Ep 725 The Role of Survivors in Moving Past, While Learning From Catastrophes

Ninety seven year old, Robert Jay Lifton, a chronicler of the pain, suffering and anguish of of the catastrophes of the 20th and 21st centuries–Nazi horrors, Hiroshima devastation, and the recent pandemic from Covid-19–as a ‘witnessing writer’ with a perception born of years of study as a pioneer in the field of psycho history, continues his remarkable work to this day.  In his new book “Surviving Our Catastrophes: Resilience and Renewal from Hiroshima to the Covid-19 Pandemic,” he explores the critical role that survivors play in demonstrating the human capacity for collective renewal.  Many struggles to move forward have been borne out of human suffering and significant change often begins with a death encounter.  Such encounters clearly frame moral issues that humanity must wrestle with in order to build more just and tranquil societies. We explore the multiplicity of crises we now face and turn back to discuss how survivors who emerge from what he calls ‘immobilizing victim consciousness’ are able to find meaning and significance in life and provide an invaluable lesson for all of us.

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