Great to have a real advocate for the First Principals & First Values of Democracy and the explicit, implicit, and tacit aspects that Ukrainians are fighting for against Russia and others.
I am currently reading this book and loving it. I’ve been so discouraged by how this word has been hijacked and am very glad to Snyder wrote this book. Thanks for the insightful summary.
One of those rare books where I would read a few paragraphs and had to stop to mull over the ideas and admire the writing before proceeding. An unusual experience these days.
I have lived my whole life in Canada and the US, about half in each, and can honestly say that the idea of freedom never arose in my thoughts or in my conversations with anyone in either country. Of course, like many others, I have lived a privileged life and have not had to worry about my freedom. Perhaps that is the best definition of freedom - to live our lives without thinking about it.
Great to have a real advocate for the First Principals & First Values of Democracy and the explicit, implicit, and tacit aspects that Ukrainians are fighting for against Russia and others.
So true Edward. Thanks for commenting!
I am currently reading this book and loving it. I’ve been so discouraged by how this word has been hijacked and am very glad to Snyder wrote this book. Thanks for the insightful summary.
Thanks Kim. Snyder is such a unique voice with an important message at this time in our history.
So glad you are reading books like this and then condensing for us... I am most grateful.
My bill is in the mail! 😉
One of those rare books where I would read a few paragraphs and had to stop to mull over the ideas and admire the writing before proceeding. An unusual experience these days.
I missed your posts so darn much lol
The Most Dangerous Thing About Freedom?
Someone warns you about a threat to your freedom.
They promise to protect you from it.
You give them power to do so.
And suddenly, you have less freedom than before.
It's the oldest trick in the autocrat's playbook. Yet we fall for it every time.
Why? Because we're thinking about freedom all wrong.
We obsess over freedom FROM:
Freedom from fear
Freedom from uncertainty
Freedom from responsibility
Freedom from others
But we forget about freedom TO:
Freedom to create
Freedom to explore
Freedom to connect
Freedom to become
The more desperately we chase freedom FROM things, the more we sacrifice our freedom TO do things. It's the truth.
It's nice the way we enjoy our back and forth Neela! Great minds think alike!
Of course I agree with everything you have to say here. But where is the solution to the autocrat's scam? I don't see one, which scares me.
I have lived my whole life in Canada and the US, about half in each, and can honestly say that the idea of freedom never arose in my thoughts or in my conversations with anyone in either country. Of course, like many others, I have lived a privileged life and have not had to worry about my freedom. Perhaps that is the best definition of freedom - to live our lives without thinking about it.
To quote your great Canadian philosopher Joni Mitchell: "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone".
Going ... going ...
Gone.