Here is a story that I heard on NPR this week. It is a tale of a remarkable little girl. A tale that deserves to be retold. It goes like this.
In a small town (Population 9,027) located in northwestern Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about 16 miles (26 km) west of New York City and 6 miles (9.7 km) north-west of Newark, a little White girl aged nine went out to work on a science project and to help her community. She had learned that spotted lanternflies were a nuisance species and she decided to collect as many as she could and use them in a science exhibit to educate others about them. Until this week, the most noteworthy thing about Caldwell was that it was the birthplace of Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, was born in Caldwell on March 18, 1837.
As the little girl went from tree to tree collecting these bugs, a former council member and neighbor named Gordon Lawshe saw the little girl going from tree to tree and picking something off the trees. He was not sure what she was doing but he decided to help her. He put his jacket on and went out to see how he could assist her.
Wait a Minute! Hold on there Persico. You have got your facts all wrong. That is not how the story goes!
Oh, that’s right. I forgot. It was not a little White girl; it was a little Black girl. It was a former city council member named Gordon Lawshe. However, he did not go out to help her. Seeing a nine-year-old Black girl going from tree to tree terrified him. He wasted no time calling the police on our little budding scientist. You can probably guess Gordon’s skin color so I won’t bother telling you.
After the police came and traumatized little Bobbi Wilson, they realized that she posed no threat to the community. Fortunately, her mother had come out before they took Bobbi away in handcuffs.
Now there are many in America who say that racism is dead. They believe that Black people are always playing the “Race Card” when they talk about unfair treatment or systemic racism. Just the other day, the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction (Tom Horne) said in an interview that there is NO MORE systemic racism in the USA. This man is in charge of education in our state!
In 2008, the U.S. House of Representative issued a formal apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws. This was passed by a voice vote. A rather imprecise method of voting which shields anyone from being identified with a particular stance. A year later, the Senate advanced S. Con. Res. 26 of the 111th Congress, a concurrent resolution apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans. Republicans now seem bent on reversing this apology by making it harder for Blacks, other minorities, and poor people to vote. While monetary reparations were given to Japanese Americans for their internment and mistreatment during WW II, any talk of reparations for slavery generates heated arguments.
Today, the country is seething over the idea of addressing racism in the public schools. It is feared that White Children will feel guilty. Mention Critical Race Theory and you will get shut down quick in school districts all over the country. Even worse is the onslaught on textbooks to sanitize them so that “negative” aspects of American history are omitted.
But all of the above is very academic. For little Black Bobbi Wilson, it probably will not mean much. She would just like to be treated like any nine-year-old White girl with a penchant for science would be treated. Fortunately, our story does not end with her near arrest. National Public Radio published the following article about Bobbi on their website. I have included some excerpts from the article as well as a link to the entire article. It is very heartwarming and worth reading. There are many good people in America and this helps us to remember that.
Nine-year-old Bobbi Wilson may be in the fourth grade, but last month the Yale School of Public Health held a ceremony honoring the budding scientist’s recent work.
The university entered Bobbi’s collection of 27 spotted lanternflies — an extremely invasive species that is harmful to trees and other plants — into the Peabody Museum of Natural History database. Bobbi was also presented with the title of “donor scientist” during the Jan. 20 ceremony.
“We wanted to show her bravery and how inspiring she is, and we just want to make sure she continues to feel honored and loved by the Yale community,” Ijeoma Opara, an assistant professor at the school, said in a statement.
Weeks Earlier:
Former City Council member, Gordon Lawshe calls the police department to report: “There’s a little Black woman walking, spraying stuff on the sidewalks and trees on Elizabeth and Florence,” Lawshe told the dispatcher, according to a call obtained by CNN.
“I don’t know what the hell she’s doing. Scares me, though,” Lawshe added.
Outside, Bobbi, a petite child who wears pink-framed glasses, was doing her bit to comply with the state’s Stomp it Out! campaign, which urges New Jersey residents to help eradicate the spotted lanternfly infestation. She’d learned about it at school and made her own version of an insect repellent she’d seen on TikTok. Making her way from tree to tree, Bobbi would spray the bugs, pluck them from the tree and drop them into a plastic bottle.
