Seeds Will Grow

Cross-posting the following 10 minute video featuring lessons by scholar of authoritarianism Timothy Snyder, read by John Lithgow. I encourage you to watch it with a small group of family or friends – and then discuss it together. Some discussion points are listed below the video.

20 Lessons on Tyranny

1. Do not obey in advance
2. Defend Institutions
3. Beware the One-Party State
4. Take Responsibility for the Face of the World
5. Remember Professional Ethics
6. Be Wary of Paramilitaries
7. Be Reflective if You Must Be Armed
8. Stand Out
9. Be Kind to Our Language
10. Believe in Truth
11. Investigate
12. Make Eye Contact and Small Talk
13. Practice Corporeal Politics
14. Establish a Private Life
15. Contribute to Good Causes
16. Learn from Peers in Other Countries
17. Listen for Dangerous Words
18. Be Calm When the Unthinkable Arrives
19. Be a Patriot
20. Be as Courageous as You Can

Discussion Questions:

1. Which of these lessons are we already incorporating into our lives and why?
2. Which of these lessons do you not fully understand or want to discuss in more detail? (discuss)
3. Which of these lessons will you try to learn in the days to come?
4. What help do you need from the rest of us now and in the future?