368: What We Make of Them

Guest

None today; just me reflecting on recent events.

Summary

After participating in New York City's "No Kings" march, I reflect on the urgency of defending democracy, drawing parallels between the current political climate and 1930s Germany. A conversation sparked by a protest sign leads me to contemplate his father’s World War II contributions. Later, a chance visit to a bookstore uncovers Remember Us by Robert M. Edsel, deepening my appreciation for those buried at Margraten Cemetery in the Netherlands. The essay ultimately underscores how freedom is built on sacrifice—and how remembering the dead is a civic responsibility, not just a historical ritual.

As you'll hear, this episode is a wonderful example of serendipity.

Three Important Takeaways:

Historical Memory Is a Call to Action:
The march and its signs, especially those invoking fascism, reveal the importance of remaining vigilant against authoritarianism by remembering history and those who resisted it.

Freedom Is Not Just a Word:
The author challenges the overuse of “freedom,” urging a deeper understanding of its cost—measured not only in lives lost but in the potential and beauty those lives might have created.

Remembrance Is a Moral Duty:
Inspired by Dutch citizens who adopt and care for the graves of fallen American soldiers, the author reaffirms the responsibility of the living to honor those sacrifices through both remembrance and action.