Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian executed for resisting Nazism, left an enduring warning about 'willful ignorance'—the deliberate choice to avert one's gaze from truth.
Our cups runneth over Cathie Campbell? Too many irons in the Fire, knowing any choice we decide to confront will be met with a degree of heat…pain.
In our younger days, as children, we may have played with fire. Even when the old wisdom warned us not to. We know of the damage it can do when it’s not in our control. It demanded a level of respect.
Now, as adults, we have to play with the fire. We have to confront its destructive forces until we once again gain control.
“Bonhoeffer's famous assertion that it's not enough to "bandage the victims under the wheel" but to "jam a spoke in the wheel itself" urges us towards proactive, systemic change rather than just reactive charity.”
We certainly live in a time of extreme injustice, between genocide in Gaza and indiscriminate abductions of people off the street by masked goons, both directly supported by the US government. I believe we are experiencing a national malaise as we witness the deep corruption and hatefulness that we seem powerless to stop. The ideals of what America has stood for are being stripped away and what will be left of our proud country if it continues?
I think we all need to stop looking away and trying to lull ourselves into believing it’s going to be fine, that we can just maintain normalcy and somehow things will work themselves out. I think we’re all going to have to make courageous choices that require stepping outside our bubble of security and comfort and “jam a spoke in the wheel of injustice”.
Whatever that means in personal terms for each of us, we need to remember that our Constitution proclaims “consent of the governed” as the source of legitimate authority and power. If we keep looking away and pretend not to see, we will all become subjects of the state, not citizens with rights and freedoms and dignity. I don’t give my consent for the atrocities being committed and supported by this government, using taxpayer dollars. America’s reputation is going down in history much the same way Germany’s once did, but Germany has redeemed itself by admitting its wrongs, educating its citizens, and building memorials not in celebration or pride, but remembrance, to never let it happen again. Will America?
This really resonates with me. I am frustrated that more people aren’t actively speaking out. And it becomes easy to think ‘what I say won’t be heard, it won’t really matter.’
I am always happy to see a new mentioning of the name of this man, this couragious man, who was executed 1 month before the ending of WW2. I strongly support his ideas and I advice every American to wake up and deliver a spoke to the wheel of resistance!
The metasolution is simple: education. We should require at least a half semester each of classical logic and ethics for HS graduation. Substitute this for a year of foreign language. As it is, we don’t teach people how to reason in their own language.
Let’s advocate for it! But Substack is Substack. I have looked into forming a nonprofit. There are some out there already - the author of the Forbes article. Between paying work, I will be researching approach, impact and feasibility.
That’s why schools and banning books are being used to perpetuate this fascist regime. How can a thinking electorate be controlled? It is their greatest fear.
I believe the term for the MAGA movement & cult is, “premeditated ignorance.” Same thing different name. The other strong rationalization for conservatives is “denial.” It’s a strong coping mechanism, the sheer denial is something evil. For example, if they don’t like a reality, then it’s a “Hoax.”
Agreed. I also see MAGA as a form of freeloading. They always want something for nothing. All the benefits of our world class institutions and public services, none of the burdens. They refuse to consider the costs of their own actions, want pardons, and want others to pay. They revel in their own contradictions, various shades of duplicity, from sheep to sycophants to sociopaths. Parasites.
Willful ignorance says it all. Whatever the motive to remain willfully ignorant is, it cowardly and arrogant. I pray my willful ignorance be revealed to me-a prayer to be humbled.
To what extent does Bonhoeffer’s work presage later explorations of cognitive dissonance and its political implications?
Also, to what extent might the phenomenon he observed explain the co-optation of the press, and the role that professional journalists have played in promoting fascism in the U.S. despite their ethical commitments to transparency and accountability? https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/journalism-has-fueled-the-rise-of
PS: the word of the day is “epistemology”. If you don’t know what it is, and how to do it well, you won’t have a good idea of what it means “to know.” RIP Karl Popper.
“a world saturated with information, yet often starved of wisdom and truth”
Our cups runneth over Cathie Campbell? Too many irons in the Fire, knowing any choice we decide to confront will be met with a degree of heat…pain.
In our younger days, as children, we may have played with fire. Even when the old wisdom warned us not to. We know of the damage it can do when it’s not in our control. It demanded a level of respect.
