I am about to become a great grandmother. I fear for the child's future. I can't explain why, but this column of yours makes me feel better. thanks. As stated, can't explain.
WAR IS WRONG! Is it possible that we are on the brink of another big one just as we finished our longest? No, this can’t be. Because I’m 84, and throughout my life, this country has been engaged in war. When I was Courtney’s age, we were in the midst of the long dark era of the Cold War. Then when she and I were together at Barnard, we were fighting two wars simultaneously.
Plato, no pacifist, asserted that any polity so plagued by prolonged war had to face being seriously ill: “its origin in desires which are the most fruitful source of evils both to individuals and to states.” ( Republic, pp. 61-62, F.M. Cornford trans., same edition that Courtney and I studied in Political Theory).
The question that consumes me is this: I’ve lived a long life while generations of Americans have been in denial over having a society unable to resolve epidemics of violence but what of my grandchildren? How can I explain to them our endless inability to cure this disease? Are we really doomed to watch more slaughter of youth in battles launched by old men? Give us wisdom, dear reader, because we need it desperately before we self-destruct humanity one way or another. DD
This piece put into words many feelings that have been swirling within me, ambiguously. Thank you for crystallizing them. I kept repeating “yes” to myself as I read. I really enjoy your writing.
While I have never had any social media presence, I have found it really challenging, but necessary, to accept that I have only so much energy to distribute among the things I care about and cannot either know a lot about, or act effectively about, every cause that is vitally important. Spreading oneself too thin, I have learned, guarantees either a substandard job on many things or some sort of collapse.
This is 100% true. And your point about wanting your kids to be emotionally open, not constantly consuming headlines and hot takes, is really resonating with me. We need to model that.
Oliver Burkeman's thoughts are connected to this - we can't possibly know everything and will never have time for everything - even some very good things. I'm re-listening to Krista Tippett's interview with him, as they are affirming the changes I am making in my life. I plan to read his book "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals."
I appreciate your honesty, Courtney. As always, thanks :)
Thank you for your weekly newsletter sharing the things you are learning, pondering, questioning etc. I resonate with so much of what you write about, and find that you put words to things I feel but have never qutie named- like political performance anxiety! Also, I am really interested in the event on March 31, but live half way around the world so 4:0pm PST is 2:00am here! Would you consider publishing a link to it after the fact? I would really value listening to the conversations.
I am about to become a great grandmother. I fear for the child's future. I can't explain why, but this column of yours makes me feel better. thanks. As stated, can't explain.
WAR IS WRONG! Is it possible that we are on the brink of another big one just as we finished our longest? No, this can’t be. Because I’m 84, and throughout my life, this country has been engaged in war. When I was Courtney’s age, we were in the midst of the long dark era of the Cold War. Then when she and I were together at Barnard, we were fighting two wars simultaneously.
Plato, no pacifist, asserted that any polity so plagued by prolonged war had to face being seriously ill: “its origin in desires which are the most fruitful source of evils both to individuals and to states.” ( Republic, pp. 61-62, F.M. Cornford trans., same edition that Courtney and I studied in Political Theory).
The question that consumes me is this: I’ve lived a long life while generations of Americans have been in denial over having a society unable to resolve epidemics of violence but what of my grandchildren? How can I explain to them our endless inability to cure this disease? Are we really doomed to watch more slaughter of youth in battles launched by old men? Give us wisdom, dear reader, because we need it desperately before we self-destruct humanity one way or another. DD
This piece put into words many feelings that have been swirling within me, ambiguously. Thank you for crystallizing them. I kept repeating “yes” to myself as I read. I really enjoy your writing.
While I have never had any social media presence, I have found it really challenging, but necessary, to accept that I have only so much energy to distribute among the things I care about and cannot either know a lot about, or act effectively about, every cause that is vitally important. Spreading oneself too thin, I have learned, guarantees either a substandard job on many things or some sort of collapse.
This is 100% true. And your point about wanting your kids to be emotionally open, not constantly consuming headlines and hot takes, is really resonating with me. We need to model that.
Oliver Burkeman's thoughts are connected to this - we can't possibly know everything and will never have time for everything - even some very good things. I'm re-listening to Krista Tippett's interview with him, as they are affirming the changes I am making in my life. I plan to read his book "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals."
I appreciate your honesty, Courtney. As always, thanks :)
Thank you for your weekly newsletter sharing the things you are learning, pondering, questioning etc. I resonate with so much of what you write about, and find that you put words to things I feel but have never qutie named- like political performance anxiety! Also, I am really interested in the event on March 31, but live half way around the world so 4:0pm PST is 2:00am here! Would you consider publishing a link to it after the fact? I would really value listening to the conversations.
Yes. THIS.
This put into words a lot of things I have been thinking about and discussing with friends lately. Thank you for your words.