Bobbi was still at it when an officer arrived, curious about what she was doing. Body camera footage shows officer Kevin O’Neill approach the child before her mother, Monique Joseph, intervenes.
“You know, you hear about racism; you kind of experience it in your peripheral. If you’re lucky in your life. It doesn’t come knocking on your door. That morning when it happened, my world stopped,” Bobbi’s mother said, according to the university. She added: “The whole community, the science community, got together and said, ‘She’s one of us and we’re not going to let her lose her steam for STEM. We’re going to support the family, we’re going to support this girl.”
So all’s well that ends well right? Well, not exactly. There are thousands of little Black girls and little Black boys in America. When will this end for them? What will it take to end racism? When will we stop judging people by the color of their skins and instead judge them by their character and morality?
Aging Capriciously 
Feb 12, 2023 @ 14:29:08
I find this story is incredibly sad. What is wrong with people? Why would you call the cops on a little girl conducting a science project, jnowing that cops in America are capable of?. It is sad and it is a wake up call for decent people in America – black and White!!
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 14:45:26
Anne, I hope we can get more people feeling like we do. IMHO We all need to stand up and speak out until racism is no longer a trait that anyone finds desirable. Thank you for adding your comment Anne. John
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 15:18:39
“When will we stop judging people by the color of their skins and instead judge them by their character and morality?”
It’s not looking good John. In the UK racism is getting worse by the day. Enhanced by dangerous, mealy-mouthed government ministers whose careless words are interpreted by some as an incite to demonstration and violence outside hotels where refugees are accommodated.
There is a need to blame someone for the deterioration of living conditions and some members of government know exactly where to point the finger.
A sad state of affairs all round and of course for us it’s all worsened since Brexit!
Great that your young girl got recognised for the good work she is doing though – in the end. It could so easily have gone the other way.
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 20:04:45
Do you think this is more true in the economically developed countries Margaret or it it the same all over? John
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 08:08:41
An interesting question John to which I have to admit to being unsure.
In the USA and Australia racism is historically endemic but in Europe it’s only since the 1950’s when it began to worsen; mainly due to people from abroad being invited to offset labour shortages. Decades later our economic stability is going downhill, people feel threatened, scared, insecure, and need someone to blame. Those from a different culture often become the target!
‘We’ don’t seem to like anyone who is different to us. (Generalisation).
This is my simple explanation anyway but I realise it’s far more complex.
You may be interested in a current post about racism in Australia on Forestwood’s blog ‘Something To Ponder’.
Also, you may be interested in this article, although it is 10 years old, which discusses racism in economically developing counties such as India, Indonesia, Jordan, and Nigeria.
https://www.borgenmagazine.com/racism-developing-countries-widespread/
I think it’s true to say that even in laid back Canada, there are/were issues with the increase in the Chinese population. We visited Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal in 1989 and there was much evidence of it then. Of course, sadly, there continues to be issues with the indigenous peoples.
Thanks for a thought provoking post John 🙏🏼
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 09:45:19
Thanks Margaret for your comments. It always helps to have a broader perspective on things. I am going to check out each of the references you gave me. Yesterday, I shelled out 15 dollars to go to a gun show here in town just so I could know what is happening at these shows these days. I have written some anti-gun stuff so I thought it made sense to see what their perspective is. I can’t say that I really learned much but gun shows are much different than 30 years ago. I felt like I was in a place getting ready to arm a platoon for a major assault someplace. RPG’s, flame throwers, lots of tactical weapons. People must be really afraid of something but I am not sure what. Immigrants, Minorities, crime, poverty, homeless people? Like you say, we always need a scapegoat. John
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 01:34:34
Hi Margaret,
We Canadians like to think we are better people than many of us are. And for years we mostly tried to be. There was the odd crazy, but we wete taught to be nice to our fellow living beings. And then an asshole took over the United States of America, and he gave his people permission to show their hate. Unfortunately a whole lot of Canadians were listening, and they heard! Racists came out of the woodwork. And now we know, we are no better than anyone else.
But, really, we are still trying.!