Now, as adults, we have to play with the fire. We have to confront its destructive forces until we once again gain control.
Fight fire with fire…
Excellent article. I found it very validating about how I try and live my life.
“Bonhoeffer's famous assertion that it's not enough to "bandage the victims under the wheel" but to "jam a spoke in the wheel itself" urges us towards proactive, systemic change rather than just reactive charity.”
We certainly live in a time of extreme injustice, between genocide in Gaza and indiscriminate abductions of people off the street by masked goons, both directly supported by the US government. I believe we are experiencing a national malaise as we witness the deep corruption and hatefulness that we seem powerless to stop. The ideals of what America has stood for are being stripped away and what will be left of our proud country if it continues?
I think we all need to stop looking away and trying to lull ourselves into believing it’s going to be fine, that we can just maintain normalcy and somehow things will work themselves out. I think we’re all going to have to make courageous choices that require stepping outside our bubble of security and comfort and “jam a spoke in the wheel of injustice”.
Whatever that means in personal terms for each of us, we need to remember that our Constitution proclaims “consent of the governed” as the source of legitimate authority and power. If we keep looking away and pretend not to see, we will all become subjects of the state, not citizens with rights and freedoms and dignity. I don’t give my consent for the atrocities being committed and supported by this government, using taxpayer dollars. America’s reputation is going down in history much the same way Germany’s once did, but Germany has redeemed itself by admitting its wrongs, educating its citizens, and building memorials not in celebration or pride, but remembrance, to never let it happen again. Will America?
It’s on us, no one is coming to save us.
This really resonates with me. I am frustrated that more people aren’t actively speaking out. And it becomes easy to think ‘what I say won’t be heard, it won’t really matter.’
I am always happy to see a new mentioning of the name of this man, this couragious man, who was executed 1 month before the ending of WW2. I strongly support his ideas and I advice every American to wake up and deliver a spoke to the wheel of resistance!
The metasolution is simple: education. We should require at least a half semester each of classical logic and ethics for HS graduation. Substitute this for a year of foreign language. As it is, we don’t teach people how to reason in their own language.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/helenleebouygues/2022/08/17/critical-skills-not-emphasized-by-most-middle-school-teachers/
Absolutely! If I was still teaching I would do this tomorrow!
Let’s advocate for it! But Substack is Substack. I have looked into forming a nonprofit. There are some out there already - the author of the Forbes article. Between paying work, I will be researching approach, impact and feasibility.
Nice piece.
That’s why schools and banning books are being used to perpetuate this fascist regime. How can a thinking electorate be controlled? It is their greatest fear.
I believe the term for the MAGA movement & cult is, “premeditated ignorance.” Same thing different name. The other strong rationalization for conservatives is “denial.” It’s a strong coping mechanism, the sheer denial is something evil. For example, if they don’t like a reality, then it’s a “Hoax.”
Agreed. I also see MAGA as a form of freeloading. They always want something for nothing. All the benefits of our world class institutions and public services, none of the burdens. They refuse to consider the costs of their own actions, want pardons, and want others to pay. They revel in their own contradictions, various shades of duplicity, from sheep to sycophants to sociopaths. Parasites.
Republicans are in control of their monopoly of their own privilege.
Monopolies are not about choice and stifle innovation.
Monopolies are about death and fossization
Willful ignorance says it all. Whatever the motive to remain willfully ignorant is, it cowardly and arrogant. I pray my willful ignorance be revealed to me-a prayer to be humbled.
Excellent post!
To what extent does Bonhoeffer’s work presage later explorations of cognitive dissonance and its political implications?
Also, to what extent might the phenomenon he observed explain the co-optation of the press, and the role that professional journalists have played in promoting fascism in the U.S. despite their ethical commitments to transparency and accountability? https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/journalism-has-fueled-the-rise-of
PS: the word of the day is “epistemology”. If you don’t know what it is, and how to do it well, you won’t have a good idea of what it means “to know.” RIP Karl Popper.
https://youtu.be/wf-sGqBsWv4?si=uM47pc3ymoCqosU0
Outstanding article and commentary! We are in a teachable moment, and should take full advantage of historical comparisons like this.
Love this, thank you for sharing!
Excellent article - important to read and apply to our current circumstances.