Based on your work, I read the book, Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. Actually, it was an audiobook. Well read. And so powerful, that I listened to it the second time immediately after. I learned so much from that book and was stunned at the brutality. And also reminded that such similar dynamics have always been happening. Please keep doing what you’re doing.
I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life, and live in Denver now. My son is in part Native American, and we live near the intersection of Downing and Evans. My college dorm was formerly named after colonel Chivington. My Dad worked at a ranch not far from the Sand Creek site. I know the significance of these men in Sand Creek and the nature of their character. I’m often reminded frequently of our history, the men that made it, and their impact.
And yet, I frequently ride my bike by Silas Soule’s grave. I know the marker in town erected on the site of his assassination. I know the stand he took and its consequences. Thank you for mentioning Cpt Soule, and telling his story as well.
Mr. Tolkien is always a good choice to talk about heroes, darkness, stories, and decisions.
A man of words by choice, and a soldier by circumstance of his times (WW1).
Darkness was well known to him.
I always think Tolkien reflects his own life and experiences in the words of Gandalf on this passage of the Fellowship of the Ring:
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
History is a reminder that more often than not we are affected by things that we can't control (not for us to decide). Still, it is up to us to decide what to do and who to become.
Or sometimes, at least decide whom to not become...
Beautifully said. Keep up the great work. Your methods and style are inspirational. Finding the true story about human behavior and it’s effects definitely can allow us to choose an alternative approach. It’s the little acts of kindness that need to be appreciated!
However, to counter… I feel the job of the storyteller is not just to rake deep into the muck of humanity, but also to serve the beauty of individuals who transcend and surpass this suffering and pain to bring incredible light into this dark world. Just because that’s what other historians focus on, doesn’t mean that you have to.
And I know that you don’t, because we’ve been friends for almost a decade, and I know that you only bring up the dirt to glorify the light. I’m not speaking to you in particular, my brother. But there are many others who need to hear this…
We both know that there is a a lot more to lives of such heroic individuals than ‘pleasant every day experiences’’. In fact, as I follow your stories, I see that most of their lives have been informed by great suffering at the hands of oppressors. Yet they still act as the true heroes of human nature, who sacrifice their own lives, and possibly even their legacies to create this better world.
Need, I remind all that the concept of progress and of a better world was first introduced in the Hebrew Torah , and if you look at every other scriptural text in the world, it’s just a cyclical system of pain unto pain unto pain.
So, while there is no hand of divine justice, coming down to deliver the wicked to their graves, trust me… No one in this world ever gets away with anything. Anything!
And for those of us who have religious faith, or who grew up as a atheistic scientists, and developed religious faith as a result of a lifetimes worth of experiences… I pity those of who don’t, because life must be truly undecipherable to you.
Just a word to the wise…
Finally, to answer your question of why stare into the abyss where sheer terror abounds?
Because that’s not other people, that’s you and me, brother. It’s you and me.
We are the terror and the horror, and the wickedness, and the cruelty, and the selfishness and the self-obsession, and the narcissism, and the violence and the ugliness.
But we are also the medicine…
The same vine of the soul, which stretches into the heavens, also descends into the deepest roots of hell, and we are all wrapped around it at one point or another.
Now, if you want to convince yourself that this look into the abyss is anything more, than being transfixed by the absolute horror of humanity’s darkest moments, then, do so.
And if you manage to transcend that to make something worthy of it, then I admire you. But please don’t fool yourself that what you’re doing is anything more than watching a slow motion car crash, something you can’t take your eyes away from.
There’s nothing noble about it, nor is there any martyrdom involved.
My son is taking IB History and they are also studying El Salvador right now. He doesn’t appreciate it just yet, but I have been sneaking his reading assignments. 😂
Unfortunately knowing history often does nothing to prevent tragedies. Not when there are, as Daniele said, narcissists and evil psychopaths in control and making decisions. The saying should be "Those who study history are unfortunately able to see doom coming, and be powerless to stop it".
Unfortunately, that's also correct. Tragedies will always happen. Hopefully, we personally won't contribute to them, and maybe we can find ways to help ourselves and others if we are caught in the middle of them
Based on your work, I read the book, Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. Actually, it was an audiobook. Well read. And so powerful, that I listened to it the second time immediately after. I learned so much from that book and was stunned at the brutality. And also reminded that such similar dynamics have always been happening. Please keep doing what you’re doing.
thank you!
How many podcasts or audio-books have you listened to more than twice?
No need to answer, but an honest question. Asked because there are few worthy of more then 2x.
I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life, and live in Denver now. My son is in part Native American, and we live near the intersection of Downing and Evans. My college dorm was formerly named after colonel Chivington. My Dad worked at a ranch not far from the Sand Creek site. I know the significance of these men in Sand Creek and the nature of their character. I’m often reminded frequently of our history, the men that made it, and their impact.
