I think that it's important to remember that in these days of . . . gestures vaguely at . . . everything . . . that there is historical precedent for having some hope that things will get better.
On November 9, 1989:
The fall of the Berlin Wall was a pivotal moment in history that symbolized the end of Cold War-era division and repression in Europe; it led directly to the reunification of Germany and inspired a wave of democratic movements across Eastern Europe. This event demonstrated the collective power of ordinary citizens and transformed the global order by breaking down the barriers—both physical and ideological—between East and West, encouraging greater cooperation, freedom, and openness for millions.
However , also, on November 9, 1938:
Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, was a pivotal, state-orchestrated anti-Jewish pogrom carried out across Nazi Germany on November 9–10, 1938, marking a decisive escalation in Nazi persecution of Jews from discrimination and exclusion to systemic, state-sanctioned violence. Over those two days, more than 1,000 synagogues were burned, around 7,500 Jewish businesses were vandalized, dozens of Jews were murdered, and about 30,000 men were arrested and sent to concentration camps, signaling the start of mass incarceration simply because of their faith. The dramatic destruction, carried out by Nazi paramilitary groups and supported by civilians, shattered any remaining illusions of Jewish safety in Germany, directly foreshadowed the Holocaust to come, and shocked the world with its scale and brutality.
So - you know - we've got both historical precedents covered.
