I refuse to admit to depression in the face of this wild U.S. roller coaster ride. That's what he wants. My fear, of course, is that the roller coaster hasn't been maintained properly and a crash is imminent.
I've been amusing myself reading a history of 14th century Europe. It was a time of petty tyrants, violence, and chaos. The book is "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century" by Barbara W. Tuchman. Fabulous read, albeit a bit slow. I spend a lot of time pulling out my phone to google things like the Beghards, or Charles V. It's quite the learning experience. Why I need to learn anything more is not really clear to me; however, it's fun. (That's the depression I'm pretending not to have speaking. Ignore her).
It's hard to describe why I find this book so comforting. I guess I am reminded that history is cyclical, and time marches on. Things change.
My foray into the 14th Century has been so encouraging, that I just ordered a used hardcopy of "Europe: A History" by Norman Davies. That one goes all the way back to the cave men. I can't wait. I just wish it was available as an ebook. It's 1200 pages, and going to be physically uncomfortable to read.
How do you manage reading actual books that are so darn heavy?
It's really hard not to let what's happening in the States (and around the world) scare you. Really f'n hard.
ReplyDeleteI, too, refuse to give him what he wants and am looking at history and all the evidence of the survival of something powerful in human beings that can't be destroyed by tyrants.
ReplyDeleteI will be full of I-told-you-sos soon. I am hoping that those folks will open their eyes sooner rather than later. I will say that all the hatred is hard to deal with.
ReplyDeleteI've been re-reading books that have been sitting on the top shelves in the spare room and am trying to find my way through primatology and anthropology and the history of patriarchy (my daughter's uni books mostly) and let me tell you the males of our ancestors have not made much of a contribution to human evolution apart from the obvious. We are where we are because our female ancestors figured out how to share, co-parent, fiercely defending their offspring and their survival since the dawn of mammals. Patriarchy is a fairly "new" and unsuccessful concept. There's hope.
ReplyDeleteI try to remember there were periods even worse, more ugly, more painful. It's just moronic to be repeating history.
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