If 2016-2020 gave us a window into what it's like, I would say your last bit isn't quite right:
Authoritarianism rises gradually and relies on people looking away from it, unable to confront inconvenient truths.
I feel like many people paid a lot of attention, and confronted truths, and spoke out about it. Yet, Step C is not so much worse than Step B, and, if you did not risk being shot in the streets at Step B, why should you finally take arms & march at Step C? And so on to Step D.
(Unless in your statement, "relies on people looking away..." refers to a subset of people, not the nation as a whole)
I was not referring to any specific group of people. And you are right, there has been a great deal of attention and action. I think it is a healthy sign and may be a reason for cautious optimism, but this is a continuous effort and we need to remain vigilant.
Mostly I'm reflecting on how I had understood this document previously. I'd read portions before 2016, and I'm now thinking it was not quite precise enough. Maybe I'd revise your statement like this:
Authoritarianism rises gradually and relies on [a critical mass of] people looking away from it, unable to confront inconvenient truths.
The story of Germany paints a picture where no one speaks up. Yet, as we've seen it can still happen with less than universal complicity. As a result I think the lesson shifts.
Authoritarianism rises gradually and relies on people looking away from it, unable to confront inconvenient truths.
I feel like many people paid a lot of attention, and confronted truths, and spoke out about it. Yet, Step C is not so much worse than Step B, and, if you did not risk being shot in the streets at Step B, why should you finally take arms & march at Step C? And so on to Step D.
(Unless in your statement, "relies on people looking away..." refers to a subset of people, not the nation as a whole)