"America will wrestle with its past too. The only question is whether Americans prepare for that reckoning or stumble into it."
I am consumed with this question. Many in this country are alarmed by how this regime operates daily. What most alarms me is the denial and ignorance Americans live in. They believe all will be well after elections. Then I ask if they're certain there will be an election. And I remind them what he promised during the campaign. "You'll never have to vote again." I look forward enthusiastically to your next parts of The Planet. Your analysis never disappoints.
To the keepers of the record: I have been licensed to sit in hundreds of Courtrooms, Grand Jury Chambers and Deposition Suites as the keeper of the record. Unless there is an official record, it is all for naught. Defendants cannot be sentenced; appeals cannot move forward and the U.S. Supreme Court is unable to set case law as Justices review transcripts/video of lower court proceedings.
The "record" of AG Bondi's testimony before Congress will be her shameful legacy. The record of the brave souls risking their lives to record ICE actions in Minnesota will stand the test of time; future generations will read about it and see the atrocities that America is currently going through.
But first there has to be a record. Our stories will be told, the arc of justice will land, and the American people will decide rightly or wrongly how to proceed. I am very grateful for the record keepers among us. Those who dispassionately verify history for the benefit of all. Herein lies our strength, our truth and ultimately here lies justice. Our impact.
You are a record keeper. In validating history, Alex, you show us the existence of truth. What we do with this truth is on us. The next chapter is waiting. Mil gracias.
The records are so very complex and long; my regret is that time will not permit prosecutions with appeals as we have known them; our justice systems are weighty and too complex to be practical; end results are another loophole away always it seems. Forever would not be long enough to elucidate the self interest that brought us to this place. Our way forward must be unique from our past. We need imagination to create a new “justice” that satisfies victims of extraordinary inequality over generations. The lies for political expediency must be exposed and the pain experienced. I am hopeful solutions will be identified sooner rather than later. I selfishly want to survive to see the final outcome but that is not possible. I will one of mankind that hoped for the best for a nation I loved before truth tore away the fabric of reality. 💔🇺🇸
Unfortunately, after the Civil War, there wasn’t much reckoning with the truth, and we are still facing the consequences of that today — huge inequality between Black and white wealth, health…. I hope this time it’s different. I think the truth has to be out in the open, and those who committed and enabled crimes need to face consequences.
Important considerations. Important patterns. Thank you for this.
I was a bit younger, but I too remember the Stasi Files (we had something similar in Switzerland) and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It's not a distant memory.
Just like in life where we sometimes need to hit rock bottom for things to change, I agree that this will get much worse before it gets better.
Rebuilding will be long process, we're talking decades not years.
This newsletter has got my wheels turning now. In a good way.
Alexander, this Planet was an excellent primer on how to return to democracy. The autocracy and complete lawlessness that my country is living through at the moment is grim and unsettling. “…accountability is never clean and simple.” Your historical examples offer lessons on how change came about in places like Berlin, Brazil, Austria, South Africa and Chile. America must take notice of the fact those dictatorships eventually hit bottom and change
began its slow return to democratic order and how that was accomplished. We have a long road to travel to reach that goal. Today’s post was inspiring. Thank you.
Another excellent tour de force on democracy. The attacks, the fight for survival and the ultimate reclaiming of precious freedoms assaulted by the evils of dictatorship. Then the recovery.
“Democratic recovery requires active choices. It requires institutions willing to prosecute. It requires a society willing to address uncomfortable truths about who collaborated and why. It requires leaders brave enough to focus on accountability over political convenience.”
The pain is so acute and devastating that at this point I favor prosecution. “Knowing the truth is not the same as seeing justice done.”
The horrendous charade of yesterday from the sitting Attorney General was so audacious that her complicity stunned everyone. That cannot go unpunished.
Your historic accounting of these events brings inspiration, hopefully within our lifetimes.
My heart is full of hope and gratitude inspired by this valuable essay. I look forward with anticipation for the coming parts in this series. “Every authoritarian chapter ends. The next chapter is the one that defines whether a country truly heals or simply buries its wounds and waits for them to reopen.”
“….hopefully within our lifetimes…” That is a huge hope….we will have to work hard to include the baby boomers….home stretch is lurking in the distance.
Brilliant and timely. We have some well-respected people urging us to plan ahead for what we want. The rest of us have a duty to get the word out and inspire others to see better (not status quo) in our future. It gives me great hope that you make the compelling case that we will come out the other side. I look forward to your perspective on where we may land
"America will wrestle with its past too. The only question is whether Americans prepare for that reckoning or stumble into it."
I am consumed with this question. Many in this country are alarmed by how this regime operates daily. What most alarms me is the denial and ignorance Americans live in. They believe all will be well after elections. Then I ask if they're certain there will be an election. And I remind them what he promised during the campaign. "You'll never have to vote again." I look forward enthusiastically to your next parts of The Planet. Your analysis never disappoints.
