History Repeats Itself
Articles worth rereading, with more to come
Hey friends —
Another weekend lies ahead, with many thoughts to think, and a stack of good things to read, including a book on raptors. Between bouts of leaf raking, picking up trash along the side of the road, chopping down the oleander that threatens to burn our house to the ground in a wildfire, and baking things without pumpkin spice, I’m taking time to consider the state of things. My god, could it get any worse?
Yes, it could. And that is something, sadly, we all have to be thinking about.
Our political situation is irreparable. There are far too many Americans that support the Trump dumpster fire wholeheartedly — people too ignorant, arrogant, stubborn and dug in to step back and consider whether these massive changes to our democracy are actually hurting their communities, rather than making them better places to live.
Keep in mind, these are not creative thinkers. For the most part, they are people who have been conditioned by their places of worship to buy into religious dogma, which is reinforced by the “scientific” and political dogma they watch on Fox News. Sound like Nazi Germany? Sure does. This is the sequel, in 3D.
Not going to pussyfoot around. These people (the MAGA messiah and his flock) are assholes, plain and simple. And they are doing exactly (and I do mean exactly), what German leaders and citizens did. Nearly 8.5 million Germans became active members of the Nazi Party by 1945, enthusiastically hopping onto that Musikantenwagen. That was only 80 years ago. How can we not remember this? How can we not see all the parallels to what is going down right now?
Of the 37.4 million American voters who identify as Republican (based on the 30 states who track party affiliation), nearly 26.6 million identify with the MAGA movement (yep, 71%). Add to that the MAGA voters from the other 20 states that don’t track party affiliation. We’re up against a lot of people. Holy shit.
There was no talking the German people off the ledge back in 1945, just like there isn’t now. They bought into the entire Nazi plan kit and kaboodle, exactly as Trump’s followers have bought into Project 2025’s vision. It was a sick world back then, as it is now.
You can count on this: we will not be extricating ourselves from this hellscape anytime soon. Seems likely these MAGA/Project 2025 people will not understand the huge mistake they made in backing Trump until the world crumbles around them. Raise your hand, if you agree.
What can we do? Stay physically fit and emotionally strong, gather up the people we can trust (and stick together like Gorilla Glue), stock up our pantries, grow our own veggies, and gird our loins. Tough times lie ahead.
Hope you’ll take the time to reread some of my work on this topic. And pass it on to friends, please.
In solidarity,
ChrisThis is the story of Hilda, a proud wife and mother of Nazi soldiers, and her final delusion of domestic bliss. On a snowy day in Nuremberg, Hilda transforms the Rationierung she has squirreled away into a food fantasy. But, as is often the case in times of war, not all goes as planned.
Hitler, Goebbels, and Melania: what do they have in common? Expensive clothing — much of it by the same designers. Explore the three-way intersection between narcissism, fashion, and fascism.
Nothing like the story of a virile young man, shot down in the prime of his life, to stoke up the masses. Explore the parallels between political martyrs Horst Wessel and Charlie Kirk and their connections to the Nazi and the MAGA movements.
Wondering how to feel about Charles Kirk’s assassination? Listen to his words, weigh his actions; only then consider what his death means to you. Have you feelings of regret, sympathy, grief, ambivalence, or something altogether different? Perhaps something that can’t be said out loud? Well, say it!
Regarding My Father and His Friends
Lorinda Birdwhistle takes apart her father and his friends, who ignorantly espouse MAGA newspeak that sounds suspiciously like propaganda from the Third Reich. Political satire.
Was This Our Last Fourth of July?
There was little to celebrate this Fourth of July following the first six months of Trump’s second term, and with a democracy veering dangerously toward fascism.
Vie spent her formative years in war-torn Nazi Germany, but managed to escape to the United States in her late teens. Vie carries a heavy rock — the burden of her heritage and her family and community’s misogynistic expectations for her life, as well as an overwhelming sadness at being separated from all she had known and the people she loves. Vie has a late-in-life metamorphosis that frees her spirit, allowing her to release these oppressive burdens and to feel true joy for the first time in her life.
Léa and Samuel, a Jewish couple who spent their childhoods in France during World War II, have since made their home in a small town in Northern California. It’s a good life — living in a community that is everything Europe had not been for their families: accepting.
Chris, you'd feel a lot better about our political situation if you would read Robert Hubbell (also on Substack).
Chris, I would like to be more optimistic, but if Trump were to simply die in a plane crash with JD Vance and his Christian advisors, it wouldn't make any difference because half of this country is always going to vote Republican regardless of whether it is in a community's best interest or their own best interest. And your remedies for growing your veggies and staying physically fit and emotionally sprung. That is definitely the way to go as Obama used to say, the Arc of history is long. Sadly too long for my taste, but there's so much positivity in the world. I have no choice given my limited power base LOL but to embrace the good stuff and move forward into the next day with my own head held high. Thank you for this piece.