“On Tyranny” - Chapter 1: “Do not obey in advance”
Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny” should be required reading for every person of voting age in the United States, at the very least. In his prologue, he sets out the historical context of the rise of Fascism and later Communism in the twentieth century and how these movements gained traction and took hold. Note: all quotes are from “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder. See bibliography for publishing and copyright information. Also, if you don’t have it, it is strongly recommended for reading along with these posts, but also, just for one’s own edification. “Both fascism and communism were responses to globalization: to the real and perceived inequalities it created, and the apparent helplessness of the democracies in addressing them.” In each case, there were fatal flaws. “Fascists rejected reason in the name of will, denying objective truth in favor of a glorious myth articulated by leaders who claimed to give voice to the people.” Communists “proposed rule by a disciplined pa...