As I was commenting today on Jess Piper’s Substack (https://substack.com/@jesspiper), my mind drifted to a piece I wrote back in 2006, when I was young and naive.
Outstanding essay Bob, and perhaps more to the point today than when it was written. It is as important to your point that your son and those others who have gone overseas to teach English had to learn another language in order to do so and that learning alone will tend to draw them closer to the people they are living among. When I was learning Spanish, one of my teachers told us that the sign we'd learned the language was when we started thinking in it instead of in English and translating. It is impossible to learn a language without learning something of the culture and history of the people who speak it and this too tends to draw us closer.
Your presentation supports the idea that the Trumpista/MAGA movement is a rearguard action by a dying generation that refuses to let go of outmoded and unsupportable ideas of how the world really works. Possibly the most important line you wrote is the observation that there are ways of progressing, growing, and succeeding that don't involve material gain; some might even argue that these represent the true value of life. We will succeed, possibly not for you, Bill, and I to see it although that would be outstanding, but for our kids, and theirs.
Gee, that felt good. Beautiful sentiments, for sure. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could make the world feel like that again. I think it is possible.
But not until we struggle through the "Great Upheaval" that will follow this Hellish time of hate, intolerance and brutality.
I wonder if Americans will ever achieve the same outrage as the South Koreans? Will the youth of America protest as the MAGA Nazis shred the fabric our democracy, demean the poor, attack the "others"?
Will we all just go quietly into the night as our government is about to be run by completely unqualified fascists? How many will we let suffer before we do what the people of South Korea have done?
Your essay is the very antithesis of "America First".
You're right, Cyndy! Maybe globally it's like the pendulum swings we're experiencing at home. Ours are on a 4 or 8 year cycle. Maybe globally it's more like a generation (20-25 years).
Outstanding essay Bob, and perhaps more to the point today than when it was written. It is as important to your point that your son and those others who have gone overseas to teach English had to learn another language in order to do so and that learning alone will tend to draw them closer to the people they are living among. When I was learning Spanish, one of my teachers told us that the sign we'd learned the language was when we started thinking in it instead of in English and translating. It is impossible to learn a language without learning something of the culture and history of the people who speak it and this too tends to draw us closer.
Your presentation supports the idea that the Trumpista/MAGA movement is a rearguard action by a dying generation that refuses to let go of outmoded and unsupportable ideas of how the world really works. Possibly the most important line you wrote is the observation that there are ways of progressing, growing, and succeeding that don't involve material gain; some might even argue that these represent the true value of life. We will succeed, possibly not for you, Bill, and I to see it although that would be outstanding, but for our kids, and theirs.
Gee, that felt good. Beautiful sentiments, for sure. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could make the world feel like that again. I think it is possible.
But not until we struggle through the "Great Upheaval" that will follow this Hellish time of hate, intolerance and brutality.
I wonder if Americans will ever achieve the same outrage as the South Koreans? Will the youth of America protest as the MAGA Nazis shred the fabric our democracy, demean the poor, attack the "others"?
Will we all just go quietly into the night as our government is about to be run by completely unqualified fascists? How many will we let suffer before we do what the people of South Korea have done?
Your essay is the very antithesis of "America First".
Thanks, Bill! I hope I still have it in me to revel in the belief of what is possible.
I sure hope we can get there again!!! To feel that optimistic about life would be so awesome!
Kamala brought back those feelings for a short while. Here's hoping that the joy & hope will return soon!
You're right, Cyndy! Maybe globally it's like the pendulum swings we're experiencing at home. Ours are on a 4 or 8 year cycle. Maybe globally it's more like a generation (20-25 years).