Reminds me of the idea of a "tipping point." When we hit this point, words can really get people moving. This has been true for big changes like revolutions and movements, like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, or Fridays for Future.
Words might not do much without the right situation, like the parent mentioned with Rodeo Drive and Nanterre. But they're still important. They can guide people's anger and unhappiness.
In the case of Weimar Germany, the severe economic instability and social discontent following World War I created a fertile ground for radical ideologies to take root. When these conditions coincided with persuasive rhetoric, it catalyzed significant societal change. So, while words can indeed be powerful, they're often most effective when spoken into pre-existing circumstances of tension or dissatisfaction. They can then direct this latent energy towards a specific course of action or change.
Words might not do much without the right situation, like the parent mentioned with Rodeo Drive and Nanterre. But they're still important. They can guide people's anger and unhappiness.
In the case of Weimar Germany, the severe economic instability and social discontent following World War I created a fertile ground for radical ideologies to take root. When these conditions coincided with persuasive rhetoric, it catalyzed significant societal change. So, while words can indeed be powerful, they're often most effective when spoken into pre-existing circumstances of tension or dissatisfaction. They can then direct this latent energy towards a specific course of action or change.