Storms will pass, as will strong men. The force of calm reason and the will to right action are growing here and elsewhere around the planet. They will overcome by confronting and rejecting the forces of entropy and chaos. The excessive heat and aridity of the moment's inner and outer weather will soon yield to autumnal maturity, reflection, meditation and wisdom, and right will control might (I hope).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, George. Your optimism is inspiring and much-needed in these turbulent times. I share your hope that the growing force of calm reason and the will to right action will indeed rise to counter the chaos and division we see today. There's a sense that people around the globe are waking up to the necessity of working together for the common good. The winds of change are beginning to stir, and we see movements driven by justice, sustainability, and compassion gaining ground.
At the same time, it’s hard not to feel concerned. The forces of entropy and chaos you mention are strong and persistent, and the path forward is far from smooth. While I believe that reflection, wisdom, and a deeper sense of connection can prevail, the journey requires continued vigilance. We must ensure that right can truly control might by remaining steadfast in our collective pursuit of truth, justice, and equity.
Your comment presents an oddly elitist framework, suggesting that competence is narrowly defined by the classical Trivium. While grammar, logic, and rhetoric are valuable, they are hardly the sole measures of a person’s worth or ability. You dismiss emotions and feelings as though they’re irrelevant, when in reality, emotional intelligence is crucial to understanding human nature and navigating complex social dynamics.
Moreover, your focus on “Kamala the Jailer” seems to betray the very logic and rhetoric you claim to uphold—by reducing a nuanced individual to a simplistic label, you’re actually displaying a lack of the critical thinking you advocate for. Your argument comes across as dogmatic, not reasoned. We should aspire to more balanced perspectives that embrace both intellect and empathy.
Can you elucidate on how fully using the brain God gave us is “elitist”? We DO have two brain hemispheres, one of which uses intuition and creativity, the other which uses logic , deduction, reason and calculation. Were we humans not meant to use these hemispheres in a fully integrated and holistic manner to be at our maximum potential?
Malcolm X is a shining example of this potential which resides in us all.
If we reside ONLY in emotionality we can be easily manipulated.
Where did I specifically say emotions and feelings are “irrelevant” ? They have their place, of course, but not as our masters.
My calling Harris “Kamala the Jailer” is not simplistic, but, merely, highlighting an aspect of her public record that puts her hypocrisy in focus. There are many other aspects I can highlight which show her absolute lack of integrity and fitness to hold the office she is vying for, but I’ll stop here by saying her true record and nature are available to all who are willing to search for it!
The entire approach of her campaign seems to be “Trump bad” while sidestepping and denying her role and complicity during the last 3.5 years in our current national decline and multiple global crises.
Just as Bush and Cheney are intertwined, so are Biden and Harris.
(By the way, has everyone forgotten Cheney’s multiple crimes and how the same people who called for his arrest 2002-2008 are now using his Harris endorsement as a selling point??)
You and I do agree we need a fundamental balance between intellect and empathy! ;)
My hope is for an expansive dialog and for all to go forward in this election cycle and beyond with a more holistic and less binary perspective!
I've always felt the the phrase "Trump Derangement Syndrome" was more descriptive of his followers than his critics. I guess some just don't want to appropriate it that way.
A book I finished reading yesterday, "You Are Now Less Dumb", covers a number of biases which often lead us to incorrect conclusions and irrational behaviors. It is quite an enlightening read. Ten years from now, a number of people will be ashamed of themselves.
I understand where you’re coming from, and it’s clear we have different perspectives on the issues at hand. It’s important to critically assess any leader, and yes, DJT has his share of supporters and detractors, but the concerns about him being an existential threat aren’t just from 'wokesters' or 'Marxists'—they're shared by people from across the political spectrum, based on his actions and rhetoric.
Regarding Kamala Harris, criticism of her record is fair game, but it’s worth remembering that reducing complex leaders to simple labels doesn’t help the conversation. Whether we agree on specific policies or not, engaging in constructive dialogue is how we can avoid falling into that 'dystopian hellscape' we all want to avoid.
As for voluntarism, I respect the idea of questioning authority and seeking individual freedom. But in a society as interconnected as ours, finding a balance between freedom and governance is essential for stability. We need systems in place to address collective challenges—hopefully, ones that reflect fairness and accountability.
Storms will pass, as will strong men. The force of calm reason and the will to right action are growing here and elsewhere around the planet. They will overcome by confronting and rejecting the forces of entropy and chaos. The excessive heat and aridity of the moment's inner and outer weather will soon yield to autumnal maturity, reflection, meditation and wisdom, and right will control might (I hope).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, George. Your optimism is inspiring and much-needed in these turbulent times. I share your hope that the growing force of calm reason and the will to right action will indeed rise to counter the chaos and division we see today. There's a sense that people around the globe are waking up to the necessity of working together for the common good. The winds of change are beginning to stir, and we see movements driven by justice, sustainability, and compassion gaining ground.
