The World Will Forever Seek to Mold

These quotes, while seemingly disparate, collectively explore themes of identity, power, and transformation—both personal and societal. Together, they form a narrative about how individuals and groups navigate systems of control and self-perception, often wrestling with forces that seek to define them, whether externally or internally.

Quotes

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"Trying to change ourselves doesn’t work in the long run because we’re resisting our own energy. Self-improvement can have temporary results, but lasting transformation occurs only when we honor ourselves as the source of wisdom and compassion." (Pema Chodron, The Places That Scare You)

"the rightness of fascism does not depend on the truth of any of the propositions advanced in its name. Fascism is “true" insofar as it helps fulfill the destiny of a chosen race or people or blood, locked with other peoples in a Darwinian struggle, and not in the light of some abstract and universal reason." (Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism)

"That’s a very working-class attitude. I’m not comfortable with people with power. I’ve always been intimidated by people like deans. I let them push me until I come back too strong and ruin the relationship." (Alfred Lubrano, Limbo)

Pulling the Quotes Together

Compostion

Reflective

Within each of us lies a quiet pulse, an ancient rhythm that resists the sharp edges of control. As Pema Chodron reminds us, true transformation is not a war waged against our own being but a tender act of recognition—a bow to the wisdom already flowing through our veins. To force change, to resist our essence, is to fracture the harmony that sustains us. Only in honoring our nature do we step into the light of lasting growth.

Yet, outside this fragile sanctuary, forces conspire to reshape the soul. Robert Paxton paints a stark portrait of fascism, where identity is stripped of its tenderness and forged into a weapon. It speaks not to the truth of shared humanity but to a Darwinian anthem of supremacy. In this arena, transformation is no longer a personal journey but a violent march, a submission to the will of power cloaked in destiny’s name. Here, the self becomes a pawn, its wisdom silenced beneath the roar of collective struggle.

Alfred Lubrano’s voice carries the weight of resistance—intimate, raw, and imperfect. His discomfort with power, his instinct to yield until the moment of rebellion, mirrors the tension between submission and selfhood. It is the story of many who walk the line between deference and defiance, their hearts longing for respect yet bristling under the burden of imposed hierarchy. In his words, we hear the echo of a deeper truth: transformation falters when it rises only in reaction to oppression, untethered from the wisdom of self-awareness.

Together, these voices weave a tapestry of identity and power—of how we falter and rise, bend and break. They remind us that the world will forever seek to mold us, some hands gentle, others cruel. Yet our truest transformation lies not in the hands of others, nor in our defiance alone, but in the quiet courage to listen inward and honor the rhythm that has always been ours.

Analytical 

The first quote by Pema Chodron emphasizes the futility of resistance against one's own nature, highlighting the necessity of self-compassion and inner alignment for true transformation. This perspective suggests that sustainable change arises not from denying or battling who we are, but from embracing our inherent wisdom and compassion. It challenges the paradigm of self-improvement as a battle to be fought and instead frames it as a journey of acceptance and understanding.

In stark contrast, Robert Paxton's analysis of fascism portrays a worldview that weaponizes identity, positioning it as a tool for domination rather than self-realization. Fascism demands allegiance to a collective destiny, rooted in exclusion and competition, where power is justified not by universal truths but by the assertion of supremacy in a zero-sum struggle. This ideology corrupts the process of self and group understanding, replacing authentic growth with a rigid, combative identity that denies the inherent worth of others.

Alfred Lubrano's reflection bridges the gap between the internal and external struggles of identity and power. His discomfort with authority figures and the cyclical tension in his relationships reveal a deeply personal example of the dynamics explored in the other two quotes. On one hand, his working-class perspective reflects the struggle against external forces that impose definitions and expectations. On the other hand, his eventual "coming back too strong" mirrors the internal resistance Pema Chodron warns against—a reaction that may temporarily address imbalance but lacks the enduring transformation that comes from honoring one’s authentic self.

Together, these quotes tell a story of how individuals and societies grapple with power and identity. They warn against the dangers of denying our own nature, succumbing to ideologies that seek to exploit identity, and reacting to power in ways that perpetuate cycles of conflict. Instead, they invite us to seek transformation through self-awareness, compassion, and the rejection of systems—whether internal or external—that resist the truth of who we are. Only through this alignment can lasting growth and meaningful relationships flourish.

