I don’t even know how I found this page (from Notes?) but bravo, and so well-articulated, viscerally true, tremendously well-written. I had a similar upbringing, and was once very close to picking up the shotgun (that I wasn’t much taller than) but the other parties involved used their own guns first. I don’t think many policy-makers or NGO managers or academics have, honestly, the faintest concept of the struggle to construct an ethical narrative out of a past like yours (or mine). I’m not even sure that such a lack of perspective is open to correction; I don’t know quite how one would even do that. But I think (and agree with you) that this distance is the root of much counter-productive (even nihilist) social policy.
Great writing. I agree with your sentiment at the end. That said I do think:
>Because he was an American. He was part of our tribe.
Doesn't really cut much ice anymore when the left has spent the last several decades deconstructing and disparaging the very concept and alienating everyone from want to be a part of that category. Additionally they spend a lot of time convincing everyone they are not a part of the same tribe, but are instead in a multitude of ineffable tribes unknowable to each other based on skin color/pronouns/whatever.
It is hard to be in a tribe with people who don't want to be in a tribe with you.
We have to believe in beautiful things with the aggression to defend them. I know Jordan Neely probably wouldn’t have thanked anyone for pulling him off the street but the respect you pay to others is the respect you feel for yourself. We can’t just sit down and let an endless blah of “well what can I do about it” eat us alive. At no time in history even the good parts was everything granted. It has always required courage. It’s just now that it’s our turn to forcefully believe in these things and defend them.
I give some $ monthly to the organization that ministers & cares for the homeless in Olympia. If I had more energy, I might volunteer, but 2 bouts of covid have knocked me back.
The problem is deeply distressing & seems to only get worse. The city officials play whack-a-mole & keep kicking the unhoused out of where they camp, & seem to have let them settle in the woods by the freeway.
Aaarrggh!
Ah, well. Re your family drama, - you grew up fast, had to, to save yourself & your siblings. Glad you had your grandparents.
I don’t even know how I found this page (from Notes?) but bravo, and so well-articulated, viscerally true, tremendously well-written. I had a similar upbringing, and was once very close to picking up the shotgun (that I wasn’t much taller than) but the other parties involved used their own guns first. I don’t think many policy-makers or NGO managers or academics have, honestly, the faintest concept of the struggle to construct an ethical narrative out of a past like yours (or mine). I’m not even sure that such a lack of perspective is open to correction; I don’t know quite how one would even do that. But I think (and agree with you) that this distance is the root of much counter-productive (even nihilist) social policy.
Thanks it was a weird one to write but I just can’t stand how fake and abstract these very real and ugly issues become.
also glad to hear you’re doing better. It’s hard to try to be a regular person.
Great writing. I agree with your sentiment at the end. That said I do think:
>Because he was an American. He was part of our tribe.
Doesn't really cut much ice anymore when the left has spent the last several decades deconstructing and disparaging the very concept and alienating everyone from want to be a part of that category. Additionally they spend a lot of time convincing everyone they are not a part of the same tribe, but are instead in a multitude of ineffable tribes unknowable to each other based on skin color/pronouns/whatever.
It is hard to be in a tribe with people who don't want to be in a tribe with you.
We have to believe in beautiful things with the aggression to defend them. I know Jordan Neely probably wouldn’t have thanked anyone for pulling him off the street but the respect you pay to others is the respect you feel for yourself. We can’t just sit down and let an endless blah of “well what can I do about it” eat us alive. At no time in history even the good parts was everything granted. It has always required courage. It’s just now that it’s our turn to forcefully believe in these things and defend them.
"If your institutions are broken, you’re supposed to fix them. No one else is going to do it. There’s just us."
In my mind, a very Christian take. And logical as well.
I give some $ monthly to the organization that ministers & cares for the homeless in Olympia. If I had more energy, I might volunteer, but 2 bouts of covid have knocked me back.
The problem is deeply distressing & seems to only get worse. The city officials play whack-a-mole & keep kicking the unhoused out of where they camp, & seem to have let them settle in the woods by the freeway.
Aaarrggh!
Ah, well. Re your family drama, - you grew up fast, had to, to save yourself & your siblings. Glad you had your grandparents.