That’s a fine idea. I am working on a book project now that I hope to finish within weeks. I am going to seriously consider this for my next project. If and when I finish it, a signed copy you shall have, sir.
Excellent piece - I knew Lenin was an evil person, but really didn’t know how bad. The comparisons with other horrible leaders is excellent. I’d venture that 99% of Americans have no idea what a psychopath he was.
My current roommate (6 years ago) commented on Lenin and Stalin when he first moved in. He liked Lenin and thought “Stalin was an unfortunate victims of his circumstances because of drought”. He was 24 at the time and I’m almost 30 years older.
He was taught this throughout high school. He was taught CRT concepts of racism. He was taught “equity” was the highest moral goal. In high school. In AZ.
It took many cases of beer talks but he accepts Communism is bad.
Loved the interview. Most people on the left (democrats) read NATIONALIST socialist german workers party and think the evil word wad “Nationalist” and every other word was benign. I used to think that. I was Democrat till 2012.
I know see it as the national SOCIALIST german workers party.
Within a liberal Democracy authoritarianism can only come in from the left. We know when the right goes to far but the left will NEVER EVER draw a line (now amplified by the rise of Queer Theory) on when the left goes too far. When the Republicans are the party trying to conserve liberalism, you need to stop and ponder.
You may enjoy my earlier post, What is Fascism?, in which I outline how fascism evolved from socialism and how early fascists and socialists worked together. There is a REASON the Nazis called themselves socialists, but leftists often hand-wave that away like it was a typo.
yes, I loved that shirt. A little irony, though - emet was the three letter symbol that the socialist labor party used in elections elections. They were not exactly communists, but they did rule the country with an iron hand from 1949-1977. They certainly thought they had emet on their side!
Thanks for the added context. As for the book, it’s a memoir reflecting on some of my travels and lessons learned that I hope will be useful to others, as well as brief political and cultural primers on each of the countries mentioned within.
Good question! The Hebrew אמת or emet means "truth.” This is what the Golem was inscribed with or what was written and put into his mouth to bring him alive so he would protect Jewish communities from pogroms. But to deactivate the Golem, you erase or smudge out the aleph (א), changing the word from "truth" to "death" or mét מת. I love this shirt not just because the Golem is like a Jewish Marvel hero, but because it has special meaning to me as a journalist. When you warp or slur the truth, even by a single letter, what you create is a kind of death.
Wow! So powerful. Great job David. Fascinating details of a dark, dark life.
Ever think of writing a collection of profiles of the worlds most evil rulers? At the end you could publish this Rogues Gallery as a book.
I want a signed copy of the hardcover first edition.
That’s a fine idea. I am working on a book project now that I hope to finish within weeks. I am going to seriously consider this for my next project. If and when I finish it, a signed copy you shall have, sir.
Excellent piece - I knew Lenin was an evil person, but really didn’t know how bad. The comparisons with other horrible leaders is excellent. I’d venture that 99% of Americans have no idea what a psychopath he was.
My current roommate (6 years ago) commented on Lenin and Stalin when he first moved in. He liked Lenin and thought “Stalin was an unfortunate victims of his circumstances because of drought”. He was 24 at the time and I’m almost 30 years older.
He was taught this throughout high school. He was taught CRT concepts of racism. He was taught “equity” was the highest moral goal. In high school. In AZ.
It took many cases of beer talks but he accepts Communism is bad.
We have a lost generation.
Loved the interview. Most people on the left (democrats) read NATIONALIST socialist german workers party and think the evil word wad “Nationalist” and every other word was benign. I used to think that. I was Democrat till 2012.
I know see it as the national SOCIALIST german workers party.
Within a liberal Democracy authoritarianism can only come in from the left. We know when the right goes to far but the left will NEVER EVER draw a line (now amplified by the rise of Queer Theory) on when the left goes too far. When the Republicans are the party trying to conserve liberalism, you need to stop and ponder.
You may enjoy my earlier post, What is Fascism?, in which I outline how fascism evolved from socialism and how early fascists and socialists worked together. There is a REASON the Nazis called themselves socialists, but leftists often hand-wave that away like it was a typo.
yes, I loved that shirt. A little irony, though - emet was the three letter symbol that the socialist labor party used in elections elections. They were not exactly communists, but they did rule the country with an iron hand from 1949-1977. They certainly thought they had emet on their side!
I'd love to hear more about your book project!
Thanks for the added context. As for the book, it’s a memoir reflecting on some of my travels and lessons learned that I hope will be useful to others, as well as brief political and cultural primers on each of the countries mentioned within.
What's on your shirt? Loved the video content, lukewarm on the background music.
Good question! The Hebrew אמת or emet means "truth.” This is what the Golem was inscribed with or what was written and put into his mouth to bring him alive so he would protect Jewish communities from pogroms. But to deactivate the Golem, you erase or smudge out the aleph (א), changing the word from "truth" to "death" or mét מת. I love this shirt not just because the Golem is like a Jewish Marvel hero, but because it has special meaning to me as a journalist. When you warp or slur the truth, even by a single letter, what you create is a kind of death.
That is a deeply true insight. I will quote you.
David, can you point me to solid history books that discuss Hitler's evolution on anti-Semitism?
There’s a lot on his psychopathology but the best source on his evolution re antisemitism is his own Mein Kampf, specifically Chapter 2.