The War on Knowledge

The events that took place in Washington earlier this week chilled the Western world. It showed us just how fragile democracy can be, and how one demagogue could potentially destroy centuries of a carefully constructed ideal.

One of the most alarming elements to come out of the many revelations, was the fact that 45% of the republican party believed that the US election results were fraudulent and that Donald Trump had indeed won the election.

Forty five percent! How is that possible? And how, with such a huge minority refusing to believe the validity of the election, can President Elect Joe Biden ever heal the country’s divisions as he intends to do?

How so many can believe what is a patent untruth is at the heart of what Simon Schama will be speaking about on Sunday. ‘The War on Knowledge’ is his theme and he will be comparing current events with historical incidents to see what we can learn.

The careful manipulation of facts is also to be found in the course that I am running from Wednesday. It is about the seven prophetesses of the Bible. Seen in context, as heroic individuals who changed the course of Israelite history, in the Talmud they get a makeover and end up looking unreliable, vain and provocatively sexual. Donald Trump’s manipulation of the election results had a clear motive. But what motivation did the Rabbis of the Talmud have to denigrate their biblical ancestresses? And can we rehabilitate them? …You will need to join the course to find out!

Simon Schama ‘The War on History’ is at 7.30pm Sunday 10th January. bit.ly/LLP1001SS

Sybil Sheridan ‘The Seven Prophetesses’ runs at 7.00pm on Wednesdays from 13th January – 17th March. bit.ly/TMT1301