The world has once again returned to ghetto status Linda! Too few are the numbers of those with the intelligence, leadership and memories of historical fascist rhetoric that led to their demise!
Thanks for this very enlightening essay. And along with your thinking about when was Germany better, I ask the same here in the United States, when were we better? This whole “make America great again” schtick is just ridiculous. When were we great? Maybe we were great during World War II in the rebuilding afterwards. Maybe that was our time of greatness. It certainly was not our founding, based on wiping out First Nations people, the revolutionary war was a good thing and the Civil War was a good thing. But our nation’s wealth, which is concentrated among white people was built on slavery both in the North and the South. And then before civil rights came, Black and POC were living lives of terror, not knowing who is going to be lynched next. And so yes, thank you for questioning when was Germany great? Because I question here a lot why we need to make America great again? Based on what? And whose standards?
Maggie, we need to be questioning it and saying it out loud. With quacks like Kennedy one cannot even question if the days when they bled people to solve every illness to get people back in balance were the great days, because I am sure he will think they were. I did read research on bleeding and that eels did put some antibacterial chemicals in the bloodstream, but still, it was not an exact science, and there was a lot of misery in being treated in Medieval times.
Andra Watkins had a piece on Christian Nationalist Long for the Middle Ages in which she points out how they want to go back to a time when women had no personal autonomy.
I don't think one has to go back in time to find this now. Just the medical and dental care alone make me cringe about that. Mental health care is a scary topic too. And you are right about non-Whites and women and LGBTQ+ having a hard time in Western society in the past. So, I totally agree with you. I am going to work on creating a sign that points this out for my next demo.
I soooo agree with you! I have asked the same question over and over again- in my preachings and in my teachings. The response I generally get is something like… “ Oh, after Reagan everything went to hell in a hand basket!” Or “Society has been corrupted since Reagan we need to get back to decency”!???? Huh???? Well that’s what’s happening in the American Midwest where I’m stationed in the church for at least another two years.
Revd Dr Gomes. I assume that there are people that you reach. I mostly taught elementary school children, so I had tried and true methods for turning the fantastical thinking around of children in third and fourth grade into reality. It is not so easy with adults, but just as important. I wish you the best of luck.
The world has once again returned to ghetto status Linda! Too few are the numbers of those with the intelligence, leadership and memories of historical fascist rhetoric that led to their demise!
Thanks for this very enlightening essay. And along with your thinking about when was Germany better, I ask the same here in the United States, when were we better? This whole “make America great again” schtick is just ridiculous. When were we great? Maybe we were great during World War II in the rebuilding afterwards. Maybe that was our time of greatness. It certainly was not our founding, based on wiping out First Nations people, the revolutionary war was a good thing and the Civil War was a good thing. But our nation’s wealth, which is concentrated among white people was built on slavery both in the North and the South. And then before civil rights came, Black and POC were living lives of terror, not knowing who is going to be lynched next. And so yes, thank you for questioning when was Germany great? Because I question here a lot why we need to make America great again? Based on what? And whose standards?
Maggie, we need to be questioning it and saying it out loud. With quacks like Kennedy one cannot even question if the days when they bled people to solve every illness to get people back in balance were the great days, because I am sure he will think they were. I did read research on bleeding and that eels did put some antibacterial chemicals in the bloodstream, but still, it was not an exact science, and there was a lot of misery in being treated in Medieval times.
Andra Watkins had a piece on Christian Nationalist Long for the Middle Ages in which she points out how they want to go back to a time when women had no personal autonomy.
https://open.substack.com/pub/andrawatkins/p/christian-nationalists-long-for-the?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I don't think one has to go back in time to find this now. Just the medical and dental care alone make me cringe about that. Mental health care is a scary topic too. And you are right about non-Whites and women and LGBTQ+ having a hard time in Western society in the past. So, I totally agree with you. I am going to work on creating a sign that points this out for my next demo.
The idea of returning to the good times, anywhere in the world, is and has always been a return for those of privilege.
I soooo agree with you! I have asked the same question over and over again- in my preachings and in my teachings. The response I generally get is something like… “ Oh, after Reagan everything went to hell in a hand basket!” Or “Society has been corrupted since Reagan we need to get back to decency”!???? Huh???? Well that’s what’s happening in the American Midwest where I’m stationed in the church for at least another two years.
Revd Dr Gomes. I assume that there are people that you reach. I mostly taught elementary school children, so I had tried and true methods for turning the fantastical thinking around of children in third and fourth grade into reality. It is not so easy with adults, but just as important. I wish you the best of luck.
Excellent and I will say a bit of hopefulness in your essay. Thank you so much.
I am a hopeful realist.
Yes! That’s why I love your writings!