I have basically thrown in the towel, having concluded that our country is teetering hopelessly on the brink of annihilation, overthrown by forces of evil and ignorance. That's been my thinking. But I might be wrong about that. I now think we are not there yet. There is a still a glimmer of hope.
We are a smoldering war zone, to be frank, akin to Gaza and Ukraine. But we are not destroyed. Call me Pollyanna, but I am still optimistic that smart, energetic activists can rebuild, in time. I'm just not as confident that the Democratic Party has enough of those smart, energetic activists to get the job done.
Where is Greta Thunberg when we need her? She doesn't sit around bitching and wringing her hands, and pulling her hair out; she gets on the boat and GOES! If we had a few hundred million Greta's over here, angered by what is happening and eager to get on the boat and go, I am convinced we could kick the bad folks out and take back our nation. It could happen tomorrow. IF ONLY...
How about you? Are you bitching and hand-wringing? Or are you ready to get on the boat and go?
I watch very little TV, only an hour or two a day--and that's mostly the news. But I do enjoy Ancient Aliens. Sure, the Martian stuff is interesting to ponder, but I mostly like the connection to ancient history and the way they visit the far corners of the planet to uncover mysteries.
Yesterday I watched an episode dealing with a theory that we are descended from dinosaur-like reptiles...and those humanoid reptilians are believed by some to still be living with us today, deep down under the ground. I mentioned that to someone and they laughed! (Can you believe that? Ha Ha!). She asked why I would waste my time with such silliness. Well, I replied....
It's farfetched, that's true. But fifty years ago I would've said the same about the notion that we the citizens of the United States would willingly hand our country over to a madman cult leader with delusions of dictatorship. Or that mankind would invent artificial intelligence so intelligent that it outsmarts us, renders discerning truth from fiction impossible, and could take over the world and enslave us. Or that we would ever be so gluttonous and consumerist that we would be perfectly willing to let the environment totally disintegrate into extinction right before our very eyes.
So, yes, when I was a kid reading sci-fi, lizard men from Mars would have been about the most preposterous thing I could imagine. But no more.
Immigration. Guns. Covid masks. Vaccines. All of these decisions carry a risk. They could always backfire. Where we invariably disagree is… Should we take our chances by erring on the side of public safety? Or should we err on the side of individual liberty? That is our big political divide and a big driver of the escalating culture war. Personally, I’m for public safety first. And you?
If your personal freedom and liberty endanger other people or cause damage to our country, say goodbye to those freedoms and liberty. Sorry about that.
I’m not particularly interested in whatever Trump and Epstein might have been up to. That’s not for me to judge. What I DO want to know is this: Is Trump honest and telling the truth, or is he a liar? As a voter and a citizen (and, therefore, his boss), that IS my business.
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
Prayers to the friends and family of Charlie Kirk. It is extraordinarily sad that the political and culture wars have reached a point where radicals are assassinating people who say things they don't like. That whole trend disturbs me greatly. It illustrates how easily hateful, provocative speech can lead to violence. That's nothing new; we've known it all along. I just wish every politician and influencer would pause and think before they recklessly poke the bears just to get viewers and votes.
Given my connection in faith to Utah, I subscribe to the print version of the weekly newspaper Deseret News and the magazine. And, given that their reporters were there in that crowd of kids and witnessed the shooting, I feel sure next week's edition will have a full-blown report.
The culture we live in is completely messed up. I can’t do anything about that. So the best I can do is keep my little 15 or 20 acres surrounding where I live as a place of spiritual serenity. It’s like an oasis in the midst of the desert of turmoil. If I could wall it off, I would.
All I can do is keep the bad stuff out and remain true to my own values. Whatever happens outside my oasis is beyond my control. The world out there is full of nutty, violent people, for sure. But I vow to remain above it.
