Live Not By Lies
by Rod Dreher · first published 2020
6mentions
3recommended by
5HN commenters
2021–2024first – last mentioned
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For years, émigrés from the former Soviet bloc have been telling Rod Dreher they see telltale signs of "soft" totalitarianism cropping up in America--something more Brave New World than Nineteen Eighty-Four. Identity politics are beginning to encroach on every aspect of life. Civil liberties are increasingly seen as a threat to "safety". Progressives marginalize conservative, traditional Christians, and other dissenters. Technology and consumerism hastens the possibility of a corporate surveillance state. And the pandemic, having put millions out of work, leaves our country especially vulnerab
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I think there will be a civil war. But I think it will be more of a "cold" civil war with flashes of loosely coordinated and unsanctioned mob violence. Edit: Dreher has an excellent book called "Live not by Lies", that explains a theory of soft totalitarianism. Combined with the devestating power of weapons, the reluctance to use them, the powerful surveillance state, and the strong desire to live in comfort…
on “Half of Americans anticipate a U.S. civil war soon” ↗Thanks to this post I've reread Solzhenitsyn's Live Not by Lies [1]. It is still relevant today as an ethics guide, not only in the context of the Cancel culture. [1] https://www.solzhenitsyncenter.org/live-not-by-lies
on “Why I’m Leaving Mumford and Sons” ↗Take a look at the book Live not by lies to understand what is coming. We used to value truth and individual responsibilities and we are moving in the direction of group/class thinking. Judging people by the ’group’ or race they belong is…
on “Asian-Americans fight back against school discrimination” ↗…reading the bible understanding more about the roots of our culture and seing the constant propaganda against it in the media, the movies, etc. It's been eye opening. Then you can read Atlass shrugged and live not by lies. I used to be very progressive, left leaning, not anymore.
on “Ask HN: What movies changed your perception of reality or life?” ↗…like the Orthodox Christian journalist Rod Dreher, who says very negative things about Trump ("Donald Trump is flat-out lying to manipulate the political process", [0]), but who has also written a book (Live Not By Lies) claiming that American progressivism is evolving into Soviet-style totalitarianism. Getting invited on to Tucker Carlson's show is a pretty clear sign of being welcome by mainstream American conservatism,…
on “Disproportionate amount of bad online behaviour stems from psychological issues” ↗Solzhenitsyn also wrote “An Incident at Krechetovka Station”, “Matryona's Home”, and “Live Not by Lies”.
on “Not Belonging to the World: Hannah Arendt Holds Firm” ↗