As always, Rena, spot on. ❤️
You see what many don't, Rena. Thank you.
"History never repeats itself. Man, always does."
To the keepers of the record: I have been licensed to sit in hundreds of Courtrooms, Grand Jury Chambers and Deposition Suites as the keeper of the record. Unless there is an official record, it is all for naught. Defendants cannot be sentenced; appeals cannot move forward and the U.S. Supreme Court is unable to set case law as Justices review transcripts/video of lower court proceedings.
The "record" of AG Bondi's testimony before Congress will be her shameful legacy. The record of the brave souls risking their lives to record ICE actions in Minnesota will stand the test of time; future generations will read about it and see the atrocities that America is currently going through.
But first there has to be a record. Our stories will be told, the arc of justice will land, and the American people will decide rightly or wrongly how to proceed. I am very grateful for the record keepers among us. Those who dispassionately verify history for the benefit of all. Herein lies our strength, our truth and ultimately here lies justice. Our impact.
You are a record keeper. In validating history, Alex, you show us the existence of truth. What we do with this truth is on us. The next chapter is waiting. Mil gracias.
The records are so very complex and long; my regret is that time will not permit prosecutions with appeals as we have known them; our justice systems are weighty and too complex to be practical; end results are another loophole away always it seems. Forever would not be long enough to elucidate the self interest that brought us to this place. Our way forward must be unique from our past. We need imagination to create a new “justice” that satisfies victims of extraordinary inequality over generations. The lies for political expediency must be exposed and the pain experienced. I am hopeful solutions will be identified sooner rather than later. I selfishly want to survive to see the final outcome but that is not possible. I will one of mankind that hoped for the best for a nation I loved before truth tore away the fabric of reality. 💔🇺🇸
Unfortunately, after the Civil War, there wasn’t much reckoning with the truth, and we are still facing the consequences of that today — huge inequality between Black and white wealth, health…. I hope this time it’s different. I think the truth has to be out in the open, and those who committed and enabled crimes need to face consequences.
How can imagine rebuilding the political future of a country on the vestiges of divisions that have been instrumentalized for several years?
Bravo 👌👏 Alex for having so well presented and documented this question, so essential and vital.
Thank you for this excellent and very interesting background article !
Important considerations. Important patterns. Thank you for this.
I was a bit younger, but I too remember the Stasi Files (we had something similar in Switzerland) and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It's not a distant memory.
Just like in life where we sometimes need to hit rock bottom for things to change, I agree that this will get much worse before it gets better.
Rebuilding will be long process, we're talking decades not years.
This newsletter has got my wheels turning now. In a good way.
Looking forward to parts 2-5.
Alexander, this Planet was an excellent primer on how to return to democracy. The autocracy and complete lawlessness that my country is living through at the moment is grim and unsettling. “…accountability is never clean and simple.” Your historical examples offer lessons on how change came about in places like Berlin, Brazil, Austria, South Africa and Chile. America must take notice of the fact those dictatorships eventually hit bottom and change
began its slow return to democratic order and how that was accomplished. We have a long road to travel to reach that goal. Today’s post was inspiring. Thank you.
Another excellent tour de force on democracy. The attacks, the fight for survival and the ultimate reclaiming of precious freedoms assaulted by the evils of dictatorship. Then the recovery.
“Democratic recovery requires active choices. It requires institutions willing to prosecute. It requires a society willing to address uncomfortable truths about who collaborated and why. It requires leaders brave enough to focus on accountability over political convenience.”
The pain is so acute and devastating that at this point I favor prosecution. “Knowing the truth is not the same as seeing justice done.”
The horrendous charade of yesterday from the sitting Attorney General was so audacious that her complicity stunned everyone. That cannot go unpunished.
Your historic accounting of these events brings inspiration, hopefully within our lifetimes.
My heart is full of hope and gratitude inspired by this valuable essay. I look forward with anticipation for the coming parts in this series. “Every authoritarian chapter ends. The next chapter is the one that defines whether a country truly heals or simply buries its wounds and waits for them to reopen.”
Many thanks for writing this.
“….hopefully within our lifetimes…” That is a huge hope….we will have to work hard to include the baby boomers….home stretch is lurking in the distance.
Saving these for our grandchildren. Sadly, not in my lifetime...
Thank you for your expertise and compassion! ❤️🕊️🥰
Excellent article, I look forward to the upcoming ones. Thank you so much.
Very important topic. One that is on many people's minds.👍🏼
Brilliant and timely. We have some well-respected people urging us to plan ahead for what we want. The rest of us have a duty to get the word out and inspire others to see better (not status quo) in our future. It gives me great hope that you make the compelling case that we will come out the other side. I look forward to your perspective on where we may land
Proud to become a paying subscriber. Your ideas and writing inspire me. Keep at it and thank you!🙏
We will use a combination of all three paths of justice. The fourth, Charles II's route, is out of the question.
Yeah, no more oblivion here.