And yet, I frequently ride my bike by Silas Soule’s grave. I know the marker in town erected on the site of his assassination. I know the stand he took and its consequences. Thank you for mentioning Cpt Soule, and telling his story as well.
Silas Soule was a prime example of what a hero is
Beautifully said, Daniele. Thank you for bearing witness to history: "the diary of a madman," as someone put it.
Thank you, Chris!
Mr. Tolkien is always a good choice to talk about heroes, darkness, stories, and decisions.
A man of words by choice, and a soldier by circumstance of his times (WW1).
Darkness was well known to him.
I always think Tolkien reflects his own life and experiences in the words of Gandalf on this passage of the Fellowship of the Ring:
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
History is a reminder that more often than not we are affected by things that we can't control (not for us to decide). Still, it is up to us to decide what to do and who to become.
Or sometimes, at least decide whom to not become...
I love that.
Good piece, Daniele. The darkness for sure has notoriety on its side, but everyday beauty and kindness prevail.
I hope so
Beautifully said. Keep up the great work. Your methods and style are inspirational. Finding the true story about human behavior and it’s effects definitely can allow us to choose an alternative approach. It’s the little acts of kindness that need to be appreciated!
thank you!
However, to counter… I feel the job of the storyteller is not just to rake deep into the muck of humanity, but also to serve the beauty of individuals who transcend and surpass this suffering and pain to bring incredible light into this dark world. Just because that’s what other historians focus on, doesn’t mean that you have to.
And I know that you don’t, because we’ve been friends for almost a decade, and I know that you only bring up the dirt to glorify the light. I’m not speaking to you in particular, my brother. But there are many others who need to hear this…
We both know that there is a a lot more to lives of such heroic individuals than ‘pleasant every day experiences’’. In fact, as I follow your stories, I see that most of their lives have been informed by great suffering at the hands of oppressors. Yet they still act as the true heroes of human nature, who sacrifice their own lives, and possibly even their legacies to create this better world.
Need, I remind all that the concept of progress and of a better world was first introduced in the Hebrew Torah , and if you look at every other scriptural text in the world, it’s just a cyclical system of pain unto pain unto pain.
So, while there is no hand of divine justice, coming down to deliver the wicked to their graves, trust me… No one in this world ever gets away with anything. Anything!
And for those of us who have religious faith, or who grew up as a atheistic scientists, and developed religious faith as a result of a lifetimes worth of experiences… I pity those of who don’t, because life must be truly undecipherable to you.
Just a word to the wise…
Finally, to answer your question of why stare into the abyss where sheer terror abounds?
Because that’s not other people, that’s you and me, brother. It’s you and me.
We are the terror and the horror, and the wickedness, and the cruelty, and the selfishness and the self-obsession, and the narcissism, and the violence and the ugliness.
But we are also the medicine…
The same vine of the soul, which stretches into the heavens, also descends into the deepest roots of hell, and we are all wrapped around it at one point or another.
Now, if you want to convince yourself that this look into the abyss is anything more, than being transfixed by the absolute horror of humanity’s darkest moments, then, do so.
And if you manage to transcend that to make something worthy of it, then I admire you. But please don’t fool yourself that what you’re doing is anything more than watching a slow motion car crash, something you can’t take your eyes away from.
There’s nothing noble about it, nor is there any martyrdom involved.
It’s just what we humans do.
It’s what we’ve always done.
“Massacre at El Mozote” is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read.
Agreed. very dark
El Salvador, you say? Very excited for this.
Yes, two episodes. One on Oscar Romero and what happened in the 1970s and one about El Mozote
My son is taking IB History and they are also studying El Salvador right now. He doesn’t appreciate it just yet, but I have been sneaking his reading assignments. 😂
That history is so brutal that it's hard to read
Well said and a question all of us in the history gig ask ourselves. Sorta reminds me of this post I made a few months ago.....https://open.substack.com/pub/terribarnes/p/pondering-the-importance-of-the-past?r=7awpj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you!
Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it, or so the saying goes. 🏛️
indeed
Unfortunately knowing history often does nothing to prevent tragedies. Not when there are, as Daniele said, narcissists and evil psychopaths in control and making decisions. The saying should be "Those who study history are unfortunately able to see doom coming, and be powerless to stop it".
Unfortunately, that's also correct. Tragedies will always happen. Hopefully, we personally won't contribute to them, and maybe we can find ways to help ourselves and others if we are caught in the middle of them
Agreed all around. Reminds me of my favorite quote:
“It is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.” -Albert Camus
Your picture half way through... is that New Zealand? Have you been there, and if so what did you think?
never been