Sunday, June 14, 2020

Time of Fear and Contempt

contempt
1a: the act of despising : the state of mind of one who despises : DISDAIN
glared at him in contempt
1b: lack of respect or reverence for something
acting with contempt for public safety
2: the state of being despised
3: willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body

fear
1a: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
1b(1): an instance of this emotion
1b(2): a state marked by this emotion
2: anxious concern : SOLICITUDE
3: profound reverence and awe especially toward God
4: reason for alarm : DANGER

Well I lost another Far Right FB acquaintance.  This one was a bit different, they had been working in another country during a period of marshal law.  And for some reason Gov Walz controlling gatherings and my using data to support him is triggering unpleasant feelings and memories.

Also, I am reading a fantasy book called "The Time of Contempt" and it seemed to appropriate to our situation. :-(

Finally a FB Friend posted a meme about how the Rioters had given him the best reason in 245 years for owning guns.

HAS EVERYBODY LOST THEIR MINDS? :-)

We live in a country of relative wealth, stability, security and people are scared of:
  • Government control and conspiracies
  • Rioters and the related damage
  • Police and the Justice System
  • The Far Left, The Far Right, Anarchists
  • Illegal immigrants, White Supremacists
  • Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Native Americans
  • Muslims, Christians, Jews
  • COVID, COVID Conspiracies, Masks
  • High Taxes, Low Benefits, Rich People
It seems that the words "We The People" does not apply very well of late. :-(

My advice is to LIGHTEN UP.  For the most part people are good and not out to get you. :-)

And if you are choosing to watch media that profits by stoking your fears and contempt, either turn it off or choose a more relaxing channel.  Life is too short to be so scared and angry.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I mostly watch "Friend". Whether Ross and Rachel are going to get together is just as scripted as anything I see on cable news, and a whole lot more entertaining.

--Hiram

John said...

You racist... How can you stand to watch that "too white" comedy... :-)

Just kidding. Even "Friends" stirred up controversy lately...

John said...

Hopefully the main stream big dollar advertisers will keep walking away from the extremists

Anonymous said...

I don't worry that much about being labelled.

I like the move "Gone With the Wind" too. Am a big Vivian Leigh fan.

--Hiram

Anonymous said...

HAS EVERYBODY LOST THEIR MINDS?

Yes.

John said...

Benfit of Extremism by John Cleese

Anonymous said...

Extremists provide a context for getting things done. Too often, non extremism means contentment with the status quot, often setting up a much greater conflict later.

--Hiram

Anonymous said...

How many moderate non extremist individuals would ever get anything done if, deep down, they didn't fear that some extremist would line them up against a wall and shoot them if they didn't? Gleefully, I might add. Extremists have an important and valuable place in the political ecosystem.

--Hiram

John said...

The question though is what happens when:

- majority of Americans of extremists

- divided into 2 groups of roughly equal size

- and they see each other as a threat to all they hold dear?

Anonymous said...

I suppose Trump is the answer millions get sick and hundreds of thousands die. But hey, at least the surviviors got their Republican lifetime junior judges, and their tax cuts.

--Hiram

Anonymous said...

What is interesting to me is that Republicans nominated someone for president who no one has ever respected, or for that matter, admired. It's as if they decided respect and admiration were no longer attitudes we needed to have for the president of the United States. Republicans made a deliberate choice for president of a man whose picture they would not want to put up in an elementary classroom.

--Hiram

John said...

Such contempt for Trump as usual...

Actually a lot of people seem to respect him...

That is usually what surprises and puzzles me... :-)

Anonymous said...

They may say they respect him, but I don't think they really do. Would anyone who says they respect Trump buy bonds in one of his businesses?

--Hiram

John said...

Are you confusing the words "respect" and "trust"? :-)