The past won't build our future
#252
My Dear Friend of Democracy,
Those who find the present difficult sometimes wish for the past back.
During the pandemic, we thought about the times when we could still meet friends. When there is war, we think back to peaceful times.
In times of uncertainty, change and crisis, nostalgia makes a comeback.
However, there are two simple truths about the past: it will not return, and the past is often painted in rosy colours.
Populists use the latter to win votes. They promise the return of an old world. However, when they come to power and try to establish this old world, the people realise it is less rosy than they thought.
✊ We should learn from the past instead of trying to rebuild it.
See you in Europe,
Johannes
📸 Arosa, Switzerland / 02 November 2024