Read on Twitter
Y'day, Louisa DM'ed me to ask how, in my opinion, Germany overcame its sense of exceptionalism (or, as it was called in the 1930s: the idea of being the master race). I'd like to share my answer w/ you. No doubt, it is incomplete and imperfect. Please, feel free to add.
THREAD
THREAD
Education, leadership, media.
Education is at the heart of everything. Ignorance is at the heart of everything evil. Racism, bigotry, superiority, xenophobia, a belief in a strong leader, an authoritarian rule - all these are ignorant. We must educate, educate, educate.
2/
Education is at the heart of everything. Ignorance is at the heart of everything evil. Racism, bigotry, superiority, xenophobia, a belief in a strong leader, an authoritarian rule - all these are ignorant. We must educate, educate, educate.
2/
Teach people. Teach them to think. Give them opportunities in life. Then they won't follow blindly & they won't blame others for what goes wrong.
Leadership - good leaders lift you up, they don't tell you it's great in the gutter. Encouragement & hope are not populism & cheap
3/
Leadership - good leaders lift you up, they don't tell you it's great in the gutter. Encouragement & hope are not populism & cheap
3/
slogans. We need people who lead by example, who are respectful, explain their decisions (especially the difficult ones) & woo for support. People who are responsible & don't deflect blame when they've made a mistake, but are confident & conscientious enough to learn from it.
4/
4/
Media - I believe until recently we might have underestimated how deeply you can manipulate people's minds. In fact, cognitive research shows that the first statement you come to believe about something is virtually impossible to get rid of. No argument or fact - even if
5/
5/
you're open to it - will truly get rid of it. It is embedded in your mind & what you intuitively resort to. An unbiased, knowledgeable, critical media is essential to provide us with corroborated facts & keep everyone in power honest.
That is my answer. Does it make sense?
END
That is my answer. Does it make sense?
END
