Apathy vs Anger

~ MaryG

Do you ever wonder what regular old middle class Germans chatted about in say…1935? Did they mostly carry on as if everything was basically OK? Did they politely avoid talking about “politics” in social situations?

It’s definitely getting harder to continue having light, casual conversations with people who are completely unperturbed by what’s happening in our country right now. (You know, those folks who can somehow just ignore an American President who flouts our laws, attacks journalists, outlaws all diversity initiatives, and wants to annex Canada.)

On the other hand, I’m not (yet) up for joining “The Fight” to save our country, which so many of my liberal friends have already embraced wholeheartedly. It all failed so miserably in 2024, I feel like they’re missing something.

I really do wonder about Germany.

Happy-looking members of the “League of German Girls” in 1935 (source: Wikipedia). I wonder what they were hearing at home from their parents.

13 thoughts on “Apathy vs Anger”

  1. I think we all know what those girls were hearing at home.

    As for whether to protest…I understand the feeling that none of it matters. Perhaps it doesn’t. But to me it seems better to do something to resist.

    I wonder how it would be to be a mole in the Trump administration. What do you think?

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    1. Hmmm… I feel like they’re doing all the bad stuff right in front of everybody, so being a mole would be kinda boring. Now if judges start mysteriously disappearing, there might be some intrigue. I am actually worried about their safety—but mostly from his supporters.

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  3. If you have profound questions about Germany in the 1930, ask me, I’m an expert. Because these days the US resembles more and more an authoritarian dictatorship.

    Tourists, even with perfect paperwork are being rejected or held in detention centers by ICE like criminals. Sometimes for weeks. That’s plain crazy. As a European who used to visit the US almost every year, I’m in deep shock. I don’t recognise this country anymore.

    Regarding Germany: You know at the end of WWII a lot of Germans lamented, that they didn’t have a choice, but to follow this evil leader.

    That’s not true, they could have said no at any given moment without consequences.

    The same is true in the US, but from what I hear, the Orange Man has created an atmosphere of fear, intimidation and violence.

    It takes a lot of civil courage – which we see every day – to resist and stand your ground, no matter what.

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      2. Good quote! Europe knows this. I hope they will somehow lead America out of this mess. Boycott us! (I just invested in a European ETF.) It seems weird to root against your own country, but I’m Team Europe/Canada now.

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      3. I love the Canadians and Anti-Orange Man Americans. I think I have to do a post about history again, with a personal story, because standing up is more important than ever.

        Silence is consent with the enemy. Substack is a giant Resistance place. The words of Robert Reich are my daily readings.

        Also Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio Cortez are touring the country drawing huge crowds in.

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      4. I agree about AOC and Robert Reich, but I’ve never been a big Bernie fan. Sadly, I think they are all too far left to ever win nationally, but who knows. (I never thought the far right could take over, but they did.) I like what Pete Buttigieg and Tim Walz have been putting out lately, but we are basically rudderless on the left.

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