56 Comments
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Gwen Krosnick's avatar

Wow Sara - this made me feel like I was back in school (I love school) in the best way! I loved learning about jeremiads, and your detailed contextualizing is lucid and fascinating. Thank you!!

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Thank you! I definitely take this as a compliment!!

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Mary Nelson's avatar

I concur and would enjoy more posts like this!

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MJ's avatar

Sara: I felt like crap and had a massive headache, but here is a brilliant and insightful piece with historical relevance on current events.

The rest of us: Eating potato chips, drowning sorrows.

(Thanks, lady! So good.)

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Haha thank you. I assure you the rest of the week I was deep in the potato chips and sorrows.

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Shelli Riggs's avatar

This is good and I love learning from you. I’m struggling with anything political or America minded right now.

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Marcy Kelley's avatar

Loved reading this and adore that you are willing to wrap it in a political stance. Well done.

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Thank you!

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Tarini Mohan's avatar

More such posts, please—it was really very insightful. I’m going to share it with fellow politics-addicted friends, who are avoiding political news of late! Can feel free to share since this post isn’t strictly political but focuses on language and rhetoric instead.

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Yes! That’s my expertise so that’s where I feel confident offering commentary. Glad you enjoyed!

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Katie @ Dark Sustenance of Ink's avatar

Yes! I’d love more posts like this in the future, Sara. I’d never heard of this rhetorical form and it was fascinating!

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Thank you!!

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Katie Sweeney's avatar

This was fascinating, Sara. Please keep sharing essays like this to help us better understand the political moment.

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Allison Holt's avatar

I loved this post. This is the kind of analysis that I find fascinating. I hope you do more of these.

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Meeka Charles's avatar

So interesting! As a reader, I love this literary lens and hope you will share more insights like this. You are adding important context that enhances my understanding of events just as a good historian would do.

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Thanks, Meeka! Will do!

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Denise's avatar

I’d love to see more essays like this. Also, I’m calling it right now: you are officially the smartest person on Substack. Thank you for sharing your insights!

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

This is so kind 😭

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Marcia's avatar

More like this, please!

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Lais Coslop's avatar

This is top notch! Please write more about it! :)

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Thank you!

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Noelle's avatar

Really interesting history and what a cool practice--reading speeches. The noted distinction in the speech yesterday is so disturbing, but we need to be aware so we can fight these fascist trends. It all just feels very overwhelming and scary right now.

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Sara Hildreth's avatar

Yes! I completely agree!

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Stephanie's avatar

So interesting! Yes, more of this please!

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Therese Bowes's avatar

Brilliant essay! Please please write more!

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Andrea's avatar

Thanks for this. Definitely interested in more.

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