occasional reflections on culture & politics
The possibility of being wrong about the war in Ukraine is considered not as a sign of weakness, but as a moral and intellectual responsibility. The post explores the dangers of false equivalence and the temptation to retreat into neutrality. It argues that acknowledging uncertainty must not lead to passivity or moral relativism. Instead, it calls for clarity in confronting aggression, recognizing the stakes of the conflict, and maintaining a principled stance even amid complexity and doubt.
Commemorating the 1953 East German uprising, the post condemns the GDR as a repressive regime. It honors the courage of protestors and warns against nostalgia for authoritarian systems. The reflection affirms the importance of historical truth and democratic memory.
Russia’s Victory Day celebrations are exposed as glorifications of authoritarianism and historical distortion. The regime weaponizes memory to justify aggression and suppress dissent. True antifascism requires rejecting Putin’s imperial narrative and defending democratic truth.
A direct appeal to Russian citizens to reject the war and reclaim their dignity. The regime’s brutality is not inevitable—it’s a choice. Resistance is possible, and silence is no longer defensible.
Contrary to Putin’s claims, the collapse of the Soviet Union ended a brutal, imperial regime. The USSR was built on repression, genocide, and ideological tyranny. Its fall liberated millions and opened paths to democracy. Nostalgia for it insults the victims of its violence.
History is a tool for understanding—not just remembering. The post calls for better civic education to explain democracy’s value, complexity, and fragility. Without historical context, democratic ideals risk being misunderstood or abandoned.
The binary of left vs. right is historically outdated and conceptually incoherent. The post critiques ideological labeling and calls for multidimensional frameworks that reflect real political complexity. Democracy suffers when nuance is replaced by tribal shorthand.
Leftist thought must reject dogma and embrace ruthless criticism. The post traces Marx’s emphasis on intellectual freedom and warns against utopianism. True progressivism lies in democratic skepticism, not ideological purity. Social democracy, not authoritarian socialism, is the viable path forward.
Erratic Attempts 