Weathering describes the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the surface of the Earth. Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering. (National Geographic Society)
Human Weathering: Repeated exposure to socioeconomic, culminative adversity, political marginalization, racism, and perpetual discrimination can harm health. Discrimination and marginalization can also slowly chip away at one’s health, causing those who are at the receiving end of discriminatory attitudes to age or even die prematurely. (Medical News Today)
I learned a very evil phrase today, called Political Weathering. It is term taken from nature, where rocks and minerals are slowly but surely eroded away. It was a method used by the Fascists in Germany under the Third Reich, in which bit by bit the Nazi’s chipped away at the humanity, of first the German Trans population, then the German Jewish population, eventually aiming this insidious erosion of human lives to the Gypsy’s, the Disabled and the Homosexuals. Hitler and his henchmen understood that by dissolving any positives and sense of equality away from these populations, it would be easier for the rest of the German population to find reason to consider how really rotted and ruined they might be.
The Fascists of American politics, way too many identifying as MAGA/RED STATE GOVERNORS and LEGISLATORS, FOX NEWS MANAGEMENT AND HOSTS, or TRUMPISTS seem, at least as I see it, be very resourceful in taking an evil play from the Fascists of Germany Playbook. Ignoring real issues of economy, health, and welfare, voting rights, climate, the Republicans would rather chip away at Drag Queens/Trans Kids/Jews/People of Color/Immigrants/Women. THE GOP is happy to drain away anything human from this American population.
WEATHERING, just one more reminder that HISTORY is indeed critical, it is CRITICAL that it be read, it be taught, and we learn from it!
