Enjoyed this thought-provoking piece. Very pointed and timely, although perhaps this is part of the human condtion. I will make an effort to think more openly and take a moment, or more, to listen and not just react.
My thoughts came back to your words reading today's 'A thought for today' on Worsmith.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The tragedy in the lives of most of us is that we go through life walking down a high-walled lane with people of our own kind, the same economic situation, the same national background and education and religious outlook. And beyond those walls, all humanity lies, unknown and unseen, and untouched by our restricted and impoverished lives. -Florence Luscomb, architect and suffragist (6 Feb 1887-1985)
Thank you for writing, always about interesting topics, and for the ice cream endorment in this one!
Hi Alice - and thanks for sending along Florence Luscomb's wisdom. Guilty as charged...but I'm working on it. And that ice cream? It's almost worth a trip to Texas.
I’m taking my Resist pin off my coat. Seeing how the good people of Minneapolis have put down their noise makers and started sweet singing outside ICE hotels has touched me. Resistance meets with resistance. It’s love
that people respond to. Kindness of heart and dignity no matter what their beliefs. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”
I just finished listening to "King, a life" by Jonathan Eig. The book came out in 2023 and won a Pulitzer Prize. I'm struggling to see how to apply his ideals of non-violence and inspiration to the situation the country faces today. Dr. King refused to demonize people that opposed him and his movement – people that beat, brutalized and killed peaceful defenseless citizens. Two of the most intelligent men I've ever worked with taught me that everyone's behavior makes sense to them. I interpreted this as a warrant to explain to other people the error of their understanding, and how my understanding was better. I don't think I have actually ever changed anyone's mind, so now I don't try. Occasionally, I feel safe enough to venture my different opinion, and then I usually retreat when the other marches out their facts, and looks at me like I'm slow if I don't agree.
..and I don't know if we have to make it a job to adjust others opinions unless they bring it up like they want to exchange points of view from goodwill..
Great post. Also thank you for including ice cream. Please include ice cream in all of your future posts. I will remind you next time. I agree about coming down into the center of self. I could almost draw a triangle pointed down, with the upper left corner being 'left' and the upper right corner being 'right'. I love how we current humans can only divide ourselves into 2 groups politically because otherwise it's too complicated for us, so a bunch of odds and ends issues have to be sorted into one or the other and if you are 'left' you have to decide to bring along various items to keep the coalition together and same for right. And then you have to be really really mad at the people in the other group. Anyway what I hear you saying is act from the bottom point, the human part where it all starts. If that means march then march. But it also means so much more, it has kindness, it has body, it has touch it has relationship. The upper points have ideas.
Very apt metaphor. (I used to love Blue Bell when I lived in Austin and enjoyed seeing that iconic carton after so many decades.) Good, timely message!
I am the younger brother. Having moved to Dallas almost 20 years ago now I was introduced to Blue Bell's Great Divide and I have shared it with family and friends that have come to visit over the years. It is a treat and quite good. It is really the only local ice cream you can buy in the supermarkets.
Having moved here from Massachusetts, a solid blue state, to Texas, a solid red state, I immediately picked up on the political differences. I learned to get a sense of people and their beliefs and share mine as appropriate. I have always been a good listener and I used this skill here with the hope that others would listen to me with my beliefs. Sometimes this was successful other times perhaps not.
A few years ago some high school friends had a small reunion which has been repeated a couple of times over the last few years. We all went to high school in a conservative town and each of us has grown up and held onto their beliefs or have changed them for various reasons.
We have had some interesting conversations over the years and some have been very political. What is important is the respect that we give to each other. Also, we listen.
Perhaps it is time to respect our neighbors and listen to them. Otherwise, how else are we going to compromise? For only with compromise are we going to be able to move our country forward...
Well said David. Respect for one another and an openness to compromise are important and necessary to move forward. Listening to views we don't hold can be difficult. And not everything is on the table for compromise. But we must start somewhere, as you did by moving from a blue state to a red state and listening before speaking.
Hi Susan,
Enjoyed this thought-provoking piece. Very pointed and timely, although perhaps this is part of the human condtion. I will make an effort to think more openly and take a moment, or more, to listen and not just react.
My thoughts came back to your words reading today's 'A thought for today' on Worsmith.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The tragedy in the lives of most of us is that we go through life walking down a high-walled lane with people of our own kind, the same economic situation, the same national background and education and religious outlook. And beyond those walls, all humanity lies, unknown and unseen, and untouched by our restricted and impoverished lives. -Florence Luscomb, architect and suffragist (6 Feb 1887-1985)
Thank you for writing, always about interesting topics, and for the ice cream endorment in this one!
Hi Alice - and thanks for sending along Florence Luscomb's wisdom. Guilty as charged...but I'm working on it. And that ice cream? It's almost worth a trip to Texas.
