Relevant: this essay from 1941 making the rounds today, especially these last paragraphs. harpers.org/archive/1941...
I read a thing yesterday discussing "how hard it is to keep your principles in times of crisis," but that's not how principles work. Principles are easy. If you're struggling with it, it's not a principle, it's a flag of convenience you're fond of, which you'll discard once advantageous to do so.
Some things never change, unfortunately.
"breeding or happiness or wisdom or a code" proposes A) some eugenics about being "of good breeding" making you a better person, and B) that happy successful people never go nazi. People went nazi to protect their property and their success and their offices and their little jobs. Banality of Evil
It’s just a series of layers of to a massive inferiority complex. Insecurity negative feedback loops. And then easily scooped up by rage and anger. The clip is spot on, there’s always a subtle through line that connects all of them.
I grew up with family full of Nazi resistance. They made me read this is middle school, along with Mien Kampf and The Doctrine of Fascism, because you need to know your enemy. This essay is a must read for everyone over the age of 15, because it is 100% accurate, at least according to my elders.
Must-read essay at the high school level. I think the classism switches some people off, and there’s no avoiding it, but the overall message — decent people don’t go Nazi — is fundamental to democracy and I’ve never seen that idea articulated better than via Thompson’s brilliant essay
I'd say ahead of its time, but well-no, we're just behind ours.
Good people aren't bad