Be As Courageous As You Can.

If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Be a Patriot.

Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come.  They will need it. Patriotism means serving the country, not a particular leader.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Be Calm When The Unthinkable Arrives.

Modern tyranny is terror management...remember that authoritarians exploit terrorist attacks to consolidate power, end checks and balances, etc.  Do not fall for it.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Listen for Dangerous Words.

Be alert for the use of the words extremism and terrorism...Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Establish a Private Life.

Tyrants will use what they know about you to push you around.. Email is skywriting.  Have personal exchanges in person. 

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Practice Corporeal Politics.

Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen.  Get outside.  Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people.  Make new friends and march with them.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Make Eye Contact and Small Talk.

This is not just to be polite, but to help break down social barriers, be a responsible citizen, and to stay in touch with your surroundings.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Believe in Truth.

To abandon facts is to abandon freedom.  If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Be Kind to Our Language.

Avoid simply repeating the language and phrases of others.  Use your own words even if you agree with others.  Take time away from the internet.  Read books.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Be Wary of Paramilitaries.

Once men who march with guns, uniforms, and torches have joined forces with the leader (who may have claimed that they oppose the "system"), the end is near.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Remember Professional Ethics.

Judges, lawyers, and others should remain committed to the Rule of Law and to following their professional Codes of Ethics and NOT compromise or allow exceptions to please a tyrant.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Take Responsibility for the Face of the World.

​Remove symbols and signs of hate.  Don't "look past" them.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.

Beware the One-Party State

Do what you can to support and protect the multi-party system that is integral to a liberal democracy.

from Snyder, T. (2017).  On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York:  Tim Dugan Books.