As a child learning about the Roman Colosseum cruelty, I used to think "Thanks god we've evolved beyond that." Such are the thoughts of children unwise in the ways of the world. Of course, cruelty was (is) the point. The point of psychopaths and their followers.
I am a fairly new reader. As an avid gardener and someone interested in native plants, I really appreciate your perspective. You are doing something very important.
To be fair to the United States, Russia seems to have used white phosphorus in Ukraine, and depleted uranium is used in all modern conflicts. The U.S is sending Ukraine weapons with which it can defend itself. It was not known immediately that the atomic bombs were unnecessary: it was not until the end of 2024 where I think we have the consensus that the Soviet invasion of Manchuria was the factor. George Washington inherited slaves but was anti-slavery: I was surprised you did not mention the fact he was "Town Destroyer."
Have you read Johan Galtung's essay on peace and structural violence? He says that violence is the difference between the potential and the actual. He illustrates this with the example of TB: if you died from TB before there was a medication, that's a tragedy. If you die from it now because you can't access treatment that's a violence because there is an avoidable difference between the potential (you recovering) and the actual (you dying). This is perhaps part of what informed the "where a remedy is available" idea. It's a really rich essay, you might be interested in it:
My Google Alert made me aware that you lied about Fallujah. NO depleted uranium kinetic energy penetrator rounds were fired in Fallujah simply because there were no tank to tank battles in the city. This has always been a lie that began with Saddam Hussein, blame all birth defects on depleted uranium. Result has been birth defects due to other causes continue instead of the actual cause being found and eliminated. Lying about depleted uranium does no good for anyone. I do not know why you bought into it, but you are wrong.
What's mind boggling for me is not what the US has done in so many instances - but how easily they got away with it, and, in some cases, are even praised for those atrocities. There's plenty of other examples in history, I guess.
But besides aiding the fight against the system, kindness also lifts people up, so absolutely, we should be kinder to each other.
Well said and so timely! Blessings from a fellow Nebraskan Gen-x‘er still in the state. I’m not sure what the near future holds, but from here it looks a little rough. Wishing you peace and warmth this winter. I feel that we’ll need our energy.
What a poignant piece. Thank you. I do not believe we are ‘born of sin’, or that someone else died for our sins which makes what we do now seem acceptable. I do believe we are meant to grow and evolve and in that growth and evolution it is necessary to grow beyond the cruelty which to me is an easy way to be to other beings. We have all been traumatized deliberately and through our cultures and families. It’s a mental mind game being played. Keep people at each other’s throats, and cruel, and the power remains in the hands of the puppeteers. For me, we ALL have to grow and become aware of how we are manipulated to hate one another or to divide one another. Call it whatever you want but until we stop screaming at one another, until we start dealing with our own selves, we will continue to be played. Humanity literally has to decide once and for all who and how it wants to be based on our behaviors. We have the ability to be kind, to be respectful and to live peacefully. We can awaken but we have to want to heal. And for some that is too much to ask, too hard, too real because then they feel, it will mean feeling pain and shame, and it is far easier to move through the world numb and cruel. Thank you again for such a powerful perspective. ❤️
As a child learning about the Roman Colosseum cruelty, I used to think "Thanks god we've evolved beyond that." Such are the thoughts of children unwise in the ways of the world. Of course, cruelty was (is) the point. The point of psychopaths and their followers.
Yes I have similar memories from childhood, of learning about things we were supposed to be evolved beyond. But alas!
Are there cultures where kindness is not a virtue?
I think kindness is probably a virtue in every culture, including our own. But in our own, I feel like cruelty overwhelms it.
Yes there is much cruelty. I have long believed that if kindness were common, it wouldn't be considered a virtue.
I don't think it's our nature to be cruel either, Kollibri. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Diana!
I am a fairly new reader. As an avid gardener and someone interested in native plants, I really appreciate your perspective. You are doing something very important.
Thank you so much, Sarah! Your words mean a lot to me.
To be fair to the United States, Russia seems to have used white phosphorus in Ukraine, and depleted uranium is used in all modern conflicts. The U.S is sending Ukraine weapons with which it can defend itself. It was not known immediately that the atomic bombs were unnecessary: it was not until the end of 2024 where I think we have the consensus that the Soviet invasion of Manchuria was the factor. George Washington inherited slaves but was anti-slavery: I was surprised you did not mention the fact he was "Town Destroyer."
to quote the poet Linh Dinh: "A much dumbed down world will have no choice but to wise up, or die clutching their dead cellphones"
Yeah that really says it!
HOW old are you?
Excellent, thoughtful piece! Thank you.
thanks for a great piece!
Have you read Johan Galtung's essay on peace and structural violence? He says that violence is the difference between the potential and the actual. He illustrates this with the example of TB: if you died from TB before there was a medication, that's a tragedy. If you die from it now because you can't access treatment that's a violence because there is an avoidable difference between the potential (you recovering) and the actual (you dying). This is perhaps part of what informed the "where a remedy is available" idea. It's a really rich essay, you might be interested in it:
https://www2.kobe-u.ac.jp/~alexroni/IPD%202015%20readings/IPD%202015_7/Galtung_Violence,%20Peace,%20and%20Peace%20Research.pdf
My Google Alert made me aware that you lied about Fallujah. NO depleted uranium kinetic energy penetrator rounds were fired in Fallujah simply because there were no tank to tank battles in the city. This has always been a lie that began with Saddam Hussein, blame all birth defects on depleted uranium. Result has been birth defects due to other causes continue instead of the actual cause being found and eliminated. Lying about depleted uranium does no good for anyone. I do not know why you bought into it, but you are wrong.
Great perspective!
What's mind boggling for me is not what the US has done in so many instances - but how easily they got away with it, and, in some cases, are even praised for those atrocities. There's plenty of other examples in history, I guess.
But besides aiding the fight against the system, kindness also lifts people up, so absolutely, we should be kinder to each other.
Well said and so timely! Blessings from a fellow Nebraskan Gen-x‘er still in the state. I’m not sure what the near future holds, but from here it looks a little rough. Wishing you peace and warmth this winter. I feel that we’ll need our energy.
What a poignant piece. Thank you. I do not believe we are ‘born of sin’, or that someone else died for our sins which makes what we do now seem acceptable. I do believe we are meant to grow and evolve and in that growth and evolution it is necessary to grow beyond the cruelty which to me is an easy way to be to other beings. We have all been traumatized deliberately and through our cultures and families. It’s a mental mind game being played. Keep people at each other’s throats, and cruel, and the power remains in the hands of the puppeteers. For me, we ALL have to grow and become aware of how we are manipulated to hate one another or to divide one another. Call it whatever you want but until we stop screaming at one another, until we start dealing with our own selves, we will continue to be played. Humanity literally has to decide once and for all who and how it wants to be based on our behaviors. We have the ability to be kind, to be respectful and to live peacefully. We can awaken but we have to want to heal. And for some that is too much to ask, too hard, too real because then they feel, it will mean feeling pain and shame, and it is far easier to move through the world numb and cruel. Thank you again for such a powerful perspective. ❤️