So good. This country is getting meaner. It's important not to turn mean with it. Your compassion and empathy inspire me to do better, but I'm sad with what's happening.
I struggle with this too. My way of understanding the world can't be the only one, or the only right one—this in itself is a value I try to live by. Yet it is indeed confusing and infuriating (and, often, frightening) to see SO many folks summing up their views or sympathies with actions like wearing Confederate flags all over their bodies, or outspokenly supporting obvious (to me) fascism. I can't make out how these might contain valid or right anything. And is it fair to assume that just because these folks espouse an evil ideology *I* can see through, they must be stupid or deceived?
I circle back to Marcus Aurelius' point of view on this quite a lot. He was of the opinion that it was best to open every day by thinking: today I will encounter stupidity and disrespect and injustice, etc, entirely because of "the offender's ignorance of what is good or evil."
As I'm writing this, I'm realizing maybe that word I used above, "contain," is the right word—the ideologies we're discussing are evil, but a person is not their ideology. Maybe they DON'T fully comprehend the repercussions of the symbols they feel affinities for, or the political slogans that feel comfortable to them. Maybe they do, and they feel it's a mixed bag: some bad for some ultimate good. Possibly they and I are just never going to agree on what makes a better world.
I came across the viewpoint lately (on Scene on Radio, Season 4, about American democracy) that the very idea of wanting to change the world "for the better" is anathema to some folks. I'm still feeling a bit sideswiped by this. To these folks, the world organizes itself in natural ways (e.g. patriarchy), and I am wrong to want to change those ways by education or legislation. By extension, I guess to them all this talk that feels critically important to me is actually pointless. Things are the way they are. Social justice is not only wrong, because it's against the natural order, it's also long-winded and complicated and stupid.
You know, reading this, I know I rant to my husband a lot about all the wackos out there voting for tRump. But I also have some close relationships to some of them. And thanks to this article I can at least begin to see how those relationships might help keep me balanced a bit. Knowing these people as essentially good people, just what, delusional? But I know they’re looking at the world from a very different angle, which if I’m lucky, might help keep me on my toes. Not sure that makes sense but I ALWAYS enjoy hearing your thought. Looking forward to your poetry readings.
Wasn't it Barbara Kingsolver who said she wakes each morning wanting to be a good animal? I don't get it either- this multigenerational culture of hate that's been nurtured and promoted by shows like Cops, where criminal equals Black, which I did not watch so I did not know which does not let me off the hook.
Because I wanted to be thoughtful in commenting, I waited a bit before writing.
Truly, Chris, I have long been a fan of Merton’s writings, yet I wonder what the fuck is wrong within some humans that their outward display is one of self-centeredness and outright meanness (i.e., evilness??) towards humanity and the animal kingdom. I have posed my view to many others, especially when I hear “we all try to do good and not evil.” I call bullshit.
Then, I think back to wandering the outdoor Buddhist temple and the prayer flag hillside in 2019. Why cannot we (the *humanity* we) figure out how to live peaceably within ourselves and outwardly with others? Beats the hell outta me, Chris.
But this I know: your posts are always brilliantly honest, true to the goodness in you.
Very excited about your Poetry Moment! Did you record your own poems? Favorites by other poets? Or is that for you to know and us to find out? Have added PM to my RSS feed so I don't miss finding out!
So good. This country is getting meaner. It's important not to turn mean with it. Your compassion and empathy inspire me to do better, but I'm sad with what's happening.
I struggle with this too. My way of understanding the world can't be the only one, or the only right one—this in itself is a value I try to live by. Yet it is indeed confusing and infuriating (and, often, frightening) to see SO many folks summing up their views or sympathies with actions like wearing Confederate flags all over their bodies, or outspokenly supporting obvious (to me) fascism. I can't make out how these might contain valid or right anything. And is it fair to assume that just because these folks espouse an evil ideology *I* can see through, they must be stupid or deceived?
I circle back to Marcus Aurelius' point of view on this quite a lot. He was of the opinion that it was best to open every day by thinking: today I will encounter stupidity and disrespect and injustice, etc, entirely because of "the offender's ignorance of what is good or evil."
As I'm writing this, I'm realizing maybe that word I used above, "contain," is the right word—the ideologies we're discussing are evil, but a person is not their ideology. Maybe they DON'T fully comprehend the repercussions of the symbols they feel affinities for, or the political slogans that feel comfortable to them. Maybe they do, and they feel it's a mixed bag: some bad for some ultimate good. Possibly they and I are just never going to agree on what makes a better world.
I came across the viewpoint lately (on Scene on Radio, Season 4, about American democracy) that the very idea of wanting to change the world "for the better" is anathema to some folks. I'm still feeling a bit sideswiped by this. To these folks, the world organizes itself in natural ways (e.g. patriarchy), and I am wrong to want to change those ways by education or legislation. By extension, I guess to them all this talk that feels critically important to me is actually pointless. Things are the way they are. Social justice is not only wrong, because it's against the natural order, it's also long-winded and complicated and stupid.
Be good to each other. Let those words ring loud and clear. Thanks for the read, Chris.
You know, reading this, I know I rant to my husband a lot about all the wackos out there voting for tRump. But I also have some close relationships to some of them. And thanks to this article I can at least begin to see how those relationships might help keep me balanced a bit. Knowing these people as essentially good people, just what, delusional? But I know they’re looking at the world from a very different angle, which if I’m lucky, might help keep me on my toes. Not sure that makes sense but I ALWAYS enjoy hearing your thought. Looking forward to your poetry readings.
Wasn't it Barbara Kingsolver who said she wakes each morning wanting to be a good animal? I don't get it either- this multigenerational culture of hate that's been nurtured and promoted by shows like Cops, where criminal equals Black, which I did not watch so I did not know which does not let me off the hook.
Because I wanted to be thoughtful in commenting, I waited a bit before writing.
Truly, Chris, I have long been a fan of Merton’s writings, yet I wonder what the fuck is wrong within some humans that their outward display is one of self-centeredness and outright meanness (i.e., evilness??) towards humanity and the animal kingdom. I have posed my view to many others, especially when I hear “we all try to do good and not evil.” I call bullshit.
Then, I think back to wandering the outdoor Buddhist temple and the prayer flag hillside in 2019. Why cannot we (the *humanity* we) figure out how to live peaceably within ourselves and outwardly with others? Beats the hell outta me, Chris.
But this I know: your posts are always brilliantly honest, true to the goodness in you.
Peace.
Thanks for sharing. Monday. Friday. It doesn’t really matter. Appreciate your perspective.
Very excited about your Poetry Moment! Did you record your own poems? Favorites by other poets? Or is that for you to know and us to find out? Have added PM to my RSS feed so I don't miss finding out!
I will look forward to hearing your poetry.