September 9, 2020

covid-19: day 183 | US: GA | info | act

“ Even a casual scrutiny of history reveals that we humans have a sad tendency to make the same mistakes again and again. We’re afraid of strangers or anybody who’s a little different from us. When we get scared, we start pushing people around. We have readily accessible buttons that release powerful emotions when pressed. We can be manipulated into utter senselessness by clever politicians. Give us the right kind of leader and, like the most suggestible subjects of the hypnotherapists, we’ll gladly do just about anything he wants—even things we know to be wrong.” ” — Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World

I was thinking something similar on my walk this morning. I was in a testy mood after grading all morning.