I wish we had a chance to redeem Western Civilization, but the reality is, we don't, and we can't. I read "The Decline of the West" by Oswald Spengler some time ago. He published this work in about 1926. He traces the histories of the world's older civilizations and the reasons for their decline, and compares their trajectories with ours. Even in 1926 he was able to predict the fall of Western Civilization and, with what I think is pretty amazing prescience, suggest that the downward spiral would accelerate after 2000. Think about all that has happened in the last 24 years and see if you don't think his prediction was pretty close to the mark.
The one overriding theme of his work, and there have been others who suggest similar outcomes, is that the decline of the civilization is irreversible and inevitable. We may want to believe we have a chance to turn things around, but we're dreaming. The rot that affects our civilization has taken generations to set in; this stuff didn't change overnight. It stands to reason that any meaningful positive changes that might reverse this decline also would take generations to bear fruit. And, likely as not, this only would be possible after some cataclysmic event that affected huge swaths of the world's populations, something that would completely destroy existing institutions and thereby force us to start anew. Compare where we are now with where the Roman Empire was just before it collapsed. Rampant corruption, lack of moral standards, huge debts caused by endless wars and "bread and circuses" to pacify the masses, etc. Incremental changes will not happen and cannot make any meaningful difference to halt the decline. As you say, all we can do now is position ourselves to survive and take care of ourselves and our families and our closest friends.
It would be wonderful if all this were not true, but we don't live in the world of wonderful any more.
Lily loved your article It's so strange to me how so many intelligent people don't educate themselves to the real issues happening. I guess people like us look at the world through different lens
Well written and despite the detrimental reality, encouragement to keep fighting for freedom regardless. I wonder as others here how little most of our fellow Americans, and humans around the world are educated enough to blink and eye. We’re too busy trying to merely survive and live. Hard to trust most anyone.
Well enumerated list and assessment. It's not surprising to anyone who's been paying attention for the last 30 years, (especially the last 10) to recognize all these indicators of decline and feel deep despair.
Somehow though, it's comforting to read it in print and realize that future generations have a chance to turn it around if they're aware how far we've fallen and desire to once again remake this country into something even better than it was in the 1940s-1970s. Hope you don't mind if I share this article widely.
the essay starts saying that there is no hope, that we need to prepare for "what comes next," yet the final few paragraphs tell us to make our actions count and try to save our culture.
Well written as always Lily. The time of complacency has certainly passed, people need to use their voices now, before they lose those voices forever.
Much appreciation for all your writing!
I wish we had a chance to redeem Western Civilization, but the reality is, we don't, and we can't. I read "The Decline of the West" by Oswald Spengler some time ago. He published this work in about 1926. He traces the histories of the world's older civilizations and the reasons for their decline, and compares their trajectories with ours. Even in 1926 he was able to predict the fall of Western Civilization and, with what I think is pretty amazing prescience, suggest that the downward spiral would accelerate after 2000. Think about all that has happened in the last 24 years and see if you don't think his prediction was pretty close to the mark.
The one overriding theme of his work, and there have been others who suggest similar outcomes, is that the decline of the civilization is irreversible and inevitable. We may want to believe we have a chance to turn things around, but we're dreaming. The rot that affects our civilization has taken generations to set in; this stuff didn't change overnight. It stands to reason that any meaningful positive changes that might reverse this decline also would take generations to bear fruit. And, likely as not, this only would be possible after some cataclysmic event that affected huge swaths of the world's populations, something that would completely destroy existing institutions and thereby force us to start anew. Compare where we are now with where the Roman Empire was just before it collapsed. Rampant corruption, lack of moral standards, huge debts caused by endless wars and "bread and circuses" to pacify the masses, etc. Incremental changes will not happen and cannot make any meaningful difference to halt the decline. As you say, all we can do now is position ourselves to survive and take care of ourselves and our families and our closest friends.
It would be wonderful if all this were not true, but we don't live in the world of wonderful any more.
Lily loved your article It's so strange to me how so many intelligent people don't educate themselves to the real issues happening. I guess people like us look at the world through different lens
Well written and despite the detrimental reality, encouragement to keep fighting for freedom regardless. I wonder as others here how little most of our fellow Americans, and humans around the world are educated enough to blink and eye. We’re too busy trying to merely survive and live. Hard to trust most anyone.
Thank you Lily for continuing to highlight these unfortunate events in such an eloquent and insightful way. 💜💜💜
Well enumerated list and assessment. It's not surprising to anyone who's been paying attention for the last 30 years, (especially the last 10) to recognize all these indicators of decline and feel deep despair.
Somehow though, it's comforting to read it in print and realize that future generations have a chance to turn it around if they're aware how far we've fallen and desire to once again remake this country into something even better than it was in the 1940s-1970s. Hope you don't mind if I share this article widely.
Beautifully encapsulated.
the essay starts saying that there is no hope, that we need to prepare for "what comes next," yet the final few paragraphs tell us to make our actions count and try to save our culture.
Absolutely. There is no hope to avert the collapse. The final part refers to rebuilding afterwards.