And perhaps one day, looking serenely at the past, it will be judged that the test we are now enduring, harsh and painful to us, was a stage that Italy had to go through to rejuvenate its national life, to complete its political education, to feel more severely its duties as a civilized people.
In most cases, I think the well educated writers, thinkers, and the politicians you cite are acting on behalf of their careers and personal self-interest. Joe Biden was acting on behalf of his career over the interest of country when he refused to resign until forced to do so.
Most of those right wing politicians and intellectuals and writers who opposed Trump have found themselves in a wilderness. Perhaps we should be lauding the resisters more vigorously.
I have no doubt of what you say. Careerist opportunism is one of the tragic stories of the GOP's calamitous self-destruction.
I think differently about Biden than you do, and I've read your comments elsewhere. On the one hand, I don't disparage his motivations for running again and then sticking to it as long as he did, as you do (though obviously, by necessity, he's lived a life of great ambition). On the other hand, given the almost Shakesperean nature of that whole series of events, I don't see three plus weeks as having been an extraordinary amount of time to effect the psychological and emotional transition he had to go through and, ultimately, in my view, handled so generously.
Jay, I totally agree with you on Biden's achievements and the time he took to make the heroic decision to step aside to, we hope, save our democracy. His accomplishments will be ultimately historic.
As usual an extraordinary essay that gives us background I at least knew little of"the manifesto" you enlighten us with. What follows may seem the ultimate paradox: Last night rewatched the film Lincoln with Daniel Day Lewis and Spielberg's marvel of directing. The flick, incredibly au courant as a reminder of what the Republican Party once was, let alone the prejudice that has outlived the historic 13th amendment.
Thank you as ever for your appreciation and praise, Mary, It means so much. Lincoln the man is a figure of longtime interest to me. How exceptional, and how much to be learned from him. The film, which I certainly enjoyed, I appreciate a bit less. You might be interested:
I've now read and saved your essay and look forward to discussing it with you. Revelatory, as usual. As perhaps not an aside, I've long argued that Colm Tóibín is poised for the Nobel Prize. His explanation of the "wrong end of the stick" struck me. I've read almost everything he's published, including recently his essays.
But why do people want to hate? Do they not feel the painful twisting in their belly, the uncomfortable racing heartbeat, the stiffening jaw, the inability to think clearly, that I feel when I entertain hatred and extreme negativity? Why do people want to hate?
Good questions, Susan. I think a simple answer is no, they don't. I think they may feel different kinds of bad feelings, driven by psychological needs neither you nor I have, that drive them also to hate.
In most cases, I think the well educated writers, thinkers, and the politicians you cite are acting on behalf of their careers and personal self-interest. Joe Biden was acting on behalf of his career over the interest of country when he refused to resign until forced to do so.
Most of those right wing politicians and intellectuals and writers who opposed Trump have found themselves in a wilderness. Perhaps we should be lauding the resisters more vigorously.
I have no doubt of what you say. Careerist opportunism is one of the tragic stories of the GOP's calamitous self-destruction.
I think differently about Biden than you do, and I've read your comments elsewhere. On the one hand, I don't disparage his motivations for running again and then sticking to it as long as he did, as you do (though obviously, by necessity, he's lived a life of great ambition). On the other hand, given the almost Shakesperean nature of that whole series of events, I don't see three plus weeks as having been an extraordinary amount of time to effect the psychological and emotional transition he had to go through and, ultimately, in my view, handled so generously.
Jay, I totally agree with you on Biden's achievements and the time he took to make the heroic decision to step aside to, we hope, save our democracy. His accomplishments will be ultimately historic.
As usual an extraordinary essay that gives us background I at least knew little of"the manifesto" you enlighten us with. What follows may seem the ultimate paradox: Last night rewatched the film Lincoln with Daniel Day Lewis and Spielberg's marvel of directing. The flick, incredibly au courant as a reminder of what the Republican Party once was, let alone the prejudice that has outlived the historic 13th amendment.
Thank you as ever for your appreciation and praise, Mary, It means so much. Lincoln the man is a figure of longtime interest to me. How exceptional, and how much to be learned from him. The film, which I certainly enjoyed, I appreciate a bit less. You might be interested:
https://brightlightsfilm.com/three-masters-spielberg-anderson-haneke-audience/
I've now read and saved your essay and look forward to discussing it with you. Revelatory, as usual. As perhaps not an aside, I've long argued that Colm Tóibín is poised for the Nobel Prize. His explanation of the "wrong end of the stick" struck me. I've read almost everything he's published, including recently his essays.
I’d love the discussion. You are far better read in Tóibín, then, whom I’ve read only very lightly.
But why do people want to hate? Do they not feel the painful twisting in their belly, the uncomfortable racing heartbeat, the stiffening jaw, the inability to think clearly, that I feel when I entertain hatred and extreme negativity? Why do people want to hate?
Good questions, Susan. I think a simple answer is no, they don't. I think they may feel different kinds of bad feelings, driven by psychological needs neither you nor I have, that drive them also to hate.