A quote and two movie recommendations
“Through us, and the church, infinite wrong was done. We accuse ourselves for not standing to our beliefs more courageously, for not praying more faithfully, for not believing more joyously, and for not loving more completely.”
—Martin Niemöller, Evangelical Pastor
Born February 4, 1906, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an evangelical theologian and member of the resistance against the Nazi Party, died in the Flossenbürg concentration camp on April 9, 1945 (translated from German on his memorial plaque). He is a hero and he died a hero’s death. He not only publicly opposed the Nazis but also church leaders who didn’t oppose the Nazis or antisemitism that was ever present in that day.
It makes me wonder if I would have what it takes to stand up against a moral enemy so strong and swift as the rise of the Nazi regime.
Bonhoeffer, his church colleague Niemöller, and several other clergy and theologians deeply regretted the church’s lack of opposition against the known immoral activities of the Nazi party, particularly in its antisemitism.
I recently watched the film Bonhoeffer by Angel Studios and I was impressed. The life story of Bonhoeffer made for a captivating tale and the production quality was excellent, on par with any Scorsese film. I recommend it to all audiences above 13. And that’s not a recommendation like, “If you’re looking for a good flick, check this out,” but rather I urge you to watch this. These stories like Bonhoeffer’s are vital in understanding the horrors mankind is capable of, and the impact a devoted hero can have in standing against.
Following that, I also recommend the film The White Rose (Die Weiße Rose, 1982) for the moving story it tells of a group of students who band together, using their access to printing equipment to spread the truth about the Nazi Party’s early rise to power.
A free course I’m interested in
Listening to Dr. Terry Sejnowski’s interview on the Huberman Lab podcast, I became interested in Sejnowski’s free online course on Coursera, Learning How to Learn. One of the greatest assets I attribute to my education is learning how to learn.
Learning is a process. And that process can be optimized, which requires learning.
For me, it is a mix of different strategies for different scenarios, and knowing how I learn best to accommodate myself.
I am interested in this course and may go through it over the holiday break. Might you be interested in joining me?
An inspiring podcast I listened to
Javier Milei has turned Argentina’s economy around, curbing hyperinflation, since he became president about a year ago. Lex Fridman interviewed him recently and I enjoyed their conversation about Argentina’s past, the rise of socialism – which Milei believes is the inevitable outcome in the absence of capitalism.
What stood out the most to me in this podcast episode was Milei’s quote: “I’m not going to make do with living any way other than with freedom. […] What good is it to be alive if you’re confined?” That resonates with me and I’ve gained a good deal of respect for Milei after listening to this podcast.
Clickbait: Dog swallows squeaky toy
This guy convinces his girlfriend that her dog swallowed a squeaky toy and hilarity ensues. (Although I have suspicions it’s staged.)
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