I don't do podcasts or listen to media influencers, so I was only vaguely familiar with Charlie Kirk's message, mostly from hearsay. But I am hearing a lot about him now. My takeaway is this:
From what I'm hearing, he was a positive influence on young people, getting them to think about issues and engage in meaningful discourse. He was able to get his message across in an upbeat, sensible, rational way while actually paying attention to what others might think. We need a lot more of that! So, in that respect, I think he will be sorely missed, especially by young people.
Where I disagree with his approach is that he conflated conservatism with Trumpism and embraced the MAGA movement. Had he stuck to the conservative perspective, I would have been largely with him. But I will never buy into Trump's style, his way of governing, or the non-Christian values he promotes and indoctrinates his followers with. Kirk and I would definitely part ways there.
There are a relatively few violent individuals in our midst who are motivated by either extreme ideas or mental problems, or both. They are few and far between, but when they act, people die. So, where are these individuals getting their inspiration? Answer: From the SAME PLACE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF ORDINARY AMERICANS ARE GETTING THEIR DAILY DOSE OF INFORMATION---FROM BIG MOUTHS WITH BIG MEGAPHONES, BIG FOLLOWINGS, AND EXTREME, LOPSIDED OPINIONS. If that includes you, stop and think. You are in the very same audience as those extremists and nutbags! Is that really where you want to be? If so, don't expect me to pay you any mind. I'm not interested in anyone whose opinions are shaped by big mouths with big megaphones, big followings, and extreme, lopsided opinions. I don't follow them; neither should you.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is 100% on the same page with me. His comments this morning were the most inspiring words I've heard in a long time. I would urge everyone to listen to what he said, ponder those words, and take them to heart. Cox is exactly the sort of leader I stand ready to follow. And, if you read his bio, you'll understand why he is also someone who happens to share my spiritual path as well. America desperately needs more like him.
That being said, my heart bleeds for all those college kids in that arena who had to witness that gruesome shooting first-hand with their own eyes. How traumatic! I pray that they are getting the help they need to get through such a life-changing experience and that they will come out of it better and stronger.
10 comments:
I have basically thrown in the towel, having concluded that our country is teetering hopelessly on the brink of annihilation, overthrown by forces of evil and ignorance. That's been my thinking. But I might be wrong about that. I now think we are not there yet. There is a still a glimmer of hope.
We are a smoldering war zone, to be frank, akin to Gaza and Ukraine. But we are not destroyed. Call me Pollyanna, but I am still optimistic that smart, energetic activists can rebuild, in time. I'm just not as confident that the Democratic Party has enough of those smart, energetic activists to get the job done.
Where is Greta Thunberg when we need her? She doesn't sit around bitching and wringing her hands, and pulling her hair out; she gets on the boat and GOES! If we had a few hundred million Greta's over here, angered by what is happening and eager to get on the boat and go, I am convinced we could kick the bad folks out and take back our nation. It could happen tomorrow. IF ONLY...
How about you? Are you bitching and hand-wringing? Or are you ready to get on the boat and go?
SHIP AHOY, friends!
I watch very little TV, only an hour or two a day--and that's mostly the news. But I do enjoy Ancient Aliens. Sure, the Martian stuff is interesting to ponder, but I mostly like the connection to ancient history and the way they visit the far corners of the planet to uncover mysteries.
Yesterday I watched an episode dealing with a theory that we are descended from dinosaur-like reptiles...and those humanoid reptilians are believed by some to still be living with us today, deep down under the ground. I mentioned that to someone and they laughed!
(Can you believe that? Ha Ha!). She asked why I would waste my time with such silliness. Well, I replied....
It's farfetched, that's true. But fifty years ago I would've said the same about the notion that we the citizens of the United States would willingly hand our country over to a madman cult leader with delusions of dictatorship. Or that mankind would invent artificial intelligence so intelligent that it outsmarts us, renders discerning truth from fiction impossible, and could take over the world and enslave us. Or that we would ever be so gluttonous and consumerist that we would be perfectly willing to let the environment totally disintegrate into extinction right before our very eyes.
