Standing in the Berlin courtyard where Nazi resistance fighters were executed offers powerful lessons about democracy’s fragility and the courage of ordinary people who stood against tyranny.
"The legacy of resistance isn’t about glorifying desperate measures in desperate times. It’s about ensuring such desperate times never return."
Indeed. And these are desperate times. People are frightened and afraid to speak out. I know many people who aleady in hiding. You have detailed examples to follow. I wish our protest groups were larger. But what I most wish for would be accurate coverage of all protests here in the US. MSM is ignoring us. This is part of the plan. Thank you for this. It inspires me.
Fascism feeds on fear; it's woven into its DNA. Part of its strategy relies on the human instinct to hope that someone else will be targeted instead of you.
Fascism understands this psychology perfectly and exploits it methodically. It doesn't come for everyone at once - it selects its victims one by one. Each time, others remain silent, hoping the next target will be someone else. But fascism never stops; it consumes everything in its path.
Eventually, it even devours its own supporters - the final phase that leaves the movement's old guard in stunned disbelief, mirroring the shock of its first victims. Deep in their hollow hearts, these enablers always believed that the easiest way to avoid harm was to surrender their soul to the movement, gambling that others would suffer in their place.
What they never understood was that loyalty to fascism offers no protection. The machinery of oppression ultimately recognizes no allies - only fuel.
Having been to Berlin, I had no knowledge of the historical significance of the personalities mentioned in this incredible post… one of your very best, Alexander. You so intelligently pulled salient points from Germany’s worst chapter in its history and pointed straight at America. Heaven help us is all I can say as we careen toward fascism.
Reading books about the 1930s in Germany parallels what we see now in the US. Before the country of Beethoven and Goethe started to extinguish original thought, truth, and kindness, there was a unique and lively culture of artists, writers, and scientists. I will try to write more about this next weekend; it could be an unexpected third article in my Berlin series.
Alex - hope you are well. People are waking up and becoming more active in America every day. Just today, I had an hour long conversation with a man at the gym about what it may require of us all to stop what is developing - a large scale peaceful democratic movement resisting at every step. Later in the day I went to a small antiques/junk shop, and a man made it immediately clear what he thought about the current state of political affairs without prompting. This led to another deep conversation. One of the fundamental weaknesses of liberal people in this country has been that we all have generally remained pretty quiet in the past. We have been displeased with what has been happening, but have respected the right of others to think and believe what they want, not airing grievances in a highly public fashion and just going about our business. That is changing rapidly. From AOC and Bernie Sanders rallies, to small conversations across the country like I described above, there is a real awareness that the worst isn’t a far off and remote prospect, and that we must remain vigilant. As I mentioned to one of these folks earlier today, when asked what form of government the founders had created, Ben Franklin responded - “A republic, if you can keep it.” We will keep it.
Thank you, JG; I just wrote back to Anne that I might make a third article about Berlin, focusing on how such a civilized society of thinkers could turn dark so quickly. I might build upon your comment in that article. It may take some time. Maybe something for next weekend. So, there will be a more extended reply in the form of an article (if I find the time)
Of course - sounds interesting. There is a book called “Ordinary Men” that you may find interesting in your discussion if you haven’t already read it. Safe travels.
I'm always amazed at the bravery of people. Every single person who does something in opposition will help bring the system down. I'm hoping that numbers will start growing once people realize what's going on.
It's all in the playbook. None of it surprising.
Thank you for sharing those stories. And your experience of standing in that courtyard - powerful.
It's one of those moments you can connect to history by being there. It works far better when it's a history of less than 100 years ago. I remember, for instance, also standing at the spot where William of Orange was murdered in 1584; the connection to the event felt far more distant after so many centuries. Visiting a WWII concentration camp is not only so intense by the scale of the horror but also due to its proximity in time; survivors are still alive. Last week, the last surviving pilot who fought in the Battle of Brittain died at 105; that marks the end of an era. Perhaps there is a cutoff date when history becomes old history when the last survivor dies. And then again, perhaps not; what about second (and third) generations of survivors? Stuff for an article someday.
"If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening all over this land. I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning......" This rallying call by Peter Paul and Mary for justice and equality still rings true today.
