Thanks for doing this research. It was hard for me to even open this post: because the title itself offends the sensibilities, but of course, that’s exactly the point I’ve been missing for the two weeks I’ve let this sit in my inbox. Thank you for writing this and reminding us that this evil is not big or explicit, it is small things every day.
This is simultaneously powerful, prophetic, and somehow tender. Well done, Amber! I studied a ton of WWII history back in the day. I imagine it was due to the combination of my love of history, and my first memories being in West Germany, along with living there again in 3rd through 5th grade. I bring that up because one of the most important things I learned as an undergrad studying history was that virtually all the people affiliated with and supportive of Nazi Germany were ordinary people. No different than you and I. Led to where they got by a LONG chain of events (which the Allies were complicit in) that made what happed shockingly understandable. Thank you for naming that so well! I also vividly remember how dehumanization was a powerful tool used by not only Nazi Germany, but the U.S., Japan, and beyond during WWII. Not only did it fire people up, so to speak, it made killing other humans easier. I see, hear, and am not innocent of it in our current political climate. We have work to do, and truth-speakers like you give me great hope! 🫶🏽
You are such a great example of a love warrior. You know from your military service exactly what’s needed to get to a place that killing is easy, but you chose another path. So thankful for you and your example, Lang!
Thank you for this. So well said. A non-profit I help to run is hosting Katherine Stewart next week. She has been such a help in investigative journalism about Christian Nationalism. What you write here complements her work and offers healing and a hopeful, humanizing way forward.
thank you for writing this! The "age-old traps" you are writing about are ones that my team of chaplains are constantly working against. We do our best to try to model humanity, problem-solving and non reactivity as core models. I have grown a lot being in relationship with my interfaith team. <3
Thank you for writing about this subject with so much clarity. You’re correct. We may have easily dismissed this entire chapter of history otherwise. Parallels matter!
Thank you for framing your learnings this way—centering the plank and speck parable approach rather than only throwing stones. A winsome way to draw parallels with the current moment that I hope will bear fruit. I look forward to reading in the weeks ahead.
Thanks for doing this research. It was hard for me to even open this post: because the title itself offends the sensibilities, but of course, that’s exactly the point I’ve been missing for the two weeks I’ve let this sit in my inbox. Thank you for writing this and reminding us that this evil is not big or explicit, it is small things every day.
Thank you for reading and being open to the hard-to-look-at things.
Great insight, poignantly expressed! That’s why I like Man in the High Castle; I thought the show did an excellent job of showing how easy it could be for any of us to tiptoe into evil until we look in the mirror and don’t recognize ourselves https://open.substack.com/pub/holyfoolishness/p/the-nazi-next-door-the-man-in-the?r=47x2cm&utm_medium=ios
This is simultaneously powerful, prophetic, and somehow tender. Well done, Amber! I studied a ton of WWII history back in the day. I imagine it was due to the combination of my love of history, and my first memories being in West Germany, along with living there again in 3rd through 5th grade. I bring that up because one of the most important things I learned as an undergrad studying history was that virtually all the people affiliated with and supportive of Nazi Germany were ordinary people. No different than you and I. Led to where they got by a LONG chain of events (which the Allies were complicit in) that made what happed shockingly understandable. Thank you for naming that so well! I also vividly remember how dehumanization was a powerful tool used by not only Nazi Germany, but the U.S., Japan, and beyond during WWII. Not only did it fire people up, so to speak, it made killing other humans easier. I see, hear, and am not innocent of it in our current political climate. We have work to do, and truth-speakers like you give me great hope! 🫶🏽
You are such a great example of a love warrior. You know from your military service exactly what’s needed to get to a place that killing is easy, but you chose another path. So thankful for you and your example, Lang!
Thank you for this. So well said. A non-profit I help to run is hosting Katherine Stewart next week. She has been such a help in investigative journalism about Christian Nationalism. What you write here complements her work and offers healing and a hopeful, humanizing way forward.
Thank you for reading and for adding the name of another life giving contributor to this conversation. I’m going to look her up!
https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/money-lies-and-god-9781635578546/
thank you for writing this! The "age-old traps" you are writing about are ones that my team of chaplains are constantly working against. We do our best to try to model humanity, problem-solving and non reactivity as core models. I have grown a lot being in relationship with my interfaith team. <3
Thank you for reading! I see so much value in interfaith work. Your contribution to this is as a chaplain is beautiful!
Really appreciate this reflection and am looking forward to the coming posts in this series!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for writing about this subject with so much clarity. You’re correct. We may have easily dismissed this entire chapter of history otherwise. Parallels matter!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for framing your learnings this way—centering the plank and speck parable approach rather than only throwing stones. A winsome way to draw parallels with the current moment that I hope will bear fruit. I look forward to reading in the weeks ahead.
Thank you for reading!