Welcome to Litsy!

Lesson #17 is our current state: “Listen for dangerous words: Be alert to the use of the words extremism and terrorism. Be alive to the fatal notions of emergency and exception. Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.” There were 4 shootings in 24 hours this weekend. When the violence is done by another white male, there is an excuse. But no laws are made for gun control. Instead anyone on the “left” has now been labeled as an

57/100

This book is a reminder of the things you should hold dear. The things that truly COULD make us great, or at least could reinvest in real patriotism. It is an expanded listicle of 20 “lessons“ from the twentieth century. If you feel you lack courage to resist, throw this tiny book in your bag and take it out and reread it as you wait for the bus.
Make eye contact and small talk (#12).
Start somewhere.

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This book was published in 2017 as a direct response to and rebuke of 🍊1. Now we‘re here again but it‘s even worse, making this book more relevant still. The key is: if enough of us fight against this crap, we‘ll protect our democracy. So, please read it and whatever way you choose, STAND FAST AND FIGHT!

Overall, this was a very interesting and informative book. Some parts could be a little dry, but quite a bit still provided interesting commentary. It was also interesting in presenting an outsider's perspective on American culture, government, and society. Overall, would recommend.

"Despotism, which is of a very timorous nature, is never more secure of continuance than when it can keep men asunder; and all its influence is commonly exerted for that purpose. No vice of the human heart is so acceptable to it as egotism; a despot easily forgives his subjects for not loving him, provided they do not love each other."
-Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America"

"Educate, then, at any rate; for the age of implicit self-sacrifice and instinctive virtues is already flitting far away from us, and the time is fast approaching when freedom, public peace, and social order itself will not be able to exist without education."
-Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America"