So, yes, when I was a kid reading sci-fi, lizard men from Mars would have been about the most preposterous thing I could imagine. But no more.
Immigration. Guns. Covid masks. Vaccines. All of these decisions carry a risk. They could always backfire. Where we invariably disagree is… Should we take our chances by erring on the side of public safety? Or should we err on the side of individual liberty? That is our big political divide and a big driver of the escalating culture war. Personally, I’m for public safety first. And you?
If your personal freedom and liberty endanger other people or cause damage to our country, say goodbye to those freedoms and liberty. Sorry about that.
I’m not particularly interested in whatever Trump and Epstein might have been up to. That’s not for me to judge. What I DO want to know is this: Is Trump honest and telling the truth, or is he a liar? As a voter and a citizen (and, therefore, his boss), that IS my business.
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
Prayers to the friends and family of Charlie Kirk. It is extraordinarily sad that the political and culture wars have reached a point where radicals are assassinating people who say things they don't like. That whole trend disturbs me greatly. It illustrates how easily hateful, provocative speech can lead to violence. That's nothing new; we've known it all along. I just wish every politician and influencer would pause and think before they recklessly poke the bears just to get viewers and votes.
Given my connection in faith to Utah, I subscribe to the print version of the weekly newspaper Deseret News and the magazine. And, given that their reporters were there in that crowd of kids and witnessed the shooting, I feel sure next week's edition will
have a full-blown report.
Peace.
The culture we live in is completely messed up. I can’t do anything about that. So the best I can do is keep my little 15 or 20 acres surrounding where I live as a place of spiritual serenity. It’s like an oasis in the midst of the desert of turmoil. If I could wall it off, I would.
All I can do is keep the bad stuff out and remain true to my own values. Whatever happens outside my oasis is beyond my control. The world out there is full of nutty, violent people, for sure. But I vow to remain above it.
I don't do podcasts or listen to media influencers, so I was only vaguely familiar with Charlie Kirk's message, mostly from hearsay. But I am hearing a lot about him now. My takeaway is this:
From what I'm hearing, he was a positive influence on young people, getting them to think about issues and engage in meaningful discourse. He was able to get his message across in an upbeat, sensible, rational way while actually paying attention to what others might think. We need a lot more of that! So, in that respect, I think he will be sorely missed, especially by young people.
Where I disagree with his approach is that he conflated conservatism with Trumpism and embraced the MAGA movement. Had he stuck to the conservative perspective, I would have been largely with him. But I will never buy into Trump's style, his way of governing, or the non-Christian values he promotes and indoctrinates his followers with. Kirk and I would definitely part ways there.
There are a relatively few violent individuals in our midst who are motivated by either extreme ideas or mental problems, or both. They are few and far between, but when they act, people die. So, where are these individuals getting their inspiration? Answer: From the SAME PLACE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF ORDINARY AMERICANS ARE GETTING THEIR DAILY DOSE OF INFORMATION---FROM BIG MOUTHS WITH BIG MEGAPHONES, BIG FOLLOWINGS, AND EXTREME, LOPSIDED OPINIONS. If that includes you, stop and think. You are in the very same audience as those extremists and nutbags! Is that really where you want to be? If so, don't expect me to pay you any mind. I'm not interested in anyone whose opinions are shaped by big mouths with big megaphones, big followings, and extreme, lopsided opinions. I don't follow them; neither should you.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is 100% on the same page with me. His comments this morning were the most inspiring words I've heard in a long time. I would urge everyone to listen to what he said, ponder those words, and take them to heart. Cox is exactly the sort
of leader I stand ready to follow. And, if you read his bio, you'll understand why he is also someone who happens to share my spiritual path as well. America desperately needs more like him.
That being said, my heart bleeds for all those college kids in that arena who had to witness that gruesome shooting first-hand with their own eyes. How traumatic! I pray that they are getting the help they need to get through such a life-changing experience and that they will come out of it better and stronger.
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