January 11 - Some quotes and some journal articles of interest

Quotes

"The world is easier to navigate if you remember that people are governed by emotions, acting more often out of jealousy, pride, shame, desire, fear, or vanity than dispassionate logic. We act and react because we feel something. To discount this and listen superficially—or not at all—is to operate at a serious disadvantage." (Kate Murphy, You're Not Listening)

Most of your training should be below aerobic threshold. This approach lets you build aerobic volume while minimizing injury risk. (David Roche, When (And Why) to Train Below Aerobic Threshold | Trail Runner Magazine)

"Social revolutions are usually horrible times of great unrest and insecurity, but they are also historical watersheds that reset and potentially revitalize a nation." (Brian Walker, David Salt, Resilience Practice)

"This requires greater prioritization of behavioural and operational research, a discipline that gets scant coverage in academic circles but which encompasses systems analysis and modelling. It also requires greater value to be placed on synthesis as a tool in discovery because of its power to describe system-level behaviour. Often it is the simple solutions applied well that make the difference rather than new technologies." (nature.com, Take the Long View - Nature)

"Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty." (Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection)

"Draw yourself up to your full height and look your audience straight in the eyes, and begin to talk as confidently as if every one of them owed you money. Imagine that they do. Imagine that they have assembled there to beg you for an extension of credit. The psychological effect on you will be beneficial." (Dale Carnegie, The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking)

Systems

"One starting point for identifying where to take action is to look at the chains of causalities and feedback loops to see where potential for action lies. Another is to explicitly locate alternative attractors within the system. These are likely to be points where there are counter-narratives to the dominant narratives – which appear to have some traction even on a very small scale. Participants will also need to look for where the strong energy seems to be in the system – narratives which excite or anger people and so on. The potential for change in a system often exists in the domains where there is a visible emotional response to issues." (Danny Burns and Stuart Worsley, Navigating Complexity in International Development) 

Journal Articles

Bridging the Gap Between Labour Unions and the Management Through Leadership Development Programs?

Merging Worklife Organizational Innovation and Educational Programs- Promoting Continuous Adaptations to the Global Economy

When Successful Action Research is not Legitimized as Scientific Contribution by the Central Sponsors: How can Morten Levin’s Three Pillars of Action Research Support the Arch of Research Collaboration between Large Public Organizations and Universities?

When Co-Generative Learning Met Co-Production and Co-Creation - On How Three Different Concepts Shaped “Samskaping”

The Opposite of Faith Is Not Doubt, the Opposite of Faith Is Certainty

Good Day to You - Happy January 5th, 2025

I’m in a mindset right now where I just want to get organized—to gather people and work collectively around an issue. It sounds ambitious, maybe even lofty, but it feels necessary.

On a different note, I was thinking last night about my love for landscapes and cityscapes—whether it’s mountains, sprawling city skylines, or just the forms they take. Doing something with these, even something as simple as sharing a daily photo of my favorite landscape or cityscape, feels important to me. Maybe it’s time to start a daily post somewhere to capture and share those moments.

Yaoundé, Cameroon: Both City _and_ Mountains!

There’s definitely a connection between my interest in landscapes, the environment, and the idea of getting organized. It feels worthwhile to explore those links further.

Last night—or perhaps it was early this morning while I was waking up—I had an idea about organizing around a specific concern. I even came up with a name for the group. It was perfect—a term used to describe “them.” But now, I’ve completely forgotten what it was! Ha ha! Well, perhaps I will update this post when it occurs to me once again.

Quotes

On today's quotes

Loads of good strong quotes today that resonate with our headlines.

The Illusion of Certainty

Progress rarely unfolds on a smooth, predictable path. Systems, whether social, economic, or environmental, often cling to comfortable narratives, even when they're clearly failing. Recognizing these "uncomfortable truths" – acknowledging systemic biases, admitting past mistakes, or facing the reality of climate change – is the first, often painful, step towards meaningful change.

Certainty, in a world of constant flux, is an illusion. Adaptability, the willingness to learn, adjust, and course-correct, becomes paramount. This requires humility, recognizing the limitations of our knowledge and the potential for unforeseen consequences.

Status, whether social, economic, or political, exerts a powerful influence on our thinking and behavior. It subtly shapes our beliefs, biases, and the risks we're willing to take. Those desperate to maintain or elevate their status, clinging to power and privilege, often pose the greatest danger. Their actions, driven by fear and insecurity, can have devastating consequences for individuals and societies.  

