Seamus Reads

The question we’re all dying to know. Or maybe it’s just me.“Too terrible it would be, to be wrong.”Please enjoy “Do Stones Feel?” from Blue Horses. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

For the love of dogs. This poem talks about death.May “Her Grave” keep you company. From Devotions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

A poem about cycles, about the fullness of summer and the ache of the end in the height of ripeness. Please enjoy “The Orchard” from Mary Oliver’s Devotions.Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over the French forces of Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. This battle was significant as it thwarted Napoleon III's attempt to establish an empire in Mexico and provided a morale boost to the Mexican forces, even though a larger French force ultimately defeated the Mexican army later that year.The holiday gained popularity in the United States during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, where it became a symbol of resistance against foreign invasion and a way to link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Mexican heritage. By the 1980s, commercialization by companies, particularly beer companies and restaurants, further popularized the holiday in the U.S.In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is more widely celebrated in the state of Puebla and the neighboring State of Veracruz, where it is marked with historical reenactments, parades, and meals to commemorate the battle. However, it is not a federal holiday in Mexico, unlike Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Spring is well under way and this poem brings us right into the precariousness of caring for new, tender life. Please enjoy “To Shiva” from Mary Oliver’s 2014 collection of poems, Blue Horses. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Welcome to another Monday and another le printemps-themed Mary Oliver poem. I hope you enjoyed some rest last week and have had a moment to get curious about buds, blooms, and the rummaging of birds making nests.Please enjoy “One or Two Things” originally found in Dream Work (1986) and read here from Devotions (2017). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Mary Oliver touches life, death, and the “cycle of time” intimately here in her poem “No Voyage”. Please enjoy.from Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

I am a quiet type – pensive, introverted, “artsy.” When Hannah Gadsby, in the comedy special Nanette (2018), said “My favorite sound in the whole world is the sound of a teacup finding its place on a saucer.” I felt that. So I don’t usually do public displays (although I do love to perform, under the right circumstances), even for things like TDoV. But, this year, I am sharing these poems as a display of resilience, of trans humanity, and of the simple joy of being alive.Please enjoy. Here are the timestamps for quick reference:* 00:00 - 05:35: Preamble* 05:35 - 07:22: ”On Not Mowing the Lawn”* 07:46 - 09:21: ”Wild Geese” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Since I missed last week’s reading, please enjoy these two poems, “North Country” and “Rain,” both by Mary Oliver.This video is long so I am including the timestamps for each poem below:* North Country – (01:18 - 2:50)* Rain – (04:31 - 10:45) **Please note that this poem is both long (in seven parts!) and that section three contains dark content.Both poems reflect the many facets of transformation, and “North Country” is a celebration of the return of Spring. May the return of spring bring you a kind of celebration in your hearts.Welcome to Monday,Seamus This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

From Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver, p. 285. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Good morning and good Monday to you all. This short, meditative poem is from Mary Oliver’s collection, Blue Horses. May it go with you and bolster you with the possibility of “not yet”. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Though we are technically past the half-way point of winter, February often feels like the coldest, bleakest month. I thought this winter meditation, this reminder of the necessity of the dark part of our yearly cycle, could be helpful for those of us who find Winter difficult. This poem comes from Mary Oliver’s self-selected collection of poetry, Devotions, p. 49. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

