I watched Judge Brown, soon to be Justice Brown, exhibit amazing grace, and control while being barraged with irrelevant, racist, and insulting questions during her Senate confirmation hearing. I had never heard of her before, after listening to 30 minutes of the hearing, she is amazing. I wouldn't have made it through the process. I would have told a couple of them what @$$holes they are. There are reasons I will never enter politics.
Ukraine, the world stands by while a despot bombs the country into "smoldering ruins!" We offered the President an escape route, he said "send bullets!" The world saw it coming, and stood by and waited. Thousands of people have died, millions of lives torn apart, and the world watched. A dark time in world history.
We recently watched the Jeopardy College Tournament, and were shocked at the sheer lack of knowledge of events that happened in the 1960's - 1990. It was before they were born, and not long ago enough to be in the history books. I remember my parents being shocked when I was in school in the 60's and 70's at the lack of information about World War II, and Korea. I didn't really learn about the holocaust until I was in college in the late 1980's, and then really only because of one professor who felt we needed to know so we wouldn't stand by and watch a repeat of the past.
Oh My, this is depressing. What Good is happening.
I had lunch with a new colleague recently. I was trying to explain what we really do. We are paid (relatively well) to study complex issues, think deep thoughts, help others understand the issues. We can spend time seeking deeper understanding of issues we are passionate about. All of us came at some point from the front lines, with a single view on the issues, the solutions and how they work. Starting to look at the issues from multiple points of view, finding the interconnectedness of it all, I find inspiring. The longer I do this, the more I realize how little I knew, and how much there is left for me to learn. It is what has kept me here for 13 years, it is what drives me through the long weeks.
The spring bloom is at its peak here in the DC area. Lots of blooming trees, the trees are starting to leaf, the grass has that bright spring green. Still the occasional cold wind.
Nato needs to all go in and bomb the shit out of Russia.
ReplyDeleteMy patience has waned.
I am sure it has been talked about
DeleteWhile we can become frustrated at the lack of knowledge young people have, we must remember we've had much longer on this planet to learn things. I learnt nothing about wars when I was school, but I lived through the Vietnam War without taking much interest. Can there be a good war? Unlikely but the Vietnam War was a shocker and changed the natural order of matters in South East Asia, an area that survived quite well without western intervention.
ReplyDeleteSpring must be so much more exciting after very cold winters.
There are wars that need to be stopped, how do you stop a war without being a part of it? There is a deep question for me to ponder.
ReplyDeleteThat old sayin g about those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it, seems especially apt these days.
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteYes, schools always used to make a distinction between "current events" and "history" and teach only "history." Sounds like they still do.
ReplyDeleteI remember current events class
DeleteI've asked myself many times how on earth we ended up electing such a bunch of self-serving idiots.
ReplyDeleteSome of them are really not good
DeleteContinually trying times. As I think about it, I never learned much about the holocaust in school either. But I heard more than enough about it from my family from a very early age. It was a terrible shadow to grow up under. The common refrain was: “They hate us.” As I grew older, I learned that “they” always hate somebody. And, no, the “world” hasn’t learned a thing.
ReplyDeleteCan we create a world without enemies
DeleteThe Senate's Supreme Court confirmation process is broken. The tone of the confirmation hearings changed back when Robert Bork failed to be nominated. KBJ got "borked," a term that came about after Bork's defeat, to defame or vilify a person systematically. As an attorney, I know you're familiar with this. All of the new Justices have had to go through demeaning questions. Our politicians need to look at themselves before going on these holier than thou crusades.
ReplyDeleteI suppose one can argue none of this is new. It is more sad not that it happens but it all is happening again.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree.
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