True resilience stems from confronting denial, both individually and collectively. Shared narratives of the future, where diverse perspectives are valued and integrated, can foster a sense of collective responsibility and a shared commitment to overcoming challenges.

Democracy, at its core, demands active participation, critical thinking, and a willingness to engage in thoughtful compromise. It requires courage to challenge the status quo, to question entrenched beliefs, and to work towards solutions that benefit the common good.

Ultimately, progress hinges on our ability to embrace uncertainty, confront uncomfortable truths, and cultivate a culture of adaptability and shared responsibility.

Quotes

"Other research has shown that occupying a superior position also increases implicit bias." (Keith Payne, The Broken Ladder)

"This contrasting principle is known in systems terms as worse-before-better behavior. This means that long-term success often requires short-term investment or sacrifice." (David Peter Stroh, Systems Thinking for Social Change)

"you have to abandon this idea that you can predict and you can control" 

(Scientific Advice Mechanism, Silvio Funtowicz on Post-Normal Science Advice)

"What work means to people often has less to do with what tasks they are actually performing than with how they relate to and compare themselves to other people." (Keith Payne, The Broken Ladder)

"'In plainer terms,' Baumeister and Bushman write, 'it is not so much the people who regard themselves as superior beings who are the most dangerous but, rather, those who have a strong desire to regard themselves as superior beings.… People who are preoccupied with validating a grandiose self-image apparently find criticism highly upsetting and lash out against the source of it.'" (Lulu Miller, Why Fish Don't Exist)

"Democratic policymaking requires debate, demands compromise and involves critical thinking. It entails considering different viewpoints, anticipating the future, and composing thoughtful legislation." (Simon Gottschalk, The Infantilization of Western Culture)

"Information is the main key to breaking a state of denial. Scenario development in which the range of possible futures is examined and spelled out is one good way of engaging stakeholders in the process." (Brian Walker, David Salt, Resilience Practice)

""The most important thing I learned on Tralfamadore was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral. All moments, past, present, and future, always have existed, always will exist." (Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five)

Quotes – December 29

 Let's see. Spend time writing about these quotes, or go for a run and a hike.

No competition.

Quotes

"One thing you may have noticed in the goals, is that they are more focused on routine and habits, than they are on outcomes." (cultivatedmanagement.com, Are You Chasing the Right Things? How to Paint a Picture for Your Life and Set Goals - Cultivated Management)

"foreign aid, even if given for purely humanitarian reasons, is political by nature precisely because it is not motivated by the search for profit." (Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism)

"(3) Human social systems are subject to the counterbalancing influences of hierarchy-enhancing (HE) forces, producing and maintaining ever higher levels of group-based social inequality, and hierarchy-attenuating (HA) forces, producing greater levels of group-based social equality." (Jim Sidanius and Felicia Pratto, Social Dominance)

"It is following these periods of crisis that institutions and the connections between them are most open to dramatic transformation." (Brian Walker PhD, Resilience Thinking)

"Her story — that of an uneducated, unskilled woman from farm roots who can’t find high-paying work in the city and falls deeper into poverty — is a familiar one, the classic pattern of in-country migration all around the world." (Abrahm Lustgarten, The Great Climate Migration Has Begun)

"There is a saying that the world is divided into people who think they are right." (Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance)

Systems Quotes

"One new area of investigation, for example, is how to understand and deal with multiple thresholds that occur at different scales in the ecological and social domains of linked systems, and which give rise to cascading regime shifts." (Brian Walker PhD, Resilience Thinking)

"The speed and magnitude of directional change, environmental and social, are now such that what is needed is continual transformational change in human-dominated systems." (Brian Walker, David Salt, Resilience Practice)

"In this sense, systems thinking is a disciplined approach for examining problems more completely and accurately before acting. It allows us to ask better questions before jumping to conclusions.

Systems thinking often involves moving from observing events or data, to identifying patterns of behavior overtime, to surfacing the underlying structures that drive those events and patterns. By understanding and changing structures that are not serving us well (including our mental models and perceptions), we can expand the choices available to us and create more satisfying, long-term solutions to chronic problems." (thesystemsthinker.com, Systems Thinking: What, Why, When, Where, and How? - The Systems Thinker)

Power and the Role of Individuals in Navigating, Perpetuating, or Resisting Systemic Forces

The Power of the Individual in Systemic Forces

Societies are shaped by systems of power that influence how we think, act, and respond to challenges. Whether in governance, communication, or resilience, understanding the interplay between systemic forces and individual actions is essential. The insights from today’s quotes (see quotes below) provide a lens through which we can explore this dynamic.

