The lack of historical perspective and context among the general public is not a new problem. It might
be at an all-time high today, though I doubt it; the earthly
powers-that-be always have practical reasons for sowing
confusion, and the spiritual Powers-That-Be even more so.
But even if ahistoricism is not setting some kind of new record, many of us have a legitimate
concern that the media narrative currently being pushed on us is profoundly
out of step with reality. Labeling modern conservatives “Nazis”, for instance, is either naive or remarkably devious.
Either way, it is politically
useful. Not accurate, but useful.