My name is Brent, and this website is my attempt to build a “usable past” for standing up for democracy in a world where authoritarianism seems ascendant.
I’ve found myself drawn to the symbols of World War 2 and the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt. At first my interest was superficial (ie, “Democrats vs. Nazis”), but as I learn more about this era, I’m realizing that the political debates of eighty years still resonate today on an even deeper level (eg “international solidarity in the fight for self-determination”).
I’m also learning more about the post-war Liberal International Order. Flawed as it is, now that it’s morphing into something else, I have a deeper appreciation for what we’re losing.
As I find symbols and stories that inspire me today, I’ll add them to this website.