Fascism and the Subtlety of Complicity

Robert O. Paxton, in The Anatomy of Fascism, emphasizes the importance of digging down to the level of ordinary people to understand how fascist regimes operate. “To understand fully how fascist regimes worked, we must dig down to the level of ordinary people and examine the banal choices they made in their daily routines.” These “banal choices” often seem insignificant—accepting a lesser evil, averting one’s gaze—but cumulatively, they enable monstrous outcomes.

This observation underscores a central truth: systemic forces thrive on the inertia of everyday actions. Fascist regimes, for example, depend on the demonization of an enemy to mobilize followers. Paxton writes, “Fascists need a demonized enemy against which to mobilize followers, but of course the enemy does not have to be Jewish. Each culture specifies the national enemy.” Recognizing this dynamic challenges us to question the narratives we unconsciously accept and the choices we make in response.

Communication and the Power of Concreteness

In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath remind us of the importance of concrete language: “Concrete language helps people, especially novices, understand new concepts. Abstraction is the luxury of the expert.” This insight is critical when resisting systemic forces, as clarity can break through the fog of misinformation and propaganda that often sustains oppressive systems.

Concreteness is not just a teaching tool—it is a strategy of empowerment. When individuals are equipped with clear, actionable knowledge, they are better positioned to navigate and resist systemic pressures. Abstraction may serve experts, but for systems to change, ideas must resonate with those most affected by them.

Listening as Resistance

In a world that often prioritizes self-promotion, Kate Murphy’s reflection in You're Not Listening feels like a call to action: “In a culture infused with existential angst and aggressive personal marketing, to be silent is to fall behind.” Yet, listening can be a radical act. It shifts the focus from advancing one's agenda to understanding others’ realities.

Listening deeply—to voices marginalized by systemic forces, to ideas challenging the status quo—is a form of resistance. It is a way to question who holds power and to amplify perspectives that might otherwise be ignored.

Systems Thinking and the Critical Role of Transitions

Systems thinkers like Brian Walker and Bob Williams highlight the importance of examining moments of transition within systems. While Walker focuses on the 'back loop' periods—those brief, chaotic moments ripe for change—Williams brings attention to the role of power and decision-making within these transitions, particularly in determining what is prioritized or neglected within a system. Walker writes about the “back loop” periods—brief, chaotic moments where systems are ripe for change. “Almost no research has been done on systems in their brief, chaotic, but critically important back loop periods,” he notes in Resilience Practice.

Brian Walker and David Salt, in their exploration of resilience and systems thinking, delve into the intricate dynamics of change within linked ecological and social systems. They observe, “One new area of investigation, for example, is how to understand and deal with multiple thresholds that occur at different scales in the ecological and social domains of linked systems, and which give rise to cascading regime shifts.” These cascading shifts often emerge during transitional moments, providing individuals with unique opportunities to shape systemic outcomes. By identifying and understanding thresholds—those pivotal points where small actions can trigger significant changes—we can better navigate these critical periods and drive meaningful change.

The Question of Power

Finally, the issue of power is central to systems thinking. Williams and Hummelbrunner write in Systems Concepts in Action, “Systems thinkers began to question who makes those decisions of what is ‘in’ and what is ‘out’; the systems field formally started to address the issue of power.” Power shapes the boundaries of systems, determining which voices are heard and which are silenced.

As individuals, we must recognize where we hold power and where we can challenge its misuse. Whether through rejecting harmful narratives, using clear and concrete communication, or seizing moments of systemic transition, our actions matter.

The Cumulative Power of Individual Actions

Power operates at multiple levels—in regimes, systems, and individual choices. By understanding how systemic forces work and where individuals fit within them, we can navigate, perpetuate, or resist these forces more effectively. The challenge lies in recognizing the role we play in shaping outcomes, whether through what we accept, what we question, or what we choose to change. Even the most entrenched systems rely on the cumulative actions of individuals, and therein lies the potential for transformation. What one step will you take, no matter how small, to resist?

