this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2024
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Not sure I'd really call this an "enlightened time."
Relative to the 1940s, it is.
I guess it depends on the lense. Accepting various sexually? Sure. Our politics and the general state of things? I wouldn't describe us that way.
Compared to the politics and the general state of the 1940s? I, uh, would very much emphasize that the past is a much uglier place.
For now. There's huge groups of people wanting to make the world 1940 again. And even more idiots that are willing to help.
Do you know what was going on in the first half of the 1940s??
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you're white and male
Bro for real, I need some examples of in which ways are things politically and the general state of things worse. There may be some things that have slightly regressed, but I can only think of 1. In almost all ways things have bettered since the 40s.
Sure, we were just finishing FDR's presidency, where pro worker policies and the war effort helped simulate an economy back to strength. Tax on the wealthy rose to 94% by 1944, allowing a couple solid decades of lower/middle class growth.
Then, in the 70's until now, all of that has steadily come undone as the majority of Americans now struggle to get by. The ultra wealthy scoot on by, paying 15% (if that) and because most of the country struggles to earn a decent wage, taxes aren't paying for upkeep of our infrastructures and our schools are funded less and less.
I don't count this as an enlightened time. I view us living in modern dark ages of feudal lords (ultra rich) and the rest of us serfs.
To be fair, they said 'a more enlightened time', like how my face can be more handsome without me actually being handsome. :|
Times did change though, quite a lot even.
I'm not LGBTQ+ so I can only say what I know from other people. But when you speak to older gay people, boomer gays and such, they tell you awfuly heartbreaking stories.
Of course gays and other LGBTQ+ folx still get hated on and discriminated and there is still a long, long way to go.
But that doesn't change, that nowadays you can publish loveletters of two men, without destroying the lives of each person involved. Back then, the letter writers would have probably ended up in prison and everyone else with knowledge of them or any kind of involvement would loose their jobs and carrers and would have been shunned. Someone responsible publishing them or making a film about them, would probably go to prison too.
So yes. I'd call this a more enlightened time compared to Europe in the 1930'/40's.
The 1920's were starting to become enlightened... which only fueled the facists hate. Were currently in that same situation, but this time we must let the facists know they are weak and wont hurt anymore people this time.
Yeah, not the same thing and a couple decades earlier but Wilde's "De Profundis" is a useful contrast.
I was thinking the same: Made into a book that will be thrown onto a burning pile of woke books if trump wins.
Agreed.
Except it's still a kind of dumb take honestly. Your country has a minority of hateful fucks in positions of power, that can rile up the 30% minority of other hateful fucks that vote them in.
Let alone that, ya know, the rest of the world also exists and is, for the most part, headed in the right direction.
Wait in what world are you living where countries are heading in the right direction? Fascism, ultranationalism and the far right are thriving with no indication of slowing down.
Victoria, Australia. Thinking of changing my birth cert to puppygirl, because legally I can ☺️
10% more enlightened