideas have been running through my brain, and your considered essay helps consolidate them into an ordered pattern. My husband and I have mused.... without the US military Draft obligation, and potentially less Civics or US Government classes in High School have the current generations of young men (and women) lost any loyalty to the concepts of US solidarity, or support for all fellow men? We are both aging products of the 60's and 70's and mourn the unity and dedication to ALL people having equal rights and opportunity. Old age is frustrating when the ideals of our youth appear to have been squandered by succeeding generations.
"In retrospect, the Iraq War likely represented the beginning of the end of this world, a calamitous conflict that killed tens-of-thousands, lobbied for by the very institutions and experts meant to advance peace and diplomacy: the United Nations, the New York Times, etc"
I was not aware that the UN lobbied for the Iraq War. What do you base that claim on?
Thank you for clarifying. I still think it's a stretch to say that it was the UN per se that lobbied for the Iraq War. Powell was US Secretary of State and it was the members of the Security Council that passed the resolution.
Thank you. I am sad that I mostly agree with this wonderful article. I think that the foundations are shaky. While I think Trump is likely to enact policies that I think will cause harm, what I find really unbearable is not that he was elected, but that he could be elected. Mainly because this demonstrate that the system has failed to convince most people that it is worth keeping.
there have also been concerted, well-funded attempts to sway people into believing it should all be burnt down. in some aspects there is truth; some of these organizations have lost their way. but the overarching ethos of interplanetary cooperation for the purpose of peace cannot be abandoned.
Hi Jason,
Thanks for the reply. I do not think we should burn it down, I think, many people do. Clearly mistakes have been made but as you point out there is a lot worth saving. Largely I still think the ideals of the enlightenment, the ideals of the EU are good ideals. But there is an every important need to convince others to cherish them. I fear this may no longer be possible.
What are you talking about?? Why fo you assume that Trump will do harm?? That you find his election win unbearable?? How exactly?????
If this response is to my comment then id suggest looking at the difference between "will cause harm" than "likely to enact policies." Secondly, what "I find really unbearable is NOT that he was elected."
To your first point. His first term saw a massive amount of job losses. Management of covid was terrible. The judges he appointed overturned Roe v Wade which has already resulted in loss of life. Most economists said that his proposed plans are likely to be worse for the economy and have a bigger impact on lower/middle class. I do not think words are violence but the kinds of discourses that this has.... I think all politicians lie but Trump has taken that to another level and this will serve as a model for other authoritarian leaders.
Wow. Visionary.
I think “self-centered” is key to understanding the electorate and people in general.
Couldn’t it be argued that people just have different ideas of who the “experts”are?
perhaps. but we must be sure not to confuse ideologues and charlatans with those who've acquired hard-earned expertise. on social media and in today's press, the former regularly pose as the latter.
Agreed. We know they’re not experts, but the average person doesn’t, unfortunately. I guess that’s where your plea for better internet literacy is so important.
Thank you for your article Jason. There are many of us in the history space who are reflecting on all that has happened and what is about to happen. In the calm before the storm we need to connect with as many likeminded history thinking people. Not just academics but in the teaching profession to all those in classrooms trying to make sense of what is happening to our world.
agreed, thank you Daryl. I need to be better about being part of that connective tissue, so we can all learn from each other. I will be better moving forward.
Hi Jason, there are so many historians who have been doing such a great job since 2017, I think you mention a few in your book. And they are fired up in Trump's first administration - Timothy Snyder, Ruth Be Ghiatt, Jason Stanley, Heather Cox Richardson, and many more. But also indispensable are the historians, theologians, pastors, and other writers from the Christian Left (for want of the better word) who are critiquing Christian nationalism and are pushing back. They do us a service by explaining the origins, development and impact of Christian nationalism. eg Jim Wallis, Kristin du May etc. I'm reading 'The Power Worshippers' by Katherine Stewart and she has another book coming out soon. The more that all of these experts in different fields compare notes and connect with each other the moire effective will be the resistance to Trumpism that will rear its ugly head in the field of history and education. I'm an Australian and my son and his family live in Connecticut. I'm going to Boston the week after next to visit him and also to take part in the NCSS conference in Boston where a number of high profile historians will be speaking, including Heather Cox Richardson and Ken Burns. Also, I want to mix with fellow teaching colleagues to get a sense of how teachers and educationalist in the US see things. I will be interested in anything that you initiate through this network. All the best.
Thank you. Your insights are inspiring and have giving me more context and understanding after 11/5. Your last three paragraphs resonate with my Unitarian Universalist grounding of love, justice and compassion. You've helped me recenter, many thanks.
Wow, this helped me understand our current situation so much... which is both good and bad.
Really appreciate this article/ thank you
Thank you for taking time and thought to reflect on our current political "situation" and add context. These ideas have been running through my brain, and your considered essay helps consolidate them into an ordered pattern. My husband and I have mused.... without the US military Draft obligation, and potentially less Civics or US Government classes in High School have the current generations of young men (and women) lost any loyalty to the concepts of US solidarity, or support for all fellow men? We are both aging products of the 60's and 70's and mourn the unity and dedication to ALL people having equal rights and opportunity. Old age is frustrating when the ideals of our youth appear to have been squandered by succeeding generations.
The different era started September 11, 2001
certainly that's an argument that has some validity.
Disappointing that you don’t mention Israel or Gaza in the picture you painted. I wonder why that is.
The first 90% of the article is opposed to the old world order, and the last 10% proclaims -- wait for it -- the old world order.
"In retrospect, the Iraq War likely represented the beginning of the end of this world, a calamitous conflict that killed tens-of-thousands, lobbied for by the very institutions and experts meant to advance peace and diplomacy: the United Nations, the New York Times, etc"
I was not aware that the UN lobbied for the Iraq War. What do you base that claim on?
Powell's 2003 speech and UN Security Council Resolution 1441
Thank you for clarifying. I still think it's a stretch to say that it was the UN per se that lobbied for the Iraq War. Powell was US Secretary of State and it was the members of the Security Council that passed the resolution.