“On Tyranny” - Chapter 19: “Be a patriot”
“Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.” Snyder begins the chapter with what patriotism is not. It is an extensive list and much of it feels specific to a figure with whom all are familiar. For example, It is not patriotic to: Dodge the draft and mock war heroes Ask working families to finance one’s own presidential campaign, and then spend their contributions on one’s own companies To admire foreign dictators To say that Bashar al-Assaad and Vlaadimir. Putin are superior leaders To call up on foreign leaders to intervene in American presidential elections To share an adviser with Russian oligarchs To appoint a National Security Advisor who likes to be called “General Misha” and then pardon him for his crimes To refer to American soldiers as “losers” and “suckers” To take heather care form families To golf your way through a national epidemic in which half a million Americans die To try to end democracy There is more, but this give...