So many of my friends are talking about the spectre of another Trump presidency and I feel like I just can’t deal. This was really helpful...Gessen’s analysis feels so spot on and validating. The Russia parallels are so poignant! Thx for this.
Also your daughter’s school is so awesome! More of this! And I wonder what your thoughts are on all of this re: the role of journalism !
Gessen has a whole chapter on the failure of the press to name what was actually happening, and to instead go along with normalizing what was actually totally not-normal. There's a chilling account of a Thanksgiving Day press briefing in which journalists are coerced into going along with a performance of gratitude, which still makes my blood boil. So I think journalists and everyone else need to be on alert to not "normalize" racism, xenophobia, the undermining of institutions (including a free press), by thinking of these as "policy positions." Also, to remember there's no such thing as "It can't happen here." It has happened here!
Fantastic. Thank you for voicing things I’ve been thinking about but don’t want to express because I don’t want to be a “Downer”. I’m terrified of the election and agree with Liz Cheney that we are “sleepwalking into totalitarianism”
Thank you for this piece. What Masha Gessen says about the diminishment of language in Russia is truly chilling. Yes, we must champion our imperfect institutions. And your daughter's school is a good reminder of how creative public education can be.
Thank you so much for this Emily -- I know, I am dreading this election cycle too! I feel like Gessen's book fortified me with some tactics and some hope -- really glad to share them here and keep the discussion going!
So many of my friends are talking about the spectre of another Trump presidency and I feel like I just can’t deal. This was really helpful...Gessen’s analysis feels so spot on and validating. The Russia parallels are so poignant! Thx for this.
Also your daughter’s school is so awesome! More of this! And I wonder what your thoughts are on all of this re: the role of journalism !
Gessen has a whole chapter on the failure of the press to name what was actually happening, and to instead go along with normalizing what was actually totally not-normal. There's a chilling account of a Thanksgiving Day press briefing in which journalists are coerced into going along with a performance of gratitude, which still makes my blood boil. So I think journalists and everyone else need to be on alert to not "normalize" racism, xenophobia, the undermining of institutions (including a free press), by thinking of these as "policy positions." Also, to remember there's no such thing as "It can't happen here." It has happened here!
Fantastic. Thank you for voicing things I’ve been thinking about but don’t want to express because I don’t want to be a “Downer”. I’m terrified of the election and agree with Liz Cheney that we are “sleepwalking into totalitarianism”
Thank you for this piece. What Masha Gessen says about the diminishment of language in Russia is truly chilling. Yes, we must champion our imperfect institutions. And your daughter's school is a good reminder of how creative public education can be.
Exactly what we all need to read right now as the horror gets increasing air time. I hate having to go through it all again.
Thank you so much for this Emily -- I know, I am dreading this election cycle too! I feel like Gessen's book fortified me with some tactics and some hope -- really glad to share them here and keep the discussion going!