In Chapter 19, Snyder draws a crucial distinction between nationalism and patriotism, explaining how true patriotism demands holding one's nation accountable to its ideals and universal values, while nationalism promotes an unconditional sense of superiority that paradoxically undermines a nation's actual interests.The following reflection questions invite a conversation between this chapter and the 60th presidential inaugural address, which will be provided in full below. Reading the address in full, and sitting with these questions, may be a heavy cognitive and emotional lift for you right now. I implore you to try, or to at least save this post for later. It is well worth the effort.Reflection Questions:Snyder distinguishes between nationalism and patriotism partly through their different relationships to universal values and ideals. When examining the inaugural address, how do you see these concepts playing out - particularly in its promises about American exceptionalism, territorial expansion, and relationships with other nations? What specific language choices or policy priorities help you identify, and distinguish between, nationalist rhetoric and patriotic values?Both texts engage deeply with the concept of crisis and emergency as political tools. Snyder warns about how manufactured emergencies can enable the consolidation of power, while the inaugural address declares multiple national emergencies and speaks of "liberation." How can you thoughtfully evaluate claims of crisis and emergency while still remaining responsive to genuine threats? What historical examples from either text might help guide this discernment?Snyder claims that patriotism requires "asking us to be our best selves" and judging our nation against universal standards, while the inaugural speech promises a "golden age" marked by American dominance and expansion. Looking at concrete policies proposed in the speech - from border control to energy policy to space exploration - how might we evaluate them using the framework of patriotism versus nationalism Snyder provides? What role do concepts like "manifest destiny" and territorial expansion play in each text's vision of national purpose?The 60th Inaugural Address, Delivered January 20th, 2025Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Senator Thune, Chief Justice Roberts, justices of the United States Supreme Court, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris and my fellow citizens:The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation. And we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud and prosperous and free.America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before. I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country. Sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before.But first, we must be honest about the challenges we face. While they are plentiful, they will be annihilated by this great momentum that the world is now witnessing and the United States of America. As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust. For many years, the radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens. While the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair, we now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad.It fails to protect our magnificent, law-abiding American citizens but provides sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world. We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders, or more importantly, its own people.Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina, who’ve been treated so badly. And other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago. Or more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense. They’re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now. They don’t have a home any longer. That’s interesting.But we can’t let this happen. Everyone is unable to do anything about it. That’s going to change. We have a public health system that does not deliver in times of disaster, yet more money is spent on it than any country anywhere in the world. And we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves, in many cases to hate our country despite the love that we try so desperately to provide to them. All of this will change starting today and will change very quickly.Our recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.Our liberties and our nation’s glorious destiny will no longer be denied and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency and loyalty of America’s government. Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. The journey to reclaim our Republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you. Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.That is why each day under our administration of American patriots, we will be working to meet every crisis with dignity and power and strength. We will move with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety and peace for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. For American citizens, Jan. 20, 2025, is Liberation Day.It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country. As our victory showed, the entire nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda with dramatic increases in support from virtually every element of our society. Young and old, men and women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, urban, suburban and rural. And, very importantly, we had a powerful win in all seven swing states and the popular vote. We won by millions of people.To the Black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote. We set records, and I will not forget it. I’ve heard your voices in the campaign, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come.Today is Martin Luther King Day and his honor — this will be a great honor — but in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true.National unity is now returning to America and confidence and pride is soaring like never before. In everything we do my administration will be inspired by a strong pursuit of excellence and unrelenting success. We will not forget our country. We will not forget our Constitution. And we will not forget our God.Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about common sense. First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted. And we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. Under the orders I sign today we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. And by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities.As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions. And that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Next, I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices. The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices. And that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill.America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have: the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth. And we are going to use it. We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top, and export American energy all over the world. We will be a rich nation again. And it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers. In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your choice. We will build automobiles in America again at a rate that nobody could have dreamt possible just a few years ago. And thank you to the auto workers of our nation for your inspiring vote of confidence. We did tremendously with their vote.I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens. For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our treasury coming from foreign sources.The American Dream will soon be back and thriving like never before. To restore confidence and effectiveness to our federal government, my administration will establish the brand new Department of Government Efficiency.After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I will also sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America. Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents. Something I know something about. We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again. Under my leadership, we will restore fair, equal and impartial justice under the Constitution and the rule of law. And we are going to bring law and order back to our cities.This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit based. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female. This week I will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from the military for objecting to the Covid vaccine mandate with full back pay. And I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty. It’s going to end immediately. Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission—defeating America’s enemies. Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen.We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end. And, perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into. My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be. A peacemaker and a unifier. I’m pleased to say that, as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families.America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world. A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. And we will restore the name of the great President William McKinley to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs. President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.He was a natural businessman and gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal, which has foolishly been given to the country of Panama after the United States — the United States, I mean, think of this, spent more money than ever spent on a project before and lost 38,000 lives in the building of the Panama Canal. We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made. And Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization. So as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success. We will not be deterred. Together, we will end the chronic disease epidemic and keep our children safe, healthy and disease free. The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons. And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.And it’s the lifeblood of a great nation. And, right now, our nation is more ambitious than any other. There’s no nation like our nation. Americans are explorers, builders, innovators, entrepreneurs and pioneers. The spirit of the frontier is written into our hearts. The call of the next great adventure resounds from within our souls. Our American ancestors turned a small group of colonies on the edge of a vast continent into a mighty republic of the most extraordinary citizens on Earth. No one comes close. Americans pushed thousands of miles through a rugged land of untamed wilderness. They crossed deserts, scaled mountains, braved untold dangers, won the Wild West, ended slavery, rescued millions from tyranny, lifted millions from poverty, harnessed electricity, split the atom, launched mankind into the heavens and put the universe of human knowledge into the palm of the human hand. If we work together, there is nothing we cannot do and no dream we cannot achieve.Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am. The American people have spoken. I stand before you now as proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do. In America, the impossible is what we do best. From New York to Los Angeles, from Philadelphia to Phoenix, from Chicago to Miami, from Houston to right here in Washington, D.C., our country was forged and built by the generations of patriots who gave everything they had for our rights and for our freedom. They were farmers and soldiers, cowboys and factory workers, steel workers and coal miners, police officers and pioneers who pushed onward, marched forward and let no obstacle defeat their spirit or their pride. Together they laid down the railroads, raised up the skyscrapers, built great highways, won two world wars, defeated fascism and communism, and triumphed over every single challenge that they faced.After all we have been through together, we stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history. With your help, we will restore an American promise and we will rebuild the nation that we love. And we love it so much. We are one people, one family and one glorious nation under God. So to every parent who dreams for their child and every child to dreams for their future: I am with you, I will fight for you and I will win for you. And we’re going to win like never before.In recent years, our nation has suffered greatly. But we are going to bring it back and make it great again. Greater than ever before. We will be a nation like no other. Full of compassion, courage and exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable.America will be respected again and admired again, including by people of religion, faith and goodwill. We will be prosperous. We will be proud. We will be strong and we will win like never before. We will not be conquered. We will not be intimidated. We will not be broken. And we will not fail.From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign and independent nation. We will stand bravely. We will live proudly. We will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way. Because we are Americans. The future is ours. And our golden age has just begun.Thank you. God bless America. Thank you all. Thank you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Thank you for listening. Here we have Snyder’s final chapter and the epilogue, which I have included together in this final recording.Snyder concludes this short, prescient work by examining how modern democratic societies oscillate between two dangerous ways of rejecting history: the "politics of inevitability" that assumes progress is automatic, and the "politics of eternity" that mythologizes a fictional past of national victimhood. He argues that only by genuinely engaging with history can young (and all) people avoid these traps and take responsible action to preserve democracy.Reflection Questions:Looking at your own understanding of history and current events, how have you seen a national perspective shift between believing progress was inevitable to potentially embracing myths about a "purer" national past? What specific events or experiences have challenged your assumptions about historical progress or national identity?Snyder warns how both the politics of inevitability ("things always get better") and eternity ("we must return to our glorious past") prevent us from taking meaningful action in the present. Think about a current social or political challenge you care about - how might these mindsets be limiting your ability to address it effectively? What would it mean to approach this issue with what the author calls "historical" thinking instead?The book concludes by highlighting how important it is for young people to "begin to make history" rather than accepting either inevitability or eternity. What does it mean to you to be "historical" in this sense? What specific responsibilities might that place on us to understand and engage with both past events and present challenges? How might studying history help us imagine and work toward different possible futures? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Using the 1933 Reichstag fire as a historical touchstone, this passage examines how authoritarian leaders - from Hitler to Putin - manufacture and manipulate terror events (real, questionable, and fake) to consolidate power, demonstrating how calculated exploitation of public fear can transform democratic institutions into tools of oppression.Reflection Questions:The passage describes how terror management relies on exploiting the immediate aftermath of shocking events. How do you distinguish between appropriate security responses to real threats and potential exploitation of fear for political purposes?Snyder suggests that "courage" in the face of terror attacks isn't about not feeling fear, but about recognizing and resisting terror management despite that fear. In your own experience with crisis events, have you seen people balance natural emotional responses with the need to protect democratic institutions? What strategies helped maintain this balance? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Examining Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt's insights on fascism, this passage warns how authoritarian leaders manufacture perpetual states of emergency to trade liberty for false security, while exploring how the label of "extremism" is often weaponized against legitimate dissent to establish and maintain tyrannical control.Reflection Questions:Think about times when you've been asked to sacrifice personal freedoms for promised security - whether in relationships, at work, or in civic life. What helped you distinguish between real and perceived threats? Between actual safety and a sense of comfort?Snyder illustrates how the label of "extremist" often says more about who's doing the labeling than those being labeled. In current political discourse, how do you see this dynamic playing out? How do you determine when opposition to mainstream ideas represents dangerous extremism versus legitimate dissent?Consider the concept of a "state of exception" that becomes permanent. In your own experience, can you identify temporary emergency measures that became normalized over time? How might understanding this pattern help us better evaluate calls for emergency powers or exceptional measures in the future? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Citing various responses to Russian disinformation campaigns in Ukraine, this passage explores how Eastern European observers better anticipated America's vulnerability to similar tactics in 2016, highlighting the crucial importance of learning from other nations' experiences with defending democracy.Reflection Questions:How has exposure to other cultures and political systems (whether through travel, relationships, or media) shaped your understanding of your own society's strengths and vulnerabilities? In what ways might increasing international perspective strengthen rather than weaken democratic institutions?Looking at your own media consumption habits, how do you evaluate information sources' ability to identify and counter disinformation? What lessons might we learn from countries that have longer experience dealing with these challenges?In your own community or country, what blind spots might exist because of a lack of exposure to other nations' struggles with disinformation or democratic backsliding? How might these blind spots be addressed? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Chapter 15 illustrates how everyday civil society and voluntary associations serve as crucial bulwarks against authoritarianism, drawing on historical examples from Eastern Europe. Seemingly non-political activities - from charitable giving to brewing beer - create networks of trust that ultimately strengthen democratic freedom and resist state control.Reflection Questions:The passage suggests that authoritarian regimes are "allergic" to independent civil society organizations. Looking at current events, how might you interpret the relationship between a government's treatment of non-governmental organizations and its commitment to democratic values? What warning signs might we learn to recognize from historical examples?When we think about "resistance to oppression” or “defending democracy,” we often imagine dramatic political actions. Yet this text suggests that simply participating in voluntary associations and maintaining independent social bonds can be a form of resistance. Have you seen this be true in your own life? How might understanding this change the way you view your everyday participation in community life? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Chapter thirteen explores how successful resistance movements, exemplified by Poland's Solidarity movement of 1980-81, require both ideological diversity and physical presence in public spaces, demonstrating that while social media can organize protest, real change demands action in the physical world and the crossing of social boundaries.Reflection Questions:In your own community or social movements you've witnessed, how/have you seen different groups who might normally disagree come together for a common cause? What were the challenges and benefits of these unexpected alliances?As we navigate between digital and physical spaces for activism today, how do you see the balance between online organizing and physical presence playing out? What might be gained or lost when movements remain primarily in digital spaces?The text suggests that privacy and the ability to choose when to be public are fundamental to freedom. In our current era of social media and digital surveillance, how do you think this relationship between privacy and public action has evolved? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