At the same time, it’s hard not to feel concerned. The forces of entropy and chaos you mention are strong and persistent, and the path forward is far from smooth. While I believe that reflection, wisdom, and a deeper sense of connection can prevail, the journey requires continued vigilance. We must ensure that right can truly control might by remaining steadfast in our collective pursuit of truth, justice, and equity.
Very poetic words!:)
Oh, and one more thing (as Steve Jobs used to say):
To truly understand a person’s competence, you must study the lost art of the Trivium:
1)Grammar
2)Logic
3)Rhetoric
A person stands or falls on the skill of these points, just as musicians do in their skill of vocabulary and the external sonic manifestation thereof.
Kamala the Jailer has none of these skills.
Stay out of emotions and feelings and use this guidance.
Once you have this skill, re-introduce heart based knowledge but not before.
Your comment presents an oddly elitist framework, suggesting that competence is narrowly defined by the classical Trivium. While grammar, logic, and rhetoric are valuable, they are hardly the sole measures of a person’s worth or ability. You dismiss emotions and feelings as though they’re irrelevant, when in reality, emotional intelligence is crucial to understanding human nature and navigating complex social dynamics.
Moreover, your focus on “Kamala the Jailer” seems to betray the very logic and rhetoric you claim to uphold—by reducing a nuanced individual to a simplistic label, you’re actually displaying a lack of the critical thinking you advocate for. Your argument comes across as dogmatic, not reasoned. We should aspire to more balanced perspectives that embrace both intellect and empathy.
Hi Bret, thanks for the reply.
Can you elucidate on how fully using the brain God gave us is “elitist”? We DO have two brain hemispheres, one of which uses intuition and creativity, the other which uses logic , deduction, reason and calculation. Were we humans not meant to use these hemispheres in a fully integrated and holistic manner to be at our maximum potential?
Malcolm X is a shining example of this potential which resides in us all.
If we reside ONLY in emotionality we can be easily manipulated.
Where did I specifically say emotions and feelings are “irrelevant” ? They have their place, of course, but not as our masters.
My calling Harris “Kamala the Jailer” is not simplistic, but, merely, highlighting an aspect of her public record that puts her hypocrisy in focus. There are many other aspects I can highlight which show her absolute lack of integrity and fitness to hold the office she is vying for, but I’ll stop here by saying her true record and nature are available to all who are willing to search for it!
The entire approach of her campaign seems to be “Trump bad” while sidestepping and denying her role and complicity during the last 3.5 years in our current national decline and multiple global crises.
Just as Bush and Cheney are intertwined, so are Biden and Harris.
(By the way, has everyone forgotten Cheney’s multiple crimes and how the same people who called for his arrest 2002-2008 are now using his Harris endorsement as a selling point??)
You and I do agree we need a fundamental balance between intellect and empathy! ;)
My hope is for an expansive dialog and for all to go forward in this election cycle and beyond with a more holistic and less binary perspective!
Perfect;y stated! And I do agree with George M that this too shall pass.
Keep cooking Dr.!
I've always felt the the phrase "Trump Derangement Syndrome" was more descriptive of his followers than his critics. I guess some just don't want to appropriate it that way.
A book I finished reading yesterday, "You Are Now Less Dumb", covers a number of biases which often lead us to incorrect conclusions and irrational behaviors. It is quite an enlightening read. Ten years from now, a number of people will be ashamed of themselves.
Eh, they thanked you Tuesday on KPOO San Francisco uplift broadcast. Shared your Benny Golson audio and thanked you. Made me happy, jazz video guy.
Wow. Had no idea. Thank you.
Sorry Bret, you are off the mark on this one.
DJT is many things, flawed, definitely, but not the “existential threat” the wokesters and Marxists want you to believe.
Cackling Kamala the Jailer is far worse and would plunge the US further into a dystopian hellscape.
But, as a voluntarist, I know that the concept of authority and government is bankrupt and understanding this fully is the first step to true freedom.
I understand where you’re coming from, and it’s clear we have different perspectives on the issues at hand. It’s important to critically assess any leader, and yes, DJT has his share of supporters and detractors, but the concerns about him being an existential threat aren’t just from 'wokesters' or 'Marxists'—they're shared by people from across the political spectrum, based on his actions and rhetoric.
Regarding Kamala Harris, criticism of her record is fair game, but it’s worth remembering that reducing complex leaders to simple labels doesn’t help the conversation. Whether we agree on specific policies or not, engaging in constructive dialogue is how we can avoid falling into that 'dystopian hellscape' we all want to avoid.
As for voluntarism, I respect the idea of questioning authority and seeking individual freedom. But in a society as interconnected as ours, finding a balance between freedom and governance is essential for stability. We need systems in place to address collective challenges—hopefully, ones that reflect fairness and accountability.