It's good to have a way to think about our gut reaction to what's happening in the U.S., both in Washington and in the hinterlands. Grief and anger come first, but they shouldn't be the motivation for how we will deal with these actions. A loving (if possible) "No, we won't let you do this." will bring the best outcome.
You've hit the proverbial nail on the head with this post, Phil. I have long worked at not hating anyone, although I have disapproved of some people. I understand now that is okay to be intolerant of intolerant people without having to hate, which I think of as a destructive force.
I was holding out hope that the Supreme Court would stop the worst of the actions taken by the Master of Intolerance (otherwise known as the person masquerading as the president). I was buoyed by the district and appeals courts that were standing up to him and I had hope for the future. However, that hope has been dashed by several Supreme Court rulings in the last couple of days overturning the district and appeals courts, where normality, humaneness, and common sense seemed to be overtaking the insanity spewing from the administration.
Now I must return to an earlier time when people at least tried to be tolerant as I research and write the biography of a man who was asked for his philosophy of life by his alma mater some 40 years after graduation In a 1953 letter to the university he said in part: "[I have] a fundamental distaste for the pretentious and for pretentions...I dislike slogans, government by pressure groups, ultra-nationalism in any country expressed in terms of superiority or contempt towards the nationals of other countries, or an exaggerated ego on the part of men or women...I believe that a courteous approach, aside from its obvious desirability in itself, usually pays dividends; as does at least an attempt to comprehend one another's problems."
Government by pressure groups, ultra-nationalism forced on others, superiority, and contempt. Who do we know who supports all of that today. A courteous approach and an attempt to comprehend someone else's problems. Who do we know who fails to do that today?
Now. Phil, for a lighter note partially related to hitting the nail on the head. Please keep us up to date on your writing cabin. I have longed for such a small place to write, but my condo association would frown if I built such a structure on their property. Actually, frowning would be the smallest thing they would do. Legal action would be more like it. I could build something like that a mile up the road at my daughter's house, but then the grandkids would just open the door and walk in and then I wouldn't get any writing done, which might be okay, too.
Thank you! i’d been struggling with my intolerance towards the intolerant. No more!!
It's good to have a way to think about our gut reaction to what's happening in the U.S., both in Washington and in the hinterlands. Grief and anger come first, but they shouldn't be the motivation for how we will deal with these actions. A loving (if possible) "No, we won't let you do this." will bring the best outcome.
Thank you for these words of wisdom!
<3
You've hit the proverbial nail on the head with this post, Phil. I have long worked at not hating anyone, although I have disapproved of some people. I understand now that is okay to be intolerant of intolerant people without having to hate, which I think of as a destructive force.
I was holding out hope that the Supreme Court would stop the worst of the actions taken by the Master of Intolerance (otherwise known as the person masquerading as the president). I was buoyed by the district and appeals courts that were standing up to him and I had hope for the future. However, that hope has been dashed by several Supreme Court rulings in the last couple of days overturning the district and appeals courts, where normality, humaneness, and common sense seemed to be overtaking the insanity spewing from the administration.
Now I must return to an earlier time when people at least tried to be tolerant as I research and write the biography of a man who was asked for his philosophy of life by his alma mater some 40 years after graduation In a 1953 letter to the university he said in part: "[I have] a fundamental distaste for the pretentious and for pretentions...I dislike slogans, government by pressure groups, ultra-nationalism in any country expressed in terms of superiority or contempt towards the nationals of other countries, or an exaggerated ego on the part of men or women...I believe that a courteous approach, aside from its obvious desirability in itself, usually pays dividends; as does at least an attempt to comprehend one another's problems."
Government by pressure groups, ultra-nationalism forced on others, superiority, and contempt. Who do we know who supports all of that today. A courteous approach and an attempt to comprehend someone else's problems. Who do we know who fails to do that today?
Now. Phil, for a lighter note partially related to hitting the nail on the head. Please keep us up to date on your writing cabin. I have longed for such a small place to write, but my condo association would frown if I built such a structure on their property. Actually, frowning would be the smallest thing they would do. Legal action would be more like it. I could build something like that a mile up the road at my daughter's house, but then the grandkids would just open the door and walk in and then I wouldn't get any writing done, which might be okay, too.
The gift of common sense. Thank you.
This seems apropos
https://substack.com/@simonpowell1/note/c-104001616?r=3c0is&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Another great message. Thank you Phillip Gulley.
Philip, thanks!