I really can't understand the stupidity that must be involved by the people who are interviewing you. How can they not know what they're missing out on?
As for other people writing about politics better than you do - perspective and voice matters and no one writes about politics the way you do.
Mostly, they don’t interview me. I get close, but there’s always a reason. Maybe my age. My thin voice. Who even knows. Thank you. I love you. You’re the best writer I know.
The Niemöller poem packs an important punch. but it always bugs me a little when the primary reason given for doing the right thing is fundamentally self-interest. Seems to me it should be because IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Hillel gets to it in his second sentence, but I think he should have lead with it (Talmudic scholar that I am...). (BTW, I love reading your writing about politics--no more self-belittling there.)
I never thought of Hillel that way! And I would love to talk with you about that.
Yes, definitely: doing the right thing should not be transactional. The problem is that so many people are happy with the immigrants being sent somewhere else, so that’s going to be little motivation for them to do anything.
Some people still believe that if they do a kindness, they are owed a kindness. But it’s not kindness anymore; it’s trade.
It's true, sadly, that this is what we need to say to get people to pay attention (and, God forbid, care). And it's also helpful in showing how things build, as they are doing now. I guess my concern is better kept for more benign times.
I really can't understand the stupidity that must be involved by the people who are interviewing you. How can they not know what they're missing out on?
As for other people writing about politics better than you do - perspective and voice matters and no one writes about politics the way you do.
Mostly, they don’t interview me. I get close, but there’s always a reason. Maybe my age. My thin voice. Who even knows. Thank you. I love you. You’re the best writer I know.
The Niemöller poem packs an important punch. but it always bugs me a little when the primary reason given for doing the right thing is fundamentally self-interest. Seems to me it should be because IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Hillel gets to it in his second sentence, but I think he should have lead with it (Talmudic scholar that I am...). (BTW, I love reading your writing about politics--no more self-belittling there.)
I never thought of Hillel that way! And I would love to talk with you about that.
Yes, definitely: doing the right thing should not be transactional. The problem is that so many people are happy with the immigrants being sent somewhere else, so that’s going to be little motivation for them to do anything.
Some people still believe that if they do a kindness, they are owed a kindness. But it’s not kindness anymore; it’s trade.
It's true, sadly, that this is what we need to say to get people to pay attention (and, God forbid, care). And it's also helpful in showing how things build, as they are doing now. I guess my concern is better kept for more benign times.
No, not at all. It's a valid point and an important concern. I wish things were different.
Your muppet is adorable!