Goebbels was not insane. He was very well aware of, and able to interact and behave in a manner that was acceptable according to the cultural standards of the time and place. In/sanity is a cultural construct used to oppress, and Goebbels was most definitely not oppressed. While I understand our cultural tendency to describe horrible people as insane, I respectfully request that we all reconsider, and refrain from doing so. Because when we do, we unintentionally perpetuate harmful cultural assumptions and biases against people whose brains don't work in a way that is considered "normal" by cultural standards. The vast majority of Mad and neurodivergent people are much more likely to be victims of hate and violence rather than perpetrators of it. Collectively, we need to disrupt the common cultural tendency of lumping "insane" people in with those who are intentionally hateful and violent. Unfortunately, I don't know if any good books on the international history of disability, but if you are interested in learning about it and are content to start with US history, this book is excellent: "A Disability History of the United States" by Kim E. Nielsen.
Goebbels' eyes don't look all that friendly or sane in the first photo, either.
Goebbels was not insane. He was very well aware of, and able to interact and behave in a manner that was acceptable according to the cultural standards of the time and place. In/sanity is a cultural construct used to oppress, and Goebbels was most definitely not oppressed. While I understand our cultural tendency to describe horrible people as insane, I respectfully request that we all reconsider, and refrain from doing so. Because when we do, we unintentionally perpetuate harmful cultural assumptions and biases against people whose brains don't work in a way that is considered "normal" by cultural standards. The vast majority of Mad and neurodivergent people are much more likely to be victims of hate and violence rather than perpetrators of it. Collectively, we need to disrupt the common cultural tendency of lumping "insane" people in with those who are intentionally hateful and violent. Unfortunately, I don't know if any good books on the international history of disability, but if you are interested in learning about it and are content to start with US history, this book is excellent: "A Disability History of the United States" by Kim E. Nielsen.