The thoughts that shape my writing

Fragments of history, reflections on memory, and glimpses of the human thread that runs through it all.

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This journal brings together essays that explore history, thought, and the human stories beneath them. You can read by theme or browse chronologically.

History · Philosophy · Culture

What Has Become Normal
culture John Rees culture John Rees

What Has Become Normal

One of my most read essays in 2025 asked whether political patterns in the United States echoed darker moments in 1930’s Germany. A great deal has happened since then so it seems worth returning to the question to test it.

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Democracy for Sale
culture John Rees culture John Rees

Democracy for Sale

There is a growing unease about the stability of Western democracies. While elections remain intact, money and digital amplification increasingly shape the tone, visibility, and emotional climate of politics long before votes are cast.

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When Power Demands Honour
culture John Rees culture John Rees

When Power Demands Honour

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has handed her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump at the White House, presenting it as recognition of his ‘commitment to Venezuela’s freedom’. The symbolism is elegant. The reality is not.

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The Meaning Wars
culture John Rees culture John Rees

The Meaning Wars

From “fake news” to “special military operations,” this is how political language is quietly reshaped to suit those in power — and why the change matters for how we understand truth and authority.

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