" What keeps the world in chains but your beliefs? And what can save the world except your Self? Belief is powerful indeed. The thoughts you hold are mighty, and illusions are as strong in their effects as is the truth. A madman thinks the world he sees is real, and does not doubt it. Nor can he be swayed by questioning his thoughts’ effects. It is but when their source is raised to question that the hope of freedom comes to him at last." - A Course in Miracles
Well said. Remember the days when we earned the right to be respected for our opinion based on merit, not language skills and social media marketing? Now anyone can shoot their mouth off and if it's radical enough and serves a manipulative agenda they get coverage and amplification. So many of our current elected officials have never achieved anything much except spoken well enough and done enough fund raising to get elected. Maybe a college degree or two but not much experience in the the real world and mostly signing the back of checks, not the front. Experience matters.
"Too early to tell." I love the idea of adopting this in more of an ongoing fashion like you are suggesting here.
It reminds me of a saying my dad would employ when we were planning something. "Sounds good," he'd say. "Let's head in that direction."
Rather than confining ourselves to the limited view from where we stood, he was always open to the possibility that we would gain an even better perspective the further down the road we got.
The most subversive aspect of our “rush to judgement” is that the penchant for deconstruction, developed over decades in our universities, enables people to pull down not only the statues of historical giants, but present day leaders as well. Are we any longer able to measure our own experience relative to the sarcastic vitriol against those who may have accomplished much more and are operating at a level far above our own pay grade?
What we’ve lost is the ability to admire. The assertion of celebrity is one reason of course, but I believe it runs deeper. The “level playing field” is only valid when all are respected for their talent, and in any field from politics to literature to sports, the ability to excel is variegated and hierarchical. What rises to the top is not necessarily the cream, but knowing our limits and being free to admire, not envy, is what created some of the greatest art of our civilization and puts the “rush to judgement” you thoughtfully outlined, in proper perspective.
" What keeps the world in chains but your beliefs? And what can save the world except your Self? Belief is powerful indeed. The thoughts you hold are mighty, and illusions are as strong in their effects as is the truth. A madman thinks the world he sees is real, and does not doubt it. Nor can he be swayed by questioning his thoughts’ effects. It is but when their source is raised to question that the hope of freedom comes to him at last." - A Course in Miracles
Well said. Remember the days when we earned the right to be respected for our opinion based on merit, not language skills and social media marketing? Now anyone can shoot their mouth off and if it's radical enough and serves a manipulative agenda they get coverage and amplification. So many of our current elected officials have never achieved anything much except spoken well enough and done enough fund raising to get elected. Maybe a college degree or two but not much experience in the the real world and mostly signing the back of checks, not the front. Experience matters.
You reminded me of something my dad used to say when he watched the news: "That's what they want you to believe!"
"Too early to tell." I love the idea of adopting this in more of an ongoing fashion like you are suggesting here.
It reminds me of a saying my dad would employ when we were planning something. "Sounds good," he'd say. "Let's head in that direction."
Rather than confining ourselves to the limited view from where we stood, he was always open to the possibility that we would gain an even better perspective the further down the road we got.
A needed message in these times Will. Thanks!
The most subversive aspect of our “rush to judgement” is that the penchant for deconstruction, developed over decades in our universities, enables people to pull down not only the statues of historical giants, but present day leaders as well. Are we any longer able to measure our own experience relative to the sarcastic vitriol against those who may have accomplished much more and are operating at a level far above our own pay grade?
What we’ve lost is the ability to admire. The assertion of celebrity is one reason of course, but I believe it runs deeper. The “level playing field” is only valid when all are respected for their talent, and in any field from politics to literature to sports, the ability to excel is variegated and hierarchical. What rises to the top is not necessarily the cream, but knowing our limits and being free to admire, not envy, is what created some of the greatest art of our civilization and puts the “rush to judgement” you thoughtfully outlined, in proper perspective.
Thanks Will, I look forward to your Sunday posts. They leave me lighter and brighter.