“It's not that I have something to hide. I have nothing I want you to see.” – The Girl, ANONThis chapter examines how the 2016 email leaks demonstrated a dangerous erosion of privacy rights, arguing that when private communications are weaponized as public spectacle, it not only violates individual freedom but also degrades meaningful political discourse into conspiracy-driven sensationalism.Reflection questions:Think about a time when private information about someone (perhaps a public figure, or even yourself) was shared without context - how did this shape your understanding of the situation, and looking back now, what context might have been missing that could have changed the interpretation?The passage suggests that our fascination with "secret" information can distract us from more substantive political issues. Do you notice yourself being drawn by the allure of "behind-the-scenes" revelations in your news/media consumption?What is the distinction between “privacy” and “secrecy”?How do you decide what to keep private versus what to share publicly in your own life, and how has social media affected these decisions? How might these personal choices reflect larger societal patterns discussed in the passage? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Chapter 12 illuminates how simple acts of human acknowledgment became powerful symbols of resistance and solidarity during times of oppression, while emphasizing that friendship and community serve as both refuge and catalyst for positive change.Reflection Questions:Think about a time when you witnessed someone being socially isolated or marginalized in your community - perhaps at work, school, or in public spaces. How did others respond, and what impact did their responses (or lack thereof) have on both the isolated person and the broader social dynamic?The text suggests that maintaining and building relationships is a fundamental act of resistance against oppression. How do your daily interactions either strengthen or weaken the social fabric that protects vulnerable individuals? What small gestures could you incorporate into your routine to actively affirm others' humanity? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Snyder argues that the internet age has transformed our relationship with truth, claiming digital age cynicism and online echo chambers threaten factual journalism. This chapter emphasizes the vital role of professional journalism and individual fact-checking as crucial defenses against misinformation and authoritarian tactics that seek to undermine factual reporting.Reflection Questions:Consider how you navigate two-dimensional online interactions and three-dimensional real-world conversations about current events. What changes when you discuss important topics face-to-face rather than through social media?How often do you pause to verify information before sharing it, and what criteria do you use to determine if a source is trustworthy? Think about how this process has evolved for you over time.How might the tools used by historical figures like Klemperer and Havel - careful documentation, persistent truth-telling, and maintaining independent thought - translate into effective practices in today's digital world? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