Sitting in Government Buildings and Church Halls, old white men have taken up another hammer. These bigots and MAGAS can't fix the economy, don't know how to solve taxes or tariffs, but they can and will play the race card. And play it they have, putting the hammer down on millions of funding for a disproportionate number of children of color around the world, erasing my State of Arizona Navajo Code Talkers and WWII hero, Ira Hayes, dismantling DEI, bringing the hammer down on trans and LGBTQ human rights. These so-called race "values" have risen to the forefront because like fascism, the marginalization and separation begins.
But the resistance begins also. Forty thousand strong just in Arizona last week. Rising stars emerging. Senior citizens showing up and speaking up. Our songs of danger and warning are heard across the world.
As JFK said in his famous speech "All free men wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin....I take pride in the words: Ich bin ein Berliner." Our rallying song goes forth. We take up the hammer of justice and equality. Thank you for so eloquently reminding us we are all Berliners, Alex.
Sobering. We are seeing changes in real time. It is very frightening, but we must keep going. I worry about how much to tell the kids about what’s going on.
Depending on their age, I would focus on moral issues, choices, loyalty, history, and standing up for what is right. The details of what goes on now in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country change daily; the basics of right and wrong never change. Be brave, be honest, be there for each other, and fight injustice. The details can be filled in later when it is their turn; for now, there should be time to play and learn - and to be innocent.
Good advice! I have been trying to focus on those principles and explaining the ideas behind my actions - such as why I won’t shop at certain places anymore, why I am wearing a particular message on my shirt - and at the same time telling them to always do what they know is right.
Lucid history with clearly horrific outcomes. My grandfather worked in London during the Luftwaffe's bombings. His specialty was cranes. I inherited his pocket watch, and slide rule. Genocide is never good. Never forget
Hundreds of millions on both sides of the Atlantic feel these kinds of transatlantic familie ties. They can’t be broken overnight, even if someone tries to do so.
Reading these horrifying descriptions of actual HISTORICAL events should help remind us all that coming together NOW AS A NATION in this moment will secure our democracy before it is too late. And, truthfully, too late will happen all too soon. Yes there are gatherings and the crowds are getting bigger. We need to come together in Washington to stake our claim to the democracy we deserve. Our young generation is not yet paying attention…..and it is their life here I wish to preserve. Thank you ,Alexander, for writing these important messages. Thank you for teaching the past in order to preserve the future.
Thank you, Wendy, I feel it is not up to me, as a European, to advise anyone in the US what to do. But what I can do is share our historical experiences in the hope that people in the US will learn from what we have been through here.
Thank you, Lizzie. Standing in that courtyard was a strange experience. I have been at places where the Nazis committed their crimes against others, but now I stood where they started to kill each other (and yes, Von Staufenberg had supported the Nazis but had the moral strength to admit his mistake).
Germany was very wise to expose and teach its past horrors of dissent and war. Here very many are trying to erase the parts of our history that are not pretty, pretending they never happened. The Black Lives Matter movement and its beautiful yellow reminder was a step forward yet it has now been removed. If it were not for the hideous Project 2025 playbook, I don’t think fascism could move so quickly. But it is here and we are on 04/15/2025 in the midst of defining kidnapping of American citizens and exporting them to gulags in El Salvador without the rule of law as an exercise in “Foreign Relations “ exempt from due process. Malarkey to scam citizens out of their rights; free speech at Universities is challenged but Harvard is resisting. The elder 🔥 fireball Bernie Sanders has joined with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from a younger generation to hold the largest protest ever recorded with rave reviews. They are touring the country and other dissent is large and growing. This week could tell the story of our nation. Governor Josh Shapiro was assaulted by fire in his home on Seder. We are surely awake and hopeful that it is not too late to pushback the oligarchs, billionaires and tech bros from taking our country. Gross inequities in wealth is the culprit here along with an executive who seeks to be a king. Power is a sick motive. Myself and most others say NO. The outcome will be defined in an initial victory but if we gain it, it will cost years of recovery. There is much work to be done. Thank you for calling attention to this post from earlier in your archives. I only wish it had been appreciated more originally. Now you have our complete attention as a nation. 🕊️
"The legacy of resistance isn’t about glorifying desperate measures in desperate times. It’s about ensuring such desperate times never return."
