1. George Santayana observed that not studying history can lead to repeating previously documented mistakes.
2. A cynic might add that history is written by winners & history's students will therefore inherit their mistakes or learn the wrong lessons.
3. A realist recognizes that ⅔rds of humanity is functionally illiterate and innumerate & therefore incapable of "learning." Therefore, psychopaths directing mass formation & crowd madness will inevitably lead to lemming cliffs.
When I first came to the Netherlands (for love)fresh out of school with my degree in American Studies, my new MIL basically laughed at the explanation I gave for pursuing such an impractical study. She told me: if the economy is in the toilet and a man like Hitler runs for office, people will vote for him. Every time. At the time I thought she proved my point about studying history. Looking back now I feel that she was the more insightful of us. Sigh.
Stephenie, Sadly, Americans may soon have an opportunity to prove your MIL wrong. Right now, though, populist authoritarians of all stripes or on the rise.
Kempowski's observations are depressing, as they imply that the masses of humanity are not evil, nor necessarily incapable of thought, but are intellectually lazy, willing to affirm fealty to anyone who sounds confident and who claims to have the means to end whatever suffering people are experiencing, even when it's clearly not working.
There's no question that many Americans today are of a similar mindset, looking, as the Germans did, to government to take a strong hand and pretty much run their lives, especially in a time of real or perceived crisis. I think that perhaps America is not as hopeless as Germany was nearly a century ago, though: more Americans have a "Hell No!" attitude toward government overreach, and are willing to back the sentiment up with necessary force.
Thanks for the astute comments, JdL. Yes, America is not as hopeless. But what happens if unemployment is at 20%, inflation is at 20% and the stock market is down 50%? We no longer have a shared understanding of the importance of our founding principles and so politicians will easily exploit our fear.
Brilliant piece!
1. George Santayana observed that not studying history can lead to repeating previously documented mistakes.
2. A cynic might add that history is written by winners & history's students will therefore inherit their mistakes or learn the wrong lessons.
3. A realist recognizes that ⅔rds of humanity is functionally illiterate and innumerate & therefore incapable of "learning." Therefore, psychopaths directing mass formation & crowd madness will inevitably lead to lemming cliffs.
Mani, I appreciate your kind words and your willingness to share your insights.
When I first came to the Netherlands (for love)fresh out of school with my degree in American Studies, my new MIL basically laughed at the explanation I gave for pursuing such an impractical study. She told me: if the economy is in the toilet and a man like Hitler runs for office, people will vote for him. Every time. At the time I thought she proved my point about studying history. Looking back now I feel that she was the more insightful of us. Sigh.
Stephenie, Sadly, Americans may soon have an opportunity to prove your MIL wrong. Right now, though, populist authoritarians of all stripes or on the rise.
Kempowski's observations are depressing, as they imply that the masses of humanity are not evil, nor necessarily incapable of thought, but are intellectually lazy, willing to affirm fealty to anyone who sounds confident and who claims to have the means to end whatever suffering people are experiencing, even when it's clearly not working.
There's no question that many Americans today are of a similar mindset, looking, as the Germans did, to government to take a strong hand and pretty much run their lives, especially in a time of real or perceived crisis. I think that perhaps America is not as hopeless as Germany was nearly a century ago, though: more Americans have a "Hell No!" attitude toward government overreach, and are willing to back the sentiment up with necessary force.
Thanks for the astute comments, JdL. Yes, America is not as hopeless. But what happens if unemployment is at 20%, inflation is at 20% and the stock market is down 50%? We no longer have a shared understanding of the importance of our founding principles and so politicians will easily exploit our fear.