What is it from which not even the nervous voice of ambition can shake you? I hope this poem gives you permission to take the wrists of idleness this week and enjoy that which allows you to be, and to be free from the need to produce, perform, or purchase.Bonus Black Oak content: Yosemite Nature Notes 17: Black Oaks Visit the Yosemite National Park siteThis poem comes from Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver, p. 253. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Snyder draws on Klemperer's historical analysis to outline fascism's systematic destruction of truth using four modes: rejection of facts, repetitive propaganda, embracing contradictions, and blind faith in leadership – revealing how modern "post-truth" politics mirrors historical pre-fascist patterns.Reflection Questions:Have you noticed yourself or others making small concessions to ideas you once firmly rejected? How do today's viral phrases and social media patterns mirror the "shamanistic incantation" and stereotype-creation that Klemperer observed in fascist movements?Where do you see examples of "magical thinking" – the acceptance of mutually contradictory claims – in current political discourse and your own media consumption? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

While most European nations and influential figures accommodated Nazi Germany's rise to power, Churchill's steadfast resistance as British Prime Minister in 1940 proved pivotal to the war's outcome, demonstrating how individual courage to stand apart from prevailing attitudes can change history – a principle also exemplified by Teresa Prekerowa, who risked her life to save Jews from the Warsaw ghetto while others looked away.Reflection Questions:How do we reconcile society's tendency to praise historical resisters while often criticizing contemporary voices that challenge prevailing opinions or systems? What makes it easier to recognize moral courage in hindsight than in the present moment?In what ways do modern crises ask us to choose between accommodation and resistance, and how do we determine when taking a stand is necessary? How do we balance personal safety and social acceptance with moral imperatives to act against injustice, particularly when those around us remain passive? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Snyder draws parallels between historical totalitarian events and our modern media landscape, examining how limited vocabulary and screen-dominated information consumption can restrict our ability to think critically and resist propaganda. Reading diverse books (while we still can) remains our best defense against political manipulation and thought control.Reflection Questions:What is your primary source for news? Note the words and phrases that get repeated on the sources you tune into most. How is this shaping your framework and your own available vocabulary to talk about events, concepts, and ideas?One step further: make a list of the common words and phrases you noticed. Then, explain a current event or other news in your own words, without using any of the words/phrases you listed. What did you notice? Books/Essays Listed In This Chapter* Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury* 1984 by George Orwell* The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky* The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera* It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis* The Plot Against America by Philip Roth* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling* "Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell * The Language of the Third Reich by Victor Klemperer* The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt* The Rebel by Albert Camus* The Captive Mind by Czesław Miłosz* "The Power of the Powerless" by Václav Havel * "How to Be a Conservative-Liberal-Socialist" by Leszek Kołakowski* The Uses of Adversity by Timothy Garton Ash* The Burden of Responsibility by Tony Judt* Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning* Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev* The Bible This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

