Bravo on your commentary! I had read the FT article earlier. Your points regarding shoddy reporting which uses generalizations and "totalizations" rather than actual factual numbers and the debasement of terminology to the point a word loses its essence were well articulated and impactful. The Goering quote is haunting, mostly because it is so observable today. Thank you..
In Waiting for Godot, Vladimir and Estragon get into a bout of name-calling, which ends with one calling the other the worst insult possible: "Critic!" I suspect if Beckett were writing it today, he'd have gone with "Journalist!" But I admit it's a tough call.
Our populist faschist problem has been coming at us since Carter hired an image consultant. Not one thing, but that Clinton made a slew of decisions based on straight up and down polling of his base, for example. Look at our libraries throwing away their copies of Louis Aragorn when not checked out for 2 years. My contribution to the banality of evil problem was to notice that the Nazis used sound systems to yell hatred of the Juden. Many were persuaded by the passional rock and roll in being yelled at in that way. I checked out Jay Cantors fiction about Kafka l night because I have a Max Brod problem. Do I throw away Kafka because, let's say I donot write like K did from 11 pm till 4 am? Thanks.
Eloquently and logically stated. I remember when I used to be part of a lit community, mass fear and fearmongering was commonplace. It was contagious (it influenced me!). So was name-calling and cancellations instead of having good faith dialogue and investigations. It's disheartening to see it on Substack, but not surprising. When something is propagated so extensively, it becomes fact, as others don't necessarily fact check others, but take their word for it.
I think it's really brave to say this right now. But I'm glad writers like you exist. I've always felt that the word Nazi was being cheapened because it is so casually thrown around, usually to label people who are obviously not Nazis but happen to share a different point of view. That's disturbing on so many levels. If name calling happens during discussions, I think it has already stopped being one.
“Genocide“ unless you understand the story of 500 nations in the New World, you don’t know the meaning of the word.......
Colonialists accomplished what Hitler tried. Hundreds of entire nations wiped out. Culture, language, music, art, everything. Gone. Dozens upon dozens before White man ever met them.
Not to take away from your point, just strive for professionalism....eh?
What more can a Substack writer ask for? Truly, thanks for taking a chance on the book, and what an honor it is to be the first vote of monetary confidence! It’s moments like these that make it clear why Substack has truly built a community worth fighting for.
Bravo on your commentary! I had read the FT article earlier. Your points regarding shoddy reporting which uses generalizations and "totalizations" rather than actual factual numbers and the debasement of terminology to the point a word loses its essence were well articulated and impactful. The Goering quote is haunting, mostly because it is so observable today. Thank you..
I agree 100%! Words matter. Historical facts matter. The Atlantic, which is usually to be applauded for their articles, really blew it on this one.
What a compelling essay!
In Waiting for Godot, Vladimir and Estragon get into a bout of name-calling, which ends with one calling the other the worst insult possible: "Critic!" I suspect if Beckett were writing it today, he'd have gone with "Journalist!" But I admit it's a tough call.
That was perfect and I thank you; but more than that, my father would.
Thank you for your logical and levelheaded approach to clearing this up!
Our populist faschist problem has been coming at us since Carter hired an image consultant. Not one thing, but that Clinton made a slew of decisions based on straight up and down polling of his base, for example. Look at our libraries throwing away their copies of Louis Aragorn when not checked out for 2 years. My contribution to the banality of evil problem was to notice that the Nazis used sound systems to yell hatred of the Juden. Many were persuaded by the passional rock and roll in being yelled at in that way. I checked out Jay Cantors fiction about Kafka l night because I have a Max Brod problem. Do I throw away Kafka because, let's say I donot write like K did from 11 pm till 4 am? Thanks.
Eloquently and logically stated. I remember when I used to be part of a lit community, mass fear and fearmongering was commonplace. It was contagious (it influenced me!). So was name-calling and cancellations instead of having good faith dialogue and investigations. It's disheartening to see it on Substack, but not surprising. When something is propagated so extensively, it becomes fact, as others don't necessarily fact check others, but take their word for it.
So long as they're not making money, it's okay, then. Glad that's been sorted.
I think it's really brave to say this right now. But I'm glad writers like you exist. I've always felt that the word Nazi was being cheapened because it is so casually thrown around, usually to label people who are obviously not Nazis but happen to share a different point of view. That's disturbing on so many levels. If name calling happens during discussions, I think it has already stopped being one.
Congrats, Samuel Lopez-Barrantes. Sorry for skimming your essay, but this was enough for me to buy your book, today.
This was the first money we have ever paid connected to Substack in any way, and I follow the people of Substack every day.
“Genocide“ unless you understand the story of 500 nations in the New World, you don’t know the meaning of the word.......
Colonialists accomplished what Hitler tried. Hundreds of entire nations wiped out. Culture, language, music, art, everything. Gone. Dozens upon dozens before White man ever met them.
Not to take away from your point, just strive for professionalism....eh?
What more can a Substack writer ask for? Truly, thanks for taking a chance on the book, and what an honor it is to be the first vote of monetary confidence! It’s moments like these that make it clear why Substack has truly built a community worth fighting for.
Very well said.
This is insightful