Quotes

"Fascists need a demonized enemy against which to mobilize followers, but of course the enemy does not have to be Jewish. Each culture specifies the national enemy."
(Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism)

"Concrete language helps people, especially novices, understand new concepts. Abstraction is the luxury of the expert. If you’ve got to teach an idea to a room full of people, and you aren’t certain what they know, concreteness is the only safe language."
(Chip Heath, Dan Heath, Made to Stick)

"To understand fully how fascist regimes worked, we must dig down to the level of ordinary people and examine the banal choices they made in their daily routines. Making such choices meant accepting an apparent lesser evil or averting the eyes from some excesses that seemed not too damaging in the short term, even acceptable piecemeal, but which cumulatively added up to monstrous end results."
(Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism)

"In a culture infused with existential angst and aggressive personal marketing, to be silent is to fall behind. To listen is to miss an opportunity to advance your brand and make your mark."
(Kate Murphy, You're Not Listening)

"Almost no research has been done on systems in their brief, chaotic, but critically important back loop periods."
(Brian Walker, David Salt, Resilience Practice)

"One new area of investigation, for example, is how to understand and deal with multiple thresholds that occur at different scales in the ecological and social domains of linked systems, and which give rise to cascading regime shifts."
(Brian Walker PhD, Resilience Thinking)

"systems thinkers began to question who makes those decisions of what is “in” and what is “out”; the systems field formally started to address the issue of power."
(Bob Williams, Richard Hummelbrunner, Systems Concepts in Action)

"In terms of the adaptive cycle (see chapter 4), this is classic K phase behavior in which we are increasingly locked into being more efficient with fewer strategies."
(Brian Walker PhD, Resilience Thinking)

Dancing with Systems: Navigating Complexity for Transformative Change

These systems quotes collectively emphasize the importance of understanding systemic behavior (e.g., delays, nested dynamics, resistance), embracing ambiguity, and fostering iterative learning. They advocate for a perspective that balances analysis with action, recognizing that transformative change requires navigating complexity with vision, adaptability, and respect for the interconnected nature of systems. 

Photo by Alina Grubnyak 

Systems Quotes

"Delays are pervasive in systems, and they are strong determinants of behavior. Changing the length of a delay may (or may not, depending on the type of delay and the relative lengths of other delays) make a large change in the behavior of a system."
–Donella H. Meadows, Thinking in Systems

"Such challenges are often inhibited by individual and organizational ‘defensive routines’, firmly entrenched in minds, setting cognitive and social limits on learning."
–Ben Ramalingam, Aid on the Edge of Chaos

"Defensive routines" is an important concept when it comes to understanding how learning can be inhibited, both individually and organizationally. These routines, as Ben Ramalingam describes in Aid on the Edge of Chaos, are deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and behavior that create cognitive and social barriers to learning.

This idea also reminds me of something I recently came across about organizations exhibiting an "immune response" to resist change efforts. It seems closely related, as both highlight the instinctive resistance to disruption or transformation within systems.

"to date there is a lack of studies that bridge the divide between small case-based interventions and global systems at broader scales, and the complex interactions across scales and processes. This paper works with a leverage points framework to consider systems transformation. It focuses on four individual sustainability interventions in the textile sector and explores how they are embedded within a complex set of nested systems, and how these connected systems shape the transformative potential of the interventions."
–link.springer.com, Processes of Sustainability Transformation Across Systems Scales: Leveraging Systemic Change in the Textile Sector - Sustainability Science

"Understanding processes of systems change therefore requires us to ‘dance with systems’ (Meadows 2001), meaning to learn from and engage with systems through dynamic, rather than static, perspectives, with passion and vision, to understand their functions or purposes and connections, and see how our values and the system properties may interact (Meadows 2011; Constable et al. 2019)."
–link.springer.com, Processes of Sustainability Transformation Across Systems Scales: Leveraging Systemic Change in the Textile Sector - Sustainability Science

Exploring Paradigms: How Societies Decide What to Remember and What to Forget

Societies are shaped not just by the actions of their people but by the invisible frameworks that dictate what can be thought, remembered, and discussed. These paradigms—unwritten rules about what belongs in the social psyche—are influenced by collective anxieties, historical shifts, and the impulses that drive political movements. Examining the works of George Marshall, Heather Cox Richardson, and Robert Paxton reveals how these forces operate and evolve over time.

Denial and Anxiety: The Silent Architects of Paradigms

George Marshall, in Don't Even Think About It, explores how denial and anxiety are deeply interlinked. Societies, much like individuals, repress ideas that they cannot reconcile with their existing worldview. This repression stems from a collective need to avoid anxiety, leading to what could be described as societal cognitive dissonance.