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 07:02:05
The really sad part is that 1/3 of the people in the USA love this asshole. The same here with his supporters who are against everything our Founding Fathers stood for suddenly had center stage. I know this country was never perfect and Slavery and Racism is our Original Sin but I had hoped like many others that someday we could overcome it and live up to Martin Luther Kings Dream.
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 08:27:07
That was, still is, every decent person’s dream — all over the world — Live and Let Live. Which most of us do quietly. The world-destroying “third” get really vocal, and thus they think there are more of them than us. America’s Big Red Flop in 2022 put the lie to that, but Americans did not raise their silent voices high enough! And they are paying for that right now. I certainly hope they learn than you cannot put down a rebellion by half measures, you gotta go full out! They get another chance in 2024…
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 12:45:03
I am keeping my fingers crossed. I hope eternally. Thanks for taking the time to share your comments and ideas. John
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 16:06:03
As a realist I say never unfortunately! We can hope for better from humans but I just don’t see that in our future.
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 20:03:42
I lean towards your thinking Wayne, but I don’t think we can give up trying. John
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 18:48:13
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️ John, you’ve done a really, really excellent job of using this egregious circumstance (with heartening outcome) to highlight the never-ending, heartbreaking reality of racism. Is there any chance of getting it published somewhere so it can be widely read? I’ll reblog it within the next few weeks to help it along. Bravo!
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 20:02:58
Thanks so much for your nice compliment Jane. You are so thoughtful. I have given up trying to publish anything. A few years ago I self-published two Amazon books I wrote. I don’t think twenty copies sold. I decided to just write and let people blog or repost my stuff and if other people share it, I am more than happy. I appreciate your re-blogging it. I hope it can make a difference in some hearts and minds. John
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 22:10:07
My possibly imaginary Friend isn’t racist, John, but He’s about the only person I know who isn’t to at least some degree in one way or another. When He returns, He said that He’s going to throw a really, REALLY big party at which people from every group on Earth is invited. Until then, I think that we’ll have to all do the best we can to be more like Him and less like ourselves . . . because the problem of racism, I think, is in our selfish, selfy selves. That’s the way I see it, Bro. Nice post though. It’s something that I think He would write. Maybe He did.
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Feb 12, 2023 @ 22:39:09
HI Majik, I agree. I think we are never alone when we are writing. Like a room full of radio waves, our minds are flooded with ideas, sensations and thoughts from the past, present and perhaps the future. I said I agree since selfishness is probably the underlying cause of greed, racism and many other problems we face. I was thinking about writing a blog on generosity. You have motivated me to do so. I will need to think more about the idea. Generosity is the opposite of selfishness, I think. I wonder how I am afflicted since I know whatever problems are “out there” or also to some degree inside of me. John
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 06:29:07
And your post inspired my post this morning, John. Thanks, Bro! https://thehappynarcissist.com/2023/02/13/i-want-to-be-more-like-jesus/
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 09:36:24
I appreciate your link. I am going to read it right now. John
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 09:39:28
Majik, check this song out as well by a Joe Wise. He actually lives in AZ and invited me to come to visit sometime but I have not got around to it. He lives pretty far up north.
joe wise “Lord, teach us to pray”
John
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 12:24:55
Nice song, John. Good message! https://youtu.be/gLcDdRdCGuc
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 12:25:45
You should take your friend up on his offer for the visit. He sounds like a good guy.
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 12:32:46
Beautiful song, actually . . . beautiful voice. I’m still listening. I LOVE finding new music that I love. Thanks for turning me on to Joe Wise and his music!
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 12:37:44
Downloaded on my iPhone. My Karen will love this. Thanks again! Great Communion song. https://youtu.be/NH85A5gQJ-4
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 15:22:44
My pleasure. Always fun sharing things that others will enjoy.
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 15:23:39
I should Majik. I have just been not liking driving as much anymore.
