We live in an era of hyperbole. Nuance and moderation are eschewed in favor of superlatives and grandiosity.

A president with a tarnished legacy as a genocide enabler finally accedes to the wishes of his own party not to stand for re-election — after weeks of  stomping and dragging his feet in a bid to stay in power. He knows that in doing so, future students of history may look back on him more favorably.

And for this, he is recognized not for simply doing the righteous thing expected of him, but rather for being a “hero.”

Meanwhile, the genuine humanists of the world who have sought to spare life and ease suffering even in the face of great personal and familial sacrifice and risk — those who have actually earned the laurel — their heroism is basely devalued when such a person as Biden is casually counted as one of them.

We live in an era of hyperbole. Nuance and moderation are eschewed in favor of superlatives and grandiosity.

A president with a tarnished legacy as a genocide enabler finally accedes to the wishes of his own party not to stand for re-election — after weeks of  stomping and dragging his feet in a bid to stay in power. He knows that in doing so, future students of history may look back on him more favorably.

And for this, he is recognized not for simply doing the righteous thing expected of him, but rather for being a “hero.”

Meanwhile, the genuine humanists of the world who have sought to spare life and ease suffering even in the face of great personal and familial sacrifice and risk — those who have actually earned the laurel — their heroism is basely devalued when such a person as Biden is casually counted as one of them.

https://x.com/ezraklein/status/1815087382754160684?s=46&t=hu5xXueIqQScjnSVTaZusg