Thread by @suzannezeedyk

THREAD. In my work on the consequences of relational experiences in childhood, I walk a line in which I try to do two things: 1) offer hope &relief &solutions; 2) foster urgency, trying to get us to see uncomfortable insights.
This is a thread on the latter - on fear in America.

2. The much respected voice @umairh has just published this piece: "American Fascism is becoming American Nazism".
You might think: "What?? In America? I know its bad, but its not that bad. The Democrats have just been elected." Think again.

https://twitter.com/umairh/status/1366032933107204100?s=20

3. When I was little, I went through a period where I read everythng I could get my hands on about Nazi Germany. What I was tryng to understnd was how it happened. Why didn't people just stand up to such terrible unfairness? I had to wait a long time to understnd t power of fear.

4. Here is how psycho-historian Robin Grille explains the rise of Nazi Germany: He links it to t authoritarian way in which German parents were advised to raise their childrn: with fear & lack of comfort. Many who read his book find ths idea 'disturbing'. goodreads.com/book/show/1764…

5. Alice Miller also talks a lot about this. "Hitler could make Europe into the battlefield of his childhood because there were millions of people who had experienced the same kind of harsh upbringing he had, denying emotions of need.” marionrose.net/power-in-polit…

6. Robin Grille goes on to say this: Many children in America are being raised on fundamentalst principles, where their need for comfort is denied.
I hv written before about childcare guidance popular in America: "You must reinforce with stinging swats." suzannezeedyk.com/when-do-we-dec…

7. British mother Sophie Blovett has been trying to help others to see the risks of an authoritarian way of relating to children. "We choose not to implore our child to ‘be good’. My parents express disbelief at our choice. He will 'walk all over us'." raisingrevolutionaries.co.uk/2017/05/15/the…

8. If America is morphing, under the influence of the Republican Party, from an authoritarian ethos toward Nazism, then *we need not to live in denial of that*. Leading writer @umairh put it this way: "Let me warn you, as seriously as I can." eand.co/american-fasci…

9. Author Mary Trump @MaryLTrump has worked hard to help t public to see how events in Trump's childhood were fundamental to t unempathic, authoritarian person he became. "She tells her story without exaggeration, allowing events to speak for themselves." scroll.in/article/969138…

10. My point in this thread is not to bemoan Trump's childhood of suffering. Pity is misplaced. Rather, it is to shine a light on America itself: "The reason Republican leaders don’t disavow Trump is because they can’t. They’ll lose grass roots support." eand.co/american-fasci…

11. In 2016, I reached t same territory of thought @umairh is using now. I wrote a piece called "How attachment theory explains Trump's success - and Hitler's too". I felt ill w/ nervousness when I punched 'press'. I was scared I wd be seen as overstating. suzannezeedyk.com/attachment-the…

12. That piece ends with these lines: "Donald Trump is dangerous NOT because he is now the Republican nominee. Donald Trump is dangerous because he legitimises fear....Don't fight Trump. Fight fear."
suzannezeedyk.com/attachment-the…

13/end. I stand by my words: "Fight fear."
Fight against 'methods' of raising & teaching children based in controlling behaviour.
Just get curious about how to listen to feelings. Fear melts away when you feel heard.
Relationships are the source of safety, hurt and healing.

14. ps. Weaving together thoughts like these is always scary for me. Stepping into fear matters when you live in dangerous times.
I also believe LOVE wins. I believe LIGHT outshines the darkness. I believe HOPE is obligatory.
Hope matters because it gives birth to action.