Indeed. And these are desperate times. People are frightened and afraid to speak out. I know many people who aleady in hiding. You have detailed examples to follow. I wish our protest groups were larger. But what I most wish for would be accurate coverage of all protests here in the US. MSM is ignoring us. This is part of the plan. Thank you for this. It inspires me.
Fascism feeds on fear; it's woven into its DNA. Part of its strategy relies on the human instinct to hope that someone else will be targeted instead of you.
Fascism understands this psychology perfectly and exploits it methodically. It doesn't come for everyone at once - it selects its victims one by one. Each time, others remain silent, hoping the next target will be someone else. But fascism never stops; it consumes everything in its path.
Eventually, it even devours its own supporters - the final phase that leaves the movement's old guard in stunned disbelief, mirroring the shock of its first victims. Deep in their hollow hearts, these enablers always believed that the easiest way to avoid harm was to surrender their soul to the movement, gambling that others would suffer in their place.
What they never understood was that loyalty to fascism offers no protection. The machinery of oppression ultimately recognizes no allies - only fuel.
Having been to Berlin, I had no knowledge of the historical significance of the personalities mentioned in this incredible post… one of your very best, Alexander. You so intelligently pulled salient points from Germany’s worst chapter in its history and pointed straight at America. Heaven help us is all I can say as we careen toward fascism.
Reading books about the 1930s in Germany parallels what we see now in the US. Before the country of Beethoven and Goethe started to extinguish original thought, truth, and kindness, there was a unique and lively culture of artists, writers, and scientists. I will try to write more about this next weekend; it could be an unexpected third article in my Berlin series.
Alex - hope you are well. People are waking up and becoming more active in America every day. Just today, I had an hour long conversation with a man at the gym about what it may require of us all to stop what is developing - a large scale peaceful democratic movement resisting at every step. Later in the day I went to a small antiques/junk shop, and a man made it immediately clear what he thought about the current state of political affairs without prompting. This led to another deep conversation. One of the fundamental weaknesses of liberal people in this country has been that we all have generally remained pretty quiet in the past. We have been displeased with what has been happening, but have respected the right of others to think and believe what they want, not airing grievances in a highly public fashion and just going about our business. That is changing rapidly. From AOC and Bernie Sanders rallies, to small conversations across the country like I described above, there is a real awareness that the worst isn’t a far off and remote prospect, and that we must remain vigilant. As I mentioned to one of these folks earlier today, when asked what form of government the founders had created, Ben Franklin responded - “A republic, if you can keep it.” We will keep it.
Thank you, JG; I just wrote back to Anne that I might make a third article about Berlin, focusing on how such a civilized society of thinkers could turn dark so quickly. I might build upon your comment in that article. It may take some time. Maybe something for next weekend. So, there will be a more extended reply in the form of an article (if I find the time)
Of course - sounds interesting. There is a book called “Ordinary Men” that you may find interesting in your discussion if you haven’t already read it. Safe travels.
Thanks. I don’t know it. I’ll look for it.
Thank you for this.
I'm always amazed at the bravery of people. Every single person who does something in opposition will help bring the system down. I'm hoping that numbers will start growing once people realize what's going on.
It's all in the playbook. None of it surprising.
Thank you for sharing those stories. And your experience of standing in that courtyard - powerful.
It's one of those moments you can connect to history by being there. It works far better when it's a history of less than 100 years ago. I remember, for instance, also standing at the spot where William of Orange was murdered in 1584; the connection to the event felt far more distant after so many centuries. Visiting a WWII concentration camp is not only so intense by the scale of the horror but also due to its proximity in time; survivors are still alive. Last week, the last surviving pilot who fought in the Battle of Brittain died at 105; that marks the end of an era. Perhaps there is a cutoff date when history becomes old history when the last survivor dies. And then again, perhaps not; what about second (and third) generations of survivors? Stuff for an article someday.
"If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening all over this land. I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning......" This rallying call by Peter Paul and Mary for justice and equality still rings true today.