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 18:37:00
I hear ya about driving, John. TAKE the Greyhound! https://youtu.be/iFPGdfsVwxY
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 06:43:08
John, your post and friendship inspired me to write this post all filled with Joe Wise’s BEAUTIFUL MUSIC! I just spent about thirty minutes listening to the three songs on my post that just absolutely flow and overflow with real life, and my soul which was downcast is REVIVED. Thank you again, John. Forget the Greyhound. Maybe you and your Karen and my Karen and me could drive up together to see Old Joe to tell him “Thank you!” in person. https://thehappynarcissist.com/2023/02/13/new-old-music/?fbclid=IwAR1zw_r6aVoYr6QzBFKdyW9mV7dQ8ztu6jKuL6Iftj2LBMi5sem-7yD7nVw
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 06:53:01
Majik, That would be fun. I would love to do that. I am glad you found his music inspiring. John
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 09:32:07
Hi honey, nice article. I like the way you started with a little white girl and then corrected it. It separates the the action from her race and emphasizes the prejudice.
I’m off to take a shower and go over to Juli’s. Weather here is bright and sunny with a high today around 40, but it’s going to start raining during the night,
Love you 😍💗😘
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 09:34:42
Hope you have a great day and fun time with Julie. Love You.
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 11:53:54
I read a beautiful poem years and years ago when I too was a little girl. It was mandatory reading in the parochial school I attended. It was written by a little black girl, and although I only remember a few lines, it has impacted my life through the years. Funny how often I have remembered this poem, and the last line of the poem reads, “ I love the sea when it wears diamonds, why doesn’t everyone love me”. Your blog touched my heart , and in the next world I choose to call heaven, it will be just that when all people can live together in harmony regardless of race, creed or color. 🙏🏻
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 22:21:57
I used to think that with time, education, life’s experiences, all people would come around to the place of accepting others, not judging others by the colour of their skin, their religious beliefs, gender or gender identification, but simply accepting that we are all humans, all sharing the same planet, all struggling to survive. That was … maybe 20 years ago. Today, I must say that like Wayne, I am a realist and I do not see one shred of progress in the past two decades. I also agree with your response to Wayne, that we cannot stop trying, but it’s almost as if there are two separate sub-species of the human species … I cannot even begin to understand the various bigotries that exist among humans today. Back in the ’60s, I really thought that by now, racism would be wiped out, that we would all live together, side-by-side, in peace and harmony. HAH!!! I must have been wearing rose-coloured glasses, but I have since lost them.
This story is heartbreaking, yet beautiful in that some people recognized the injustice and cared enough to make a difference, to show this little girl that she is special in a good sort of way. Thank you for sharing it, John!
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Feb 13, 2023 @ 23:26:38
Thanks Jill, I which I could violently disagree with you or even mildly disagree but I cannot. It seems things just keep getting worse. I can tell you honestly that if I could be 18 years old again and come back tomorrow, I would NOT. I listened to Lester Holt on the nightly news and almost cried at the misery in the world he reported. A few glimmers here and there but more darkness than light. But as long as we are alive, what else is there to do but try, try and try again. I love hearing the words to the Impossible Dream. they always help to inspire me and keep me going for another day or so. I put a link to the song. I hope you enjoy it and also feel somewhat inspired. John https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHVGOp5Usv4
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Feb 15, 2023 @ 00:59:45
Yes, we both wish you could disagree, but … as one of my former co-workers used to say, “It is what it is … now what ya gonna do about it?” I often find myself thinking that I’m glad to be old and at this end of my life cycle, but then … I think about my granddaughter and … I wish I could change the world she is inheriting.
The song … oh what a perfect song for the moment! Thank you, John! I did enjoy it and did feel inspired! I had played this very version on my blog several years ago, but long since had forgotten. Thanks to your reminder, I played it again, as you now likely know. Thanks again, my friend.
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Feb 15, 2023 @ 18:38:52
Your co-worker had a good point Jill. Thoughts of others like your granddaughter may be what we all need to keep working at things. I am glad you liked this song. I bring it out every so often and listen to it just to keep inspired. I have several other songs I use but this is one of my favorites. John
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Feb 16, 2023 @ 01:46:01
One of mine is “Imagine” by John Lennon … in fact, it’s on the docket for this morning’s music post. It just … resonates with me some days.