The Great Terror and the Nazi Holocaust, while often attributed to the actions of specialized forces like the NKVD and SS, also relied heavily on regular police to carry out large scale violence. Reflection Questions:How does the revelation that ordinary civil servants and police officers were essential to these atrocities change our understanding of how systemic violence operates in the modern world?Can you think of any “convenient” way the U.S. remembers an historical event (similar to the Holocaust = only the mechanized, impersonal death in the camps)? What purpose do you think the official story/memory serves? What does it “forget”? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Chapter 6 reveals how violent groups can systematically undermine democratic institutions by creating fear, intimidating opponents, and gradually eroding legal norms. Paramilitary organizations historically transform political systems by first challenging, and then penetrating, legitimate institutions of state power.Reflection Questions:How have paramilitary groups in the U.S. branded themselves in the last several years? What is their current relationship to state power (military and police)?Do you think the citizenry has the power to respond to the intimidation tactics used by paramilitary groups? If so, how? What do you think it is about group social dynamics that opens up the potential for ethical norms to be violated or for behavior, like the kind Snyder describes at the political rally, to be allowed and normalized? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Chapter 5 explores the importance of professional integrity during times of crisis. Snyder recounts how professionals like lawyers, doctors, and businessmen became complicit in Nazi atrocities by abandoning their ethical standards and professional integrity. When individuals rationalize unethical actions as necessary or exceptional, systemic violence with far reaching impact can ensue. Reflection Questions:Can you identify professional contexts in which you have witnessed (or participated in) compromising ethical standards, and what rationalizations were used to justify those compromises?How do the professional norms and ethical guidelines in your field create accountability, and what mechanisms exist to prevent the kind of systemic ethical breakdown Snyder describes? Are there any structures in place that can be taken advantage of to implement harmful policies?When faced with directives that contradict fundamental ethical principles, what resources (professional and/or personal) can you draw upon to maintain your integrity and resist potentially harmful systemic pressures? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

This chapter explores how seemingly minor everyday choices and symbols can incrementally enable or resist systemic oppression, demonstrating how individual actions—whether passive acceptance or active complicity—can gradually transform political landscapes.Reflection Questions:What images, slogans, labels, and/or other symbols can you identify that signify loyalty to a particular political idea or group? What kind of message do you think those symbols send to those outside of the group?Have you ever “played the game” Havel describes? What symbols have you displayed or adopted, not because you believed in what they represent, but because it helped keep you from scrutiny or perceived danger? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

This chapter demonstrates how institutions can be systematically dismantled by those in power, using the example of Nazi Germany to illustrate how reasonable people often mistakenly believe established systems will automatically protect them from radical change, even when those in power explicitly announce their destructive intentions. Reflection Questions:Why do you think the Jews in Nazi Germany did not believe the existing institutions and legal protections would/could be changed? Do you see any parallels to events and beliefs in the U.S. today?If you do choose to believe what the current presidential administration is saying about what it will/wants to do regarding current legal protections and political institutions, what do you think is the proper response from citizens? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

This chapter shows how democracies can disintegrate from within when citizens become complacent. The text highlights how seemingly ordinary elections can become turning points that fundamentally transform political systems, using historical examples from Nazi Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Russia to illustrate the fragility of democratic institutions.Reflection Questions:What does it mean that “the manna of popular liberty must be gathered each day or it is rotten” (Wendell Phillips)? What are some specific local or community-level actions that ordinary citizens could take to help preserve democratic processes?How do you think campaign finance practices, gerrymandering, and the resulting unequal representation have made the U.S. vulnerable to tyranny? How can current U.S. citizens ensure that this election is not the last? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

This chapter warns of the dangers of anticipatory obedience, examining how ordinary people can quickly adapt to and comply with new, potentially harmful societal norms. Snyder illustrates this point using historical examples from Nazi Austria and the Milgram experiment.Reflection Questions:Can you see examples of anticipatory obedience in our society today?Are there ways that you are already adjusting in anticipation of recent sociopolitical changes (actions, thoughts, emotions)? What would not obeying in advance look like? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Copyright © 2017 by Timothy Snyder. Published in the United States by Tim Duggan Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com

Welcome to Monday, and our first Mary Oliver poem. It is a gorgeous meditation and a poem that can be found in her collection Blue Horses (2016). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit seamushawkins.substack.com