As a student of Canadian history I am watching the news every day as events unfold in USA. Each day brings a new bizarre turn of events whether it be related to global trade, the money market or how people are feeling about movement in and out of the country.
As someone who lives in Europe I watch how people who either themselves as children or their parents moved, or were barred from moving, out of countries that were curtailing their life in one form or another. If history does not repeat itself it certainly resonates in this part of the world!
What comes to mind is summed up in a poem from another age. It is by the German pastor Martin Niemoeller's famous mea culpa statement (in various forms over a period 1940-1970s) expressing the fact that he, as member of the human race, did not stand up and show solidarity sooner, when it might have made a difference.
The historical context happens to be European mid-20th century but it is about when good people do nothing:
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
However I reckon it could be any period; just fill in the blanks:
First they came for the xxxxxx
And I did not speak out
.....
Then they came for the immigrants...universities... scientists... lawyers...press
And I did not speak out.
Alastair put me on to Heather Cox-Richardson who is an American academic. She talks about the situation in her country on various platforms on the internet. She is a historian and sets events in historical context and is very good at looking at the bigger cultural picture e.g. factors driving events.
So what are some of my cultural observations from this side of the pond?