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Feb 17, 2023 @ 18:45:11
Jill, Probably one of the greatest songs of all time. I am wondering Jill, do you think all great songs come from real passion? For that matter, literature, art, I would wonder the same question. One argument against AI replacing humans is that AI or robots can never be empathic. Do you think that argument will hold? Can we have robots that laugh and cry? John
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Feb 18, 2023 @ 01:09:39
I agree with that, John … it is timeless and I think will always resonate with those of us who truly desire peace in this world.
That’s a good question, my friend. I think that we must first define what we mean by “great” songs. Some songs may top the charts for a while because they have popular appeal, but what I think of as ‘great’ songs are the ones, like “Imagine”, that have staying power, that are as meaningful 20, 30, 50 years after their release as they were in their field day. And those … yes, I think they came from real passion. And yes, I would say the same for literature and art. Greatness spans the generations and it can only come from somewhere deep inside. Think of … our own blog posts. The ones that people come back to even a few years after we write them are the ones we pulled from somewhere deep inside, the ones that spoke our feelings at that moment. I played around a bit with AI a few weeks ago in a few blogs, and what I found was that it can spit out facts and even opinions, but there is no emotion. Perhaps robots can be taught to insert an expletive or words of compassion/empathy/anger in appropriate places, but I don’t think they will ever be able to write with the same passion that we humans do, for ours comes from … living. Ours is a combination of feelings, emotions, lived experiences … and I don’t think a machine can do that on command. But then … I remember a day when I could not imagine wireless communication, too, so … what do I know?
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Feb 19, 2023 @ 18:51:06
Jill, you start off with defining what a great song is. That is something I keep forgetting. We must define our terms. Particularly when they involve things like great. I want to believe that passion is the key, both to greatness and to connecting with other people. Your thought that “Ours is a combination of feelings, emotions, lived experiences … and I don’t think a machine can do that on command” seems right on to me. I cannot imagine a machine with empathy or emotion. Your thought was so striking that I wrote a blog on the concept of Empathy today. Thanks for the idea. John
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 01:00:05
Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
One of the blogs I follow is Aging Capriciously by Dr. John Persico. John is first and foremost a humanitarian, but is also many other things including an educator and a business consultant. He sees with clearer eyes than many today. His post from yesterday brought a tear to my eyes and … I just had to share it. Thank you, John, for all that you do.
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 07:03:45
Thank you Jill for the kind words. I really appreciate them. Your words give me a higher standard to aspire to in my life and writing. John
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 07:04:29
Thanks for sharing this story. I appreciate how you framed it to get us to pay attention. Keith
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 12:47:20
Thanks Keith. My writing teacher of many years always encouraged her students to try new things and to be creative. She died almost two years ago and I still miss her very much. I wrote a blog in her honor. Dr. Carolyn Wedin. John
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 10:49:25
Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 11:47:56
I would like to think the person who phoned in would have had an aggravated policeman at their door lecturing them on wasting police time.
I would like to think that was one of the results.
There always has been a toxic smallness latent; the trouble is, this is now being encouraged again for cheap political points.
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 12:50:20
I am not familiar with the term “toxic smallness latent.” Can you explain your meaning there further. I certainly would hope that the result was like you note but as with our courts today, it seems that anything (no matter how ridiculous) is open for business. Dozens if not hundreds of lawsuits nationally over the “Big Lie” is one example that comes to my mind. John
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 13:38:17
Sorry that’s me lapsing into my European socialist tendency to attempt to emphasise a point with a mish-mash of social and political phraseologies.
(Another example is the amazing communist double-speak of ‘Democratic Centralism)
…but I digress…
On reflection I should have written ‘an underlying meanness of bigotry’
Or to steal a phrase out of a recent TV show:
‘People of negligible character’.
My apologies for my verbosity.
It is amazing that folk who do go on about ‘The Deep State’ and ‘The Big Lie’ as preached by Trump and his like are equally willing to swallow the implausibility of Qanon.
