Philosophy
Since their re-union tour is connected with the Virgin festival which is coming to Baltimore, local stations have been playing a lot of Police. Tunes I haven't heard in years. That was some good stuff. It's made me think...
Sting has done fine work since the band broke up. Good albums, smart lyrics. But none of it, none at all, is anywhere near as fun. The joy, the playfulness of the Police is in none of his solo work.
This touches on one of my deepest fears. Many good people I know, smart folks with big, big hearts, who have been fighting the fight for decades, have ended up emotionally broken, become bitter old liberals in their later years. I know that the suffering in the world will never end despite all efforts, there will always be injustices to stand up against and better access to more of the world will likely bring more death and despair to our attention. How one can see what is happening in Darfur or the Middle East right now and not be deeply saddened is something I simply do not understand.
Yet, one can, and I would argue must, do what one can while still attempting to live a joyful life. The world can be a magical place full of delight. Appreciating it with a light spirit is a gift beyond measure. Yet, I see so many who worked so hard end up weighed down by it all.
It would be one thing if this were fated for all who care. If it were inevitable, I would understand that the joy is fleeting and leave it at that. But I have seen some -- my friends Pat and Lou, for example -- who are still fighting and who still float slightly above the ground the rest of us walk on. It is possible.
BUT. What is it that is the key to keeping from being broken? What is it that will allow one to stay playful without refusing to see all -- both the wondrous and the horrible? Surely, it's not as simple as "When the world is running down, make the best of what's still around."
- Is Being Smart A Disability?
The courts have determined that it is perfectly o.k. to discriminate against people with high IQs. A man applying for a position with the New London police force was denied -- and his denial upheld -- on the grounds that he scored too highly on the entrance...
- Rip Granny D
Sad news today. Doris Haddock, better known as Granny D, passed away. She is best known as an advocate for campaign finance reform who walked across the country from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. as a spry 90 year old to try to raise awareness of the...
- Happy Independence Day
Happy independence day, everyone. To show that there's no hard feelings, here's a couple of thoughts relating to Great Britain. The first is truly a celebration of freedom. Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter who has done some of the best work in...
- What Races Are You Watching?
What races are you particularly interested in? Any local elections that have your attention? In my case, the Frederick County commissioners race is the interesting one. There is a deep divide between the pro-growth and smart growth candidates and it will...
- Poisoning The Well With The Enemy's Propaganda
Fascinating quotation from one of the President's speeches from last week: "You do not create terrorism by fighting terrorism. If that ever becomes the mind-set of the policymakers in Washington, it means we'll go back to the old days of waiting...
Philosophy
The Police and Bitter Old Liberals
Since their re-union tour is connected with the Virgin festival which is coming to Baltimore, local stations have been playing a lot of Police. Tunes I haven't heard in years. That was some good stuff. It's made me think...
Sting has done fine work since the band broke up. Good albums, smart lyrics. But none of it, none at all, is anywhere near as fun. The joy, the playfulness of the Police is in none of his solo work.
This touches on one of my deepest fears. Many good people I know, smart folks with big, big hearts, who have been fighting the fight for decades, have ended up emotionally broken, become bitter old liberals in their later years. I know that the suffering in the world will never end despite all efforts, there will always be injustices to stand up against and better access to more of the world will likely bring more death and despair to our attention. How one can see what is happening in Darfur or the Middle East right now and not be deeply saddened is something I simply do not understand.
Yet, one can, and I would argue must, do what one can while still attempting to live a joyful life. The world can be a magical place full of delight. Appreciating it with a light spirit is a gift beyond measure. Yet, I see so many who worked so hard end up weighed down by it all.
It would be one thing if this were fated for all who care. If it were inevitable, I would understand that the joy is fleeting and leave it at that. But I have seen some -- my friends Pat and Lou, for example -- who are still fighting and who still float slightly above the ground the rest of us walk on. It is possible.
BUT. What is it that is the key to keeping from being broken? What is it that will allow one to stay playful without refusing to see all -- both the wondrous and the horrible? Surely, it's not as simple as "When the world is running down, make the best of what's still around."
- Is Being Smart A Disability?
The courts have determined that it is perfectly o.k. to discriminate against people with high IQs. A man applying for a position with the New London police force was denied -- and his denial upheld -- on the grounds that he scored too highly on the entrance...
- Rip Granny D
Sad news today. Doris Haddock, better known as Granny D, passed away. She is best known as an advocate for campaign finance reform who walked across the country from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. as a spry 90 year old to try to raise awareness of the...
- Happy Independence Day
Happy independence day, everyone. To show that there's no hard feelings, here's a couple of thoughts relating to Great Britain. The first is truly a celebration of freedom. Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter who has done some of the best work in...
- What Races Are You Watching?
What races are you particularly interested in? Any local elections that have your attention? In my case, the Frederick County commissioners race is the interesting one. There is a deep divide between the pro-growth and smart growth candidates and it will...
- Poisoning The Well With The Enemy's Propaganda
Fascinating quotation from one of the President's speeches from last week: "You do not create terrorism by fighting terrorism. If that ever becomes the mind-set of the policymakers in Washington, it means we'll go back to the old days of waiting...