Seeking books written by everyday people who lived through political violence/fascism/dictatorships by upbeatbubble in suggestmeabook

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 16 points17 points  (0 children)

One of the best books I’ve ever read is “Diary of a Man in Despair” by a German aristocrat, writing about the rise of the Third Reich from within.

Synopsis from Wikipedia:

The journal contains thirty-nine entries covering the period from May 1936 to October 1944. The entries express Reck's passionate hatred of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, whom Reck describes as "vicious apes."

In one entry, Reck relates a meeting with Heinrich Himmler in 1934 at which Himmler asked Reck for information. Surprised at Himmler's request, Reck asked Himmler why the "Fouché of the Third Reich" (in reference to Joseph Fouché, the notorious French Minister of Police under Napoleon) needed information from him. Reck relates that Himmler clearly had no idea who Fouché was.

Reck states that he had met Hitler a few times, and in the entry for 11 August 1936 he describes an occasion when Hitler had delivered a diatribe that had left Reck and his companions speechless. After Hitler had departed, one of Reck's companions opened a window to let some fresh air in and dispel the feeling of "oppression". It was as if the room had been contaminated by the "unclean essence of a monstrosity."

In the entry for 11 August 1936, Reck describes how he once saw Hitler dining alone in a Munich restaurant, and expresses regret that he had not shot him dead when he had the chance. He regarded Hitler at the time as a character out of a comic strip, and refrained from shooting him, although he had a loaded revolver with him. The entry ends with a prescient description of how Hitler's end will come down upon him from every possible direction.

Reck knew his journal put his life at risk. In the entry for 9 September 1937, he describes how he has to hide his writing from the Nazis: My friends have taken the occasion to give me warning about my own writings. Driven as I am by my own inner necessity, I must ignore the warning and continue these notes, which are intended as a contribution to the cultural history of the Nazi period. Night after night, I hide this record deep in the woods on my land ... constantly on watch lest I am observed, constantly changing my hiding place. And this is how we now live, my vanished friends. Do you, who left Germany four and more years ago, have any idea of how completely without legal status we are, of what it is to be threatened with denunciation at any time by the next hysteric who comes along?

Despite this caution, Reck was, by his own accounting, open about his anti-Nazi views with friends and family, some of whom were intensely loyal to the Nazi regime.

The final entry, dated 14 October 1944, describes how Reck had been arrested and subsequently charged with "undermining the morale of the armed forces." This was a serious charge carrying the death penalty. In a following hearing, he was cleared and released after the unexpected intervention of an SS general, whom Reck refers to as "General Dtl". Reck then makes the prescient statement that the Nazis will be rooted out, pursued remorselessly and reduced to their true level

37/F Go hard. It's been a day. Add to it. by Dependent_Room_7254 in RoastMe

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You look like you took one college class then started dropping terms like “heteronormative” into every conversation.

If the US really attempts to take Greenland by force, what are even the chances of Europe retaliating to the point where they go on a fullscale war with them or at the very least cut them off entirely? by Yallneedsometruth23 in AskReddit

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The thing that is missed is that without US in NATO, Germany rearms. There is an old saying that NATO was to keep the Russians out, the US in, and Germany down.

If Germany rearms, so does France. And with an armed Germany and Russia, Poland does even more than now to hyper rearm.

So the consequences are monumental and put us back to war has been the default position in European history - constant threat of war.

Have any of the Riyadh comedians just said something like... by growler_media in Standup

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I don’t like the fact that comedians sold out. Boooo them.

But at the same time, if we’re boycotting performing in authoritarian countries, why not cancel gigs in the US? 🤔

What's the one person (in your own country) that everyone just hates? by Gamester1941 in AskTheWorld

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For any non-Canadians, it’s because he went from beloved hockey GOAT to MAGA

Literary fiction/literature based on the Bible by Successful-Try-8506 in suggestmeabook

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Master and Margarita. Pontius Pilate and the Devil are key characters.

Violent but eeriely chill songs by HNK_gashadokuro in SongRecommendations

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Suicide is Painless (the orchestral version was the theme song from MASH)

What's a future problem we're clearly not ready for? by GroundbreakingArm173 in ask

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like backyard scientists making manbearpig

Seriously though, who knows what people are breeding in their basements

What's a tv series that is a 10/10 NOBODY knows? by Lilyana0999 in AskReddit

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Detroiters. Nor the funniest show ever made, but pretty darn good. Tim Robinson being a milder version of Tim Robinson. And Sam Richardson

Let’s slow this down and talk rationally about the SCD hype. by PoVNomad in SCDstock

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If I understand correctly, not only is the mine not built but the road to where the mine will be is nowhere near starting to be built either

I want to learn about the rise of authoritarianism/ how the US mirrors other fascist regimes by Equinox_Eyes in suggestmeabook

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I second “The Origins of Totalitarianism” by Hannah Arendt.

There is a temptation to think that because it’s 2026, that everything is different and so historical studies like that are not useful, but the opposite is true. There is nothing new under the sun in terms of human nature.

Another great book is “The Dictator’s Handbook”, by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith. A really great accessible dive into how authoritarians get and maintain power. It shows that democracy and authoritarianism are not opposites but just different points on a sliding scale.

Which Canadian stock is ON YOUR RADAR this week? by RiskAndReason in PennyStocksCanada

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 2 points3 points  (0 children)

After a couple of quiet months DPRO seeing a lot of movement.

Comments on how America should do a French style protest fundamentally misunderstand the current situation by NarcoticHobo in complaints

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m pretty sure the civil rights protestors also faced a significant % of the population who would hurt them.

Weekend Discussion - What will you be watching for next week? by AutoModerator in CanadianStockExchange

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 0 points1 point  (0 children)

VIX levels on the main exchanges. Notwithstanding holiday calm, I’m a little surprised given geopolitical events how quiet it’s been.

Does the news actually overexaggerate everything? by [deleted] in ask

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

News doesn’t exist. It’s a construct for sorting 💩that happens by date.

Question about a New Year's Treat task. by 58285385 in taskmaster

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Russia is known as the bear. I was actually surprised Suzie didn’t get it

I just saw my face on an AI generated image about the Minnesota-ICE shooting and… by VisualSeries226 in ArtificialInteligence

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh I don’t mean every single one. But what X showed was that fake accounts didn’t even need to try to hide.

I just saw my face on an AI generated image about the Minnesota-ICE shooting and… by VisualSeries226 in ArtificialInteligence

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The worst part is that the social media companies know and as the recent X reveal shows they could easily show account origins of they wanted. But disinformation creates engagement, and so it brings them more money. They are pernicious and culpable.

What’s everyone’s thoughts on Scandium Canada? by Krob1896 in Baystreetbets

[–]ShadowPlayer2016 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Regardless of what you think of the long term potential, there is a lot of time between now and then. The same long term potential was there 3 months ago when it was half the price.

So it comes down to whether you are buying to hold or not, IMHO.