I love this advice: " I also know – as one of my former priests likes to say – that the people who are not like us are still people, like us."
Me, too.
I’m taking my Resist pin off my coat. Seeing how the good people of Minneapolis have put down their noise makers and started sweet singing outside ICE hotels has touched me. Resistance meets with resistance. It’s love
that people respond to. Kindness of heart and dignity no matter what their beliefs. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”
Thank you, Maggy. People do respond to love.
Dallas sounds like a tough place to live if you're watching your calories.
Ha! You are so right! The ice cream, BBQ, Tex-Mex...and don't get me started on the food at the State Fair!
So true, Susan. I do think that both sides need to give each other a little grace, though.
A little bit of grace goes a long way, Maura. You know this because you've experienced it, as have I.
I just finished listening to "King, a life" by Jonathan Eig. The book came out in 2023 and won a Pulitzer Prize. I'm struggling to see how to apply his ideals of non-violence and inspiration to the situation the country faces today. Dr. King refused to demonize people that opposed him and his movement – people that beat, brutalized and killed peaceful defenseless citizens. Two of the most intelligent men I've ever worked with taught me that everyone's behavior makes sense to them. I interpreted this as a warrant to explain to other people the error of their understanding, and how my understanding was better. I don't think I have actually ever changed anyone's mind, so now I don't try. Occasionally, I feel safe enough to venture my different opinion, and then I usually retreat when the other marches out their facts, and looks at me like I'm slow if I don't agree.
Everyone's behavior does make sense to them. That's the point. Acknowledge it. Don't fixate on changing it.
..and I don't know if we have to make it a job to adjust others opinions unless they bring it up like they want to exchange points of view from goodwill..
Right on! I used to be very interested in being right. Not so much anymore…
An exchange, yes. Not a battle for who's superior and why.
Wow! You start with ice cream and end with a Susan I’ve never met!!!
Crusty Susan- clever and feisty always looking to stir the pot!
No worries, pal. Kind people can be clever and feisty!
Which Susan do you know?
Great post. Also thank you for including ice cream. Please include ice cream in all of your future posts. I will remind you next time. I agree about coming down into the center of self. I could almost draw a triangle pointed down, with the upper left corner being 'left' and the upper right corner being 'right'. I love how we current humans can only divide ourselves into 2 groups politically because otherwise it's too complicated for us, so a bunch of odds and ends issues have to be sorted into one or the other and if you are 'left' you have to decide to bring along various items to keep the coalition together and same for right. And then you have to be really really mad at the people in the other group. Anyway what I hear you saying is act from the bottom point, the human part where it all starts. If that means march then march. But it also means so much more, it has kindness, it has body, it has touch it has relationship. The upper points have ideas.
Yes, Joel. We need more triangles! As for ice cream, anything that includes it is better for it!
I love your insight and how you add more to the post.
Thanks Ted!
Very apt metaphor. (I used to love Blue Bell when I lived in Austin and enjoyed seeing that iconic carton after so many decades.) Good, timely message!
Thanks Cindy. I'm glad you've had some Blue Bell ice cream. Best I've ever had out of a supermarket freezer!
I am the younger brother. Having moved to Dallas almost 20 years ago now I was introduced to Blue Bell's Great Divide and I have shared it with family and friends that have come to visit over the years. It is a treat and quite good. It is really the only local ice cream you can buy in the supermarkets.
Having moved here from Massachusetts, a solid blue state, to Texas, a solid red state, I immediately picked up on the political differences. I learned to get a sense of people and their beliefs and share mine as appropriate. I have always been a good listener and I used this skill here with the hope that others would listen to me with my beliefs. Sometimes this was successful other times perhaps not.
A few years ago some high school friends had a small reunion which has been repeated a couple of times over the last few years. We all went to high school in a conservative town and each of us has grown up and held onto their beliefs or have changed them for various reasons.
We have had some interesting conversations over the years and some have been very political. What is important is the respect that we give to each other. Also, we listen.
Perhaps it is time to respect our neighbors and listen to them. Otherwise, how else are we going to compromise? For only with compromise are we going to be able to move our country forward...
Well said David. Respect for one another and an openness to compromise are important and necessary to move forward. Listening to views we don't hold can be difficult. And not everything is on the table for compromise. But we must start somewhere, as you did by moving from a blue state to a red state and listening before speaking.
Dear Susan,
What in the name of all that is sane are you talking about?
The Meglomaniac has shattered decency, stomped compromise, demanded abject subservience.
And you’d like us to do what exactly? Say “top o the mornin’ ” to whomever we meet?
That surely will shield us from all this beating and bullying and all those bullets.
You do you, Steve. You're very good at that.