The sweetest "revenge" is when people who are being disagreeable hoist themselves on their own petard. I always thought a petard was a sword but I looked it up. A petard is an explosive device. To be hoisted on your own petard is to blow yourself up. And that's exactly what the so-called"Freedom Caucus" did. But don't let your guard down - an animal is more dangerous when it's wounded. The Freedom Caucus is a creature of Trump and there's a ways to go yet before he is defanged.
The tea of optimism is a particularly strong brew this morning. I think you're right Jerry, but I'll be much happier when the deal is done and a couple of bills have been signed.
As a person who was raised Catholic, way back in the 40's and 50's, we were taught that the three most important virtues were "Faith, Hope, and Charity." I love that this newsletter is called "Feathers of Hope!" A wonderful title!
Hope is what we need most these days! Hope that Truth will prevail! Hope that sanity in the minds of those in power, legislators and judges, shall prevail.
Faith that goodness WILL prevail over evil. Faith that ordinary citizens will "see the light!"
And Charity, so we don't get lost in negativity, but to "love our enemies" and kill them with kindness!
And lastly, for those of us who believe in the power of prayer, to actually pray (to Jehovah, to Allah, to
Joshua-ben-Joseph and His loving mother) that the outcome in November will have us dancing in the streets with unbridled joy!
I'd put in a word of support for a fourth necessary virtue -compassion. It is part of the concept of loving your enemies but compassion also asks that you feel empathy and the understanding of why your enemies are doing what they are doing. Understanding includes the ability to see something of yourself in your enemies and understanding how and why your enemies do what they do that makes them your enemies. Granted, I struggle to feel compassion for Trump and his acolytes. It is a challenge to empathize with them but there is reporting that lays out the lives and struggles of those who drive around in big trucks bedecked with Trump
and Gadsden flags - the economic struggles, industrial diseases and hard-scrabble lives. ( "Strangers in their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right"; Arlie Russel Hotchschild; 2016) How can we not feel compassion for the economically oppressed? Honest answer - it's really difficult when they number in their thousands and take over my nation's capital (Ottawa) and call it a Truck Convoy.
Compassion can be really inconvenient.
There is an argument that compassion is contained in charity which is sometimes translated as love. I maintain that compassion is a step beyond love. You can fall in love but I believe that you need to learn compassion. Love happens but compassion is a discipline - one that is very much lacking in the 21st century.
I plan on calling several Congressmen/women today. However, Mike Garcia is a waste of space. A group of us in Swing Left West Valley are writing postcards to voters to unseat him this November. I believe we will win that election. Many groups are taking actions like ours.
This picture speaks volumes. You look at the chins the two Republicans chins are really tight to me. It just says no matter what they’re holding onto their thoughts and beliefs. The two Democrats it’s more relaxed it’s common steady. It may sound crazy but our faces tell the story.
The sweetest "revenge" is when people who are being disagreeable hoist themselves on their own petard. I always thought a petard was a sword but I looked it up. A petard is an explosive device. To be hoisted on your own petard is to blow yourself up. And that's exactly what the so-called"Freedom Caucus" did. But don't let your guard down - an animal is more dangerous when it's wounded. The Freedom Caucus is a creature of Trump and there's a ways to go yet before he is defanged.
The tea of optimism is a particularly strong brew this morning. I think you're right Jerry, but I'll be much happier when the deal is done and a couple of bills have been signed.
Can we dare hope for a breath of sanity in all this madness? Perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel after all. Let us hope. Thanks, Jerry.
As a person who was raised Catholic, way back in the 40's and 50's, we were taught that the three most important virtues were "Faith, Hope, and Charity." I love that this newsletter is called "Feathers of Hope!" A wonderful title!
Hope is what we need most these days! Hope that Truth will prevail! Hope that sanity in the minds of those in power, legislators and judges, shall prevail.
Faith that goodness WILL prevail over evil. Faith that ordinary citizens will "see the light!"
And Charity, so we don't get lost in negativity, but to "love our enemies" and kill them with kindness!
And lastly, for those of us who believe in the power of prayer, to actually pray (to Jehovah, to Allah, to
Joshua-ben-Joseph and His loving mother) that the outcome in November will have us dancing in the streets with unbridled joy!
Beautifully stated, Christine. Thank you!
I'd put in a word of support for a fourth necessary virtue -compassion. It is part of the concept of loving your enemies but compassion also asks that you feel empathy and the understanding of why your enemies are doing what they are doing. Understanding includes the ability to see something of yourself in your enemies and understanding how and why your enemies do what they do that makes them your enemies. Granted, I struggle to feel compassion for Trump and his acolytes. It is a challenge to empathize with them but there is reporting that lays out the lives and struggles of those who drive around in big trucks bedecked with Trump
and Gadsden flags - the economic struggles, industrial diseases and hard-scrabble lives. ( "Strangers in their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right"; Arlie Russel Hotchschild; 2016) How can we not feel compassion for the economically oppressed? Honest answer - it's really difficult when they number in their thousands and take over my nation's capital (Ottawa) and call it a Truck Convoy.
Compassion can be really inconvenient.
There is an argument that compassion is contained in charity which is sometimes translated as love. I maintain that compassion is a step beyond love. You can fall in love but I believe that you need to learn compassion. Love happens but compassion is a discipline - one that is very much lacking in the 21st century.
I plan on calling several Congressmen/women today. However, Mike Garcia is a waste of space. A group of us in Swing Left West Valley are writing postcards to voters to unseat him this November. I believe we will win that election. Many groups are taking actions like ours.
This picture speaks volumes. You look at the chins the two Republicans chins are really tight to me. It just says no matter what they’re holding onto their thoughts and beliefs. The two Democrats it’s more relaxed it’s common steady. It may sound crazy but our faces tell the story.