Lesson Nine: Be Kind to Our Language

 Call out the propaganda.

 People believe what they’re told because they are not well read. This chapter is about how to prevent ourselves from falling for propaganda.

People believe what they’re told because they are not well read, they don’t check sources or get multiple sources, and they’ve been conditioned to obey (more on that tomorrow).

Reading expands our vocabulary, increases empathy, and opens our minds. That’s why books are banned, public education is gutted, and teachers are vilified.

 Read books. Real books. 

 There were so many quotes this week from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but have you taken the time to read the speeches, sermons, and letters those quotes are pulled from?

 Everyone likes to quote “1984.” Read it. 

 Read Hannah Arendt’s “The Origins of Totalitarianism."

 Read Bonhoeffer’s “The Cost of Discipleship.”

 Read “It Can’t Happen Here,” by Sinclair Lewis.

 Stop getting news from social media.

 Read the newspaper, one that uses big words. Don’t just read the headlines.

 Read the Bible. Read Genesis and Exodus. Don’t cherry pick. Read them.

 Read the Jesus parts. Read Matthew. Read Luke. Read Mark. Read John.

https://americanwritersmuseum.org/martin-luther-king-jr-quotes-and-speeches/?srsltid=AfmBOoqYbwdVUWxiPcdFkSJuYz9-C14VVqViehC5D4fhb0ketGG3PYtQ

 https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-origins-of-totalitarianism-hannah-arendt?variant=39936636289058

 https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/cost-of-discipleship-dietrich-bonhoeffer-9780684815008?srsltid=AfmBOoosCHpxiScEpXGTjhE4DU1weIqjovw3opZgp4lMFBoqifveraij

 https://bookshop.org/p/books/it-can-t-happen-here-sinclair-lewis/31d990ec9887530c?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_term=aud-1721779758455:dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gbraid=0AAAAACfld40437gSZkTHfg8bXu0sntDlS&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-NHLBhDSARIsAIhe9X01Lvh9jWEWMZw_UJ35-e5N98Vso0osRlN9f-K462g2QonFtePE6L8aAv3ZEALw_wcB

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%201&version=NRSVUE

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%201&version=NRSVUE

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%201&version=NRSVUE

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%201&version=NRSVUE

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john1&version=NRSVUE

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201&version=NRSVUE

This is part 10 of a series inspired by my reading of On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons Learned From the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder as part of my effort to offer Christian insight to those wondering what to do in this moment.