I fear that this cartoon first put out by Disney in 1943 as a warning against Nazism holds a chilling reference today:
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 16:04:55
Never saw this Disney cartoon. Looks like Copyright was 1943. Then a film was made in 2005 by the same title. I will have to check the film out as well. The cartoon is right on the mark though. Start with the stupidest, undermine confidence in leaders, tell the big lie. I wonder what the audience thought of this cartoon when they saw it or where it was used. As for the verbosity, I think wordplay and word formation is a very interesting subject. As my mentor used to say, you need a definition for any process and it is fine as long as two intelligent people are willing to do business around it. Your phase “the underlying meanness of bigotry” would make a good blog subject. The meaning is pretty clear but it opens up a host of interesting situations. Often, I think people do not associate reality with their own personal concepts or the resulting mess their concepts can create in real life. Bigotry being one of the worst ideas that many people would not think fits their reality. Thanks for clarifying and thanks for the cartoon. John
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Feb 15, 2023 @ 04:52:10
A very sobering cartoon John. One which does not grow old.
I agree. Reality in the Human mind is a transitory and flexible feature. Even the obvious dropping of a large stone is subject to philosophical and possibly quantum examinations.
However, whereas we all feel we can identify a bigot, bigotry itself can take root in very subtle ways. It can take root in what starts out as justifiable outrage at an intolerant opinion or action; however such is the outrage it can spread into identifying groups or individuals who share some but not all of the opinions of the original perpetrators as being equally ‘guilty’. Thus all members of a social grouping, or region, or beliefs system or political allegiance are deemed as being reprehensible or beyond redemption.
This is turn leads to a reaction by the ‘target’ who in turn, if they have not already, will develop an antagonism to what they seem as unjustified criticism.
And so the wagons are circled.
All this is fearfully easy to slip into, in particular once you personally are ‘accused’ on what you see as spurious grounds.
I know from the experiences of my own long haul through Life it is necessary to check myself from not saying;
‘Those…….’ covering whatever group en mass
And trying to phrase my opinion into a toning down of
‘Some folk who….’
Even then the willingness to tolerate what might be a rational or understandable opinion can take some effort.
We all have to guard against our initially well-meaning beliefs becoming creeds of their own Extreme Intolerance.
Human History is littered with this corrosion.
Roger
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Feb 15, 2023 @ 18:35:45
Sounds like you have read Eric Hofer’s classic book “True Believer.” I could not agree more on your point of not condemning or painting everyone with the same brush. “Those” can be a dangerous word. On the other hand, I always think there is some room for “exceptions.” In other words, I will not “Love” everyone and I have little tolerance for the intolerant. This raises the famous paradox addressed by Karl Popper:
Philosopher Karl Popper described the paradox of tolerance as the seemingly counterintuitive idea that “in order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance.” Essentially, if a so-called tolerant society permits the existence of intolerant philosophies, it is no longer tolerant.
If I did not believe this, I would not be able to take a stand and stand I will. As Luther said, “Here I stand; I can do no other..” Thanks for the thoughts though. Humility is important and is perhaps the one virtue that stops us all from being dictators of thought or actions. John BTY, what is your first name? I am guessing Eddy?
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Feb 16, 2023 @ 12:42:48
Hello John.
I have to thank you for complementing about my reading matter. Truth be known my reading habits have grown lazy. Most of my sources are either resulting from a history of reading military history: origins, causes and effects or of late utilising audio books while I am about other chores. Hofer’s work will have to be another of my mounting ‘I really must read / listen to that some day,’ list. (It covers far too many subjects)
A Brief Journey Through The Issues.
Yes I have a regular discussion with myself over the Intolerance of Intolerance as a belief or policy, particular as being on record on various blogs as supporting that ethos. My outlook, which it has to be stated at the onset as flawed tends to a society in which the preaching or supporting of Intolerance is seen as a threat to Stability and the Safety of the public to go about their chosen way. Now at once you can see the problem there. Who decides what is ‘Intolerance’ as a threat and straight away we are into the ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes’ territory. So I attempted a build-in Fail Safe of adherence to Compassion, Respect and Tolerance. However as History teaches that regimes can be quite adept at the ‘managing ‘ words, even this well meaning trio could be deftly turned to Compassion, Respect and Tolerance as defined solely by the ruling group and its followers.
Frustrated, my Heart says ‘Everyone talks of their Rights. No few talk of Their Responsibilities. We need so more of the latter,’.
