Brian Jopek

Some history on a Saturday.

“When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the German constitution guaranteed freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Through decrees and laws, the Nazis abolished these civil rights and destroyed German democracy. Starting in 1934, it was illegal to criticize the Nazi government. Even telling a joke about Hitler was considered treachery. People in Nazi Germany could not say or write whatever they wanted.” - encyclopedia.ushmann.org
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/nazi-propaganda-and-censorship?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3W1D-J7NnLmgf2HmUuHmVyxnep0GOOrmnuB9hr9Scnm2VwYOP9ig738VQ_aem_UjkrXjtSYG6i-C-gY2AtuA

Nazi Propaganda and Censorship | Holocaust Encyclopedia

Nazi efforts to control forms of communication through censorship and propaganda included control of publications, art, theater, music, movies, and radio.

Holocaust Encyclopedia
Feb 15, 2025 at 4:09pmWeb
Show threadwimvdputteFeb 15, 2025
@BrianJopek - It's the same playbook that Victor Orban is using in Hungary. We've all witnessed the visits of Orban to Mar-a-Lago. This is not coincidence. They streamlined their approach to this and JD Vance telling that the enemy in Europe comes from "within" is correct, but not in the way he's expressing it. The enemy from within are countries like Hungary and (maybe) Italy too.
Show threadVale.ariane73Feb 15, 2025
@BrianJopek
That goes well with this headline
Report: ICE Is Expanding Surveillance of Its Critics on Social Media
It cites “an increase in threats” as the reason for seeking a contractor to monitor the public’s social media activity.
Show threadBeggar MidasFeb 15, 2025
@BrianJopek Everyone who knows already knows. Everyone else is in denial. The usual "can't happen here" or "can't happen to me" denialism that unifies victims across the ages. You gotta break through that somehow else to shake people out of their passivity. Historical analogs have hit their penetration cap for a while now.
I don't have any better answers either. But the folks willing to be moved by historical examples already are, best as I can tell.
Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)Feb 15, 2025
@Beggarmidas @BrianJopek
Yeah, it's tough to figure out what to say. But still, gotta try. And if pointing out historical parallels is all we have, then we do that. Yes, it's highly likely that those who know, know. But for the few left, it still might be helpful.
Show threadBeggar MidasFeb 15, 2025
@kerravonsen @BrianJopek We gotta keep trying, agreed. But we can at least refine our process towards directing our energy most usefully. No point in kicking dead horses, especially as the hour draws nigh. If we don't move soon, say the next five months (give or take) our chances of a successful outcome start dropping dramatically. from about 70% to 40%. 18 months is about all it takes for it to be not zero, but damn close to it. It's never zero. But does approach powerball lottery odds.
Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)Feb 16, 2025
@Beggarmidas @BrianJopek Not zero, agreed. But it might take 48 years.
Show threadBeggar MidasFeb 16, 2025
@kerravonsen @BrianJopek Hard to project beyond a five year horizon with any level of accuracy or specificity. I figure at some point as brain interface technology progresses it'll occur to the authoritarians to have behavior moderation chips installed in the brains of thier people at a certain young age. If something like that trended it could artificially extend authoritarianism as defacto default law of the land (so to speak) for thousands of years.
Show threadJustbeepFeb 15, 2025

@BrianJopek
I can only say: The far right was cheering for #Musk having that talk with #aliceweidel who claimed the #AfD would be 'libertarian' and #Hitler indeed was a #communist . What???
#jdvance promoting cooperation with #AfD, blasted #EU countries in Munich and ran away - from the heat he would have gotten - to also meet #fascist #aliceweidel .

Never ever would I have expected something like that happen! I thought, we all had learned our lesson. 🤮
How could such people get in power?

Show threadStefan SchollFeb 15, 2025
@BrianJopek “The fact that they gave us that [freedom of speech] is, for sure, one proof of how dumb they are!” -- Joseph Goebbels
Show threadJustbeepFeb 15, 2025
@BrianJopek
To be clear: This is not about blaming anyone - especially not you!
I just don't get over this #madness and #insanity happening ... also here in #Germany .
All of a sudden what appeared to be solid ground is turning into swamp. 🤯
Show threadApanFeb 15, 2025
@BrianJopek Terrible, especally considering that Germany now charges it citizens with crimes if you fall their politicians idiots.
Show threadelpolacodesplegadoFeb 15, 2025
@apan
Nope. Gross Misrepresentation of German laws. How do you gain 20% of the vote in polls and have a constant presence on public TV when you are repressed? Stop parroting Vance's lies.
@BrianJopek
Show threadxs4me2Feb 16, 2025

@BrianJopek

Indeed, think about that in the western free world and look around, look at Russia and Belarus, look at Hungary, and... look at the USA...It is time, time to wake up.