Sitting in Government Buildings and Church Halls, old white men have taken up another hammer. These bigots and MAGAS can't fix the economy, don't know how to solve taxes or tariffs, but they can and will play the race card. And play it they have, putting the hammer down on millions of funding for a disproportionate number of children of color around the world, erasing my State of Arizona Navajo Code Talkers and WWII hero, Ira Hayes, dismantling DEI, bringing the hammer down on trans and LGBTQ human rights. These so-called race "values" have risen to the forefront because like fascism, the marginalization and separation begins.
But the resistance begins also. Forty thousand strong just in Arizona last week. Rising stars emerging. Senior citizens showing up and speaking up. Our songs of danger and warning are heard across the world.
As JFK said in his famous speech "All free men wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin....I take pride in the words: Ich bin ein Berliner." Our rallying song goes forth. We take up the hammer of justice and equality. Thank you for so eloquently reminding us we are all Berliners, Alex.
Thank you, Sharon, for your message of hope.
Sobering. We are seeing changes in real time. It is very frightening, but we must keep going. I worry about how much to tell the kids about what’s going on.
Depending on their age, I would focus on moral issues, choices, loyalty, history, and standing up for what is right. The details of what goes on now in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country change daily; the basics of right and wrong never change. Be brave, be honest, be there for each other, and fight injustice. The details can be filled in later when it is their turn; for now, there should be time to play and learn - and to be innocent.
Good advice! I have been trying to focus on those principles and explaining the ideas behind my actions - such as why I won’t shop at certain places anymore, why I am wearing a particular message on my shirt - and at the same time telling them to always do what they know is right.
Lucid history with clearly horrific outcomes. My grandfather worked in London during the Luftwaffe's bombings. His specialty was cranes. I inherited his pocket watch, and slide rule. Genocide is never good. Never forget
Hundreds of millions on both sides of the Atlantic feel these kinds of transatlantic familie ties. They can’t be broken overnight, even if someone tries to do so.
Reading these horrifying descriptions of actual HISTORICAL events should help remind us all that coming together NOW AS A NATION in this moment will secure our democracy before it is too late. And, truthfully, too late will happen all too soon. Yes there are gatherings and the crowds are getting bigger. We need to come together in Washington to stake our claim to the democracy we deserve. Our young generation is not yet paying attention…..and it is their life here I wish to preserve. Thank you ,Alexander, for writing these important messages. Thank you for teaching the past in order to preserve the future.
Thank you, Wendy, I feel it is not up to me, as a European, to advise anyone in the US what to do. But what I can do is share our historical experiences in the hope that people in the US will learn from what we have been through here.
Thank you, Judith.
Not appropriate; so sorry. 😢 Forgive please.
Thank you, Lizzie. Standing in that courtyard was a strange experience. I have been at places where the Nazis committed their crimes against others, but now I stood where they started to kill each other (and yes, Von Staufenberg had supported the Nazis but had the moral strength to admit his mistake).
Germany was very wise to expose and teach its past horrors of dissent and war. Here very many are trying to erase the parts of our history that are not pretty, pretending they never happened. The Black Lives Matter movement and its beautiful yellow reminder was a step forward yet it has now been removed. If it were not for the hideous Project 2025 playbook, I don’t think fascism could move so quickly. But it is here and we are on 04/15/2025 in the midst of defining kidnapping of American citizens and exporting them to gulags in El Salvador without the rule of law as an exercise in “Foreign Relations “ exempt from due process. Malarkey to scam citizens out of their rights; free speech at Universities is challenged but Harvard is resisting. The elder 🔥 fireball Bernie Sanders has joined with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from a younger generation to hold the largest protest ever recorded with rave reviews. They are touring the country and other dissent is large and growing. This week could tell the story of our nation. Governor Josh Shapiro was assaulted by fire in his home on Seder. We are surely awake and hopeful that it is not too late to pushback the oligarchs, billionaires and tech bros from taking our country. Gross inequities in wealth is the culprit here along with an executive who seeks to be a king. Power is a sick motive. Myself and most others say NO. The outcome will be defined in an initial victory but if we gain it, it will cost years of recovery. There is much work to be done. Thank you for calling attention to this post from earlier in your archives. I only wish it had been appreciated more originally. Now you have our complete attention as a nation. 🕊️