My Head replies ‘Yes, but you know how that works out historically,’.
My Heart shoots back ‘Ah! Education is the answer’.
My Head shakes and responds ‘Do you mean Education, or Indoctrination?’
The discussion does go on back and forth but my Heart has to admit My Head as depressingly large number of examples of well-meaning ideals going down the wrong road. And of course principals being hijacked by folk who never had any well-meaning ideals in the first place.
Thus my Heart has to seek solace in writing in The Fantasy Genre where it can get the better of the argument on Artistic, Speculative, Propositional and Story-Telling Grounds. While my head concentrates on History and its lessons. It’s a compromise.
So John, that is one convoluted viewpoint of the problem. ‘Convoluted’ being a favoured words, on account of Humanity’s predisposition to making simple matters complex.
Roger (by the way of belated introduction)
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Feb 17, 2023 @ 19:18:08
Hello Roger.
“A Brief Journey Through the Issues.”
“Yes, I have a regular discussion with myself over the Intolerance of Intolerance as a belief or policy,”
I know exactly what you are talking about. Years ago, I had 100 books that I must read. I read them all. They were a list which I compiled. I then made another list and hardly dented it. Today, I am more eclectic in my reading or at least I think I am but I supplement it with Podcasts and documentaries. More video than reading on some days. I also love Ezines and stuff that gets pushed to me. Nevertheless, the more I learn, the less I know. I am surely going backwards, and this does not even count my memory loss.
I think that is the key to intelligent thought, to question everything. Truth being a process of successive approximation. We may strive for it but never reach it. IMHO
Your comment about “quis custodiet ipsos custodes” should be mandatory for any of us to answer when our final arbiter is to be “authority.” Regardless of who that authority is. I have a set of seven guiding values which include, compassion, patience, kindness, forgiveness, faith, courage and gratefulness, I review these every morning and ask myself how am I doing and what do I need to do better. Sometimes, I wonder if I am making any progress at all. Somedays, I know I am going backwards on at least a few of them. In one of my blogs, I ranted about the failure of so many people to take responsibility. All you seem to hear these days are “I want my rights.” The Bill of Rights should have had a sister Bill of Responsibilities.
Not sure I think education is the answer. At least not what passes for an education system today. One of my blogs is called “A Twenty First Century Education System.” The system today is based on principles and a zeitgeist that addressed a nation largely agricultural and then industrial. We have gone from Hunting Gathering, to Ag, to Industry, to Information, to Computers, to Internet and now to AI. Education IMHO did not progress beyond the information age, which I calculate ended about 1950 or so. https://agingcapriciously.com/2018/04/27/creating-a-twenty-first-century-education-system
Funny, I spent years reading SCI FI, Westerns, Sword and Sorcery, Horror, Detective Stories and then just quit. I read all of Ian Fleming and spent many hours reading his subsequent interpreters, as I did with Clive Cussler and Steven King. No MAS. Don’t know why but I cannot read fiction anymore. I write some fiction stories but only occasionally. I think it is like eating too much of something, I burnt out on it. Now it is mostly non-fiction.
It is interesting to view non-fiction critically as I do not think there are many good templates for doing so. For instance, I find journalists writing about problems to be mostly telling us what we know and then coming up in the last chapter with bromides for solutions like “let’s all start communicating better.” I lean more towards academic writing but even so, I like to read from many perspectives. Truth is again, like the Five Wise Men and the Elephant. The only thing is there are more than 100 wise men willing to describe each elephant and some correct pundit will tell us that no two elephants are exactly alike. Truth is so much fun to look for. I marvel at people who “know” the truth. I only wish I were so smart. I know what Socrates said. I wish I were that smart but I count my blessings that I get dumber every day.
Thanks for commenting, Roger. My turn to ramble but I feel a sort of kindred spirit with you and our mutual ramblings. John
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Feb 15, 2023 @ 05:15:39
I am not black, but it does seem to me like racism against blacks is still a big part of this country USA.
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Feb 15, 2023 @ 18:26:13
I think so to Jacob. Black or White we must all be against it. Uncle John
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