As Marshall writes:
“They have a common basis in the need to avoid anxiety and defend ourselves. From a psychoanalytic perspective, denial and anxiety are closely linked. Things that cannot be assimilated are repressed.”

He builds on Stanley Cohen’s insights about societal agreements:
“Without being told what to think about (or what not to think about), and without being punished for ‘knowing’ the wrong things, societies arrive at unwritten agreements about what can be publicly remembered and acknowledged.”

In this way, controversial or uncomfortable subjects—such as climate change or systemic injustice—become marginalized not through censorship but through collective avoidance, creating a societal paradigm that prioritizes comfort over confrontation and stability over truth, while simultaneously entrenching blind spots that make transformative change more difficult.

Paradigm Shifts: Lessons from the Civil War Era

Heather Cox Richardson provides a contrasting perspective by examining moments when societal paradigms are deliberately reshaped. Writing about the Civil War era, Richardson highlights the transformation driven by the Republican Party under Abraham Lincoln. While the Confederacy sought to entrench hierarchical systems, the Republicans pursued a vision that prioritized the "common man" over established elites.

She explains:
“When the leaders of the Confederacy seceded to start their own nation based in their own hierarchical society, the Republicans in charge of the United States government were free to put their theory into practice. For a nominal fee, they sold farmers land that the government in the past would have sold to speculators; created state colleges, railroads, national money, and income taxes; and promoted immigration.”

These policies, which today might be categorized as social reforms, marked a profound shift in how the United States government engaged with its citizens. Richardson’s account reminds us that societal paradigms are not immutable. With vision and determination, they can be reconstructed to reflect new priorities—even amid deep political division. The Civil War era demonstrates how crises can catalyze the emergence of new frameworks that challenge entrenched hierarchies and expand opportunities.

The Fascist Impulse: Paradigms Rooted in Action

Robert Paxton, in The Anatomy of Fascism, explores another dynamic: the visceral urge that underpins fascist movements. Unlike paradigms that evolve slowly or are reshaped through deliberate action, fascism thrives on immediacy—an impulsive drive to protect and regenerate the nation against perceived threats.

As Paxton explains:
“Fascisms seek out in each national culture those themes that are best capable of mobilizing a mass movement of regeneration, unification, and purity, directed against liberal individualism and constitutionalism and against Leftist class struggle.”

This suggests that fascist paradigms are less about ideology and more about harnessing collective anxieties to spur action. They channel fear and uncertainty into a unifying narrative, often at the expense of individual freedoms and democratic norms.

Tying It Together: The Power and Fragility of Paradigms

Marshall, Richardson, and Paxton each highlight different aspects of how societal paradigms form, endure, or collapse. Marshall shows how denial and repression maintain stability at the cost of progress. Richardson demonstrates how visionary leadership can reshape paradigms to promote equity and opportunity. Paxton warns of the dangers when paradigms become dominated by reactionary impulses rather than thoughtful reform.

These perspectives challenge us to reflect on our own societal frameworks. What ideas are we repressing out of collective anxiety? What opportunities for transformation are we overlooking? And how can we guard against the rise of destructive impulses that exploit our fears?

Understanding how paradigms function is not just an academic exercise—it’s a call to action. By recognizing the invisible rules that shape our collective psyche, we gain the power to question them, reshape them, and, when necessary, break free from them.

Quotes

"they have a common basis in the need to avoid anxiety and defend ourselves. From a psychoanalytic perspective, denial and anxiety are closely linked. Things that cannot be assimilated are repressed. As Stanley Cohen wrote about human rights abuses, “Without being told what to think about (or what not to think about), and without being punished for ‘knowing’ the wrong things, societies arrive at unwritten agreements about what can be publically remembered and acknowledged.”

–George Marshall, Don't Even Think About It

"When the leaders of the Confederacy seceded to start their own nation based in their own hierarchical society, the Republicans in charge of the United States government were free to put their theory into practice. For a nominal fee, they sold farmers land that the government in the past would have sold to speculators; created state colleges, railroads, national money, and income taxes; and promoted immigration."
–heathercoxrichardson.substack.com, December 29, 2023

"Fascisms seek out in each national culture those themes that are best capable of mobilizing a mass movement of regeneration, unification, and purity, directed against liberal individualism and constitutionalism and against Leftist class struggle."
–Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism