Mary, this is one of THE clearest explanations about how it happens. Excellent writing!
Another thought occurred to me yesterday as I re-read CNN’s comments on your uncle’s Feb 8th ‘speech’ (diatribe) in Palm Beach…. they were CORRECT that he LIED about Pelosi causing the insurrection. HOWEVER, what I think they missed was that he admitted it WAS AN INSURRECTION.
Could this be used to settle the question: “was it an insurrection?”
He said it himself. In a lie, he provides the truth?
Donald does that ALL THE TIME!!! He lies, but actually says the truth about himself. He's so self-revealing and, it's been said as far back as 2016: just listen to his words, and he'll give himself away...
Me? known as a psychologist and actually I am an American artist, poet, philosopher, quotable notable. Each person sees what they want to see is the answer. believer or non believer. I believe in you strong freaky smile and heart and brad mehldau. I can't now. It's too bad. It's too late. and that's not funny. it's real Guess who? Leigh Silverton
Ahhh, having relatives from Queens, NY, I used to have what I would call the "Archie Bunker Test." If they acted like Archie Bunker, then I would gradually have them fade out of my life, little by little.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize how racist and hateful some of my relatives were until Obama came to power, and even moreso when your uncle came down the escalator. Suddenly, their masks of politeness were gone, and they revealed who they really were
It has saved me a great deal of money on Christmas presents since I cut them out of my life. The relatives who are more open minded I have kept in my life. The rest are wished into the cornfield.
Thank you, Mary, for continuing to speak out. And please take good care of yourself. Saving democracy is going to be a tough slog so some escapist literature may be just what we all need. And keeping the focus on yourself will benefit us all. Peace and Love.
We need to remind ourselves that it is UNKIND to withhold constructive criticism from people who are racist, bigoted, prejudiced, or sexist. Being kind - which is mentioned on Facebook at least twice a day - does not mean being quiet or accommodating. Silence is complicity. Standing our ground can be done without name calling, anger, condescension, or superiority. Moral courage requires direct communication delivered from a place of sincerity and integrity. Some will still flap about and rant, but as we saw from Fani Willis, moral courage wins the day. Mary, thank you for all you do. Try Edith Wharton’s novels if you haven’t already completed them.
This seared me to my soul. You must have been specifically chosen and prepared to do this - your mission -as few humans have the experiences you have .You bring your love, your intellect and passion and transmute it all for good. The fact that YOU emerged from that says anything is possible. Thank you.
What a beautiful commentary on Mary. I too have been amazed that such a gem of a human being who had her roots in such an unbearable and unacceptable family, (to use Mary's words in this article) could be such a fearless force for GOOD. Mary's journey from this family reminds me of the poem by Kahlil Gibran about Children. He says:
"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They came through you but not from you, And although they are with us, yet they belong not to us."
It's safe to say Mary is the daughter of " Life's longing for itself."
I will, number one, need to read some Henry James. But more importantly,I didn’t see where your thoughts would be going in the post. It was impactful. Thanks for the insight and the suggestion. It is time to get our collective house in order.
I have a framed photograph of Billie Holiday on my wall. My racist but close uncle said what’s that ‘N’ word doing on my wall. I said “don’t ever say that word in my house again” and he never did. I did it to a beloved childhood uncle, we all can do it to the MAGA Republicans!!
Though it's a challenge to read, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury is a novel whose characters Mary will recognize in her own family: people clinging to trappings of wealth and power long after that train left the station. Dilsey, the faithful family servant, is the only sane person in the Compson family and all that binds the Compson blood relatives to one another. Donny, Eric and Ivanka are latter day Quentin, Jason and Caddy figures. Born to wealth and privilege, they are powerless to arrest their descent into despair and irrelevance.
I am grateful for my h.s. lit teacher who had us read it. I now must reread it as i found it two months ago in a box of my highschool stuff....from 44 years ago.
This is a position I struggle with, because I do think there's a lot to be said (in any context) for "hate the sin, love the sinner." All people are complex, and if everyone maintains their own list of "one strike and you're out" offenses, civilization is really impossible. Many of the conservatives have their own "one strike" rule about abortion, and their view of abortionists as serial killers could be compared to a similar view of wealthy Southern gentlemen who never directly witnessed mistreatment of slaves, or who were simply raised in a society where slaves were less-than just like fetuses are.
It's not just about accommodation or appeasement, it's about wanting to be a part of a society that treats all human beings with dignity and self-governance. We know that means "except if it's at the expense of others" but other people don't and they are going to act accordingly. That's the specious argument about "you can't make me wear a mask, I have that right" when they don't have a right to kill other people.
Should all people who commit crimes be shunned and starve to death? Or have to dive deeper into criminality in order to survive in a society that won't let them participate? Is the line drawn at murder, or manslaughter, or vehicular homicide, or rape, or abortion?
Being intolerant of people who hold intolerable views is easy, but we're the folks who say "I think you're gross, but you're human too. I don't have to agree with you." That's super hard to remember at times, but I admire the people who do. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Davis
Mary, this is one of THE clearest explanations about how it happens. Excellent writing!
Another thought occurred to me yesterday as I re-read CNN’s comments on your uncle’s Feb 8th ‘speech’ (diatribe) in Palm Beach…. they were CORRECT that he LIED about Pelosi causing the insurrection. HOWEVER, what I think they missed was that he admitted it WAS AN INSURRECTION.
Could this be used to settle the question: “was it an insurrection?”
He said it himself. In a lie, he provides the truth?
Oh my, did he really say that? Because if he did that’s huge! I wonder if Jack Smith is aware of this.
He surely did say it. iI couldn’t figure out how to post the link here. I think you can search it by : date of diatribe.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/08/politics/fact-check-trump-january-6/index.html
There you go. Wow!
Thank you Paula! Other news outlets also carried it but it seems focused on the lie.,.. because maybe you would expect to find the truth in his words?
CORRECTION: (damn Siri!! ) should be WHO would expect / not YOU
“I think it was an insurrection caused by ______,” Trump said. Just take Nancy’s name out of that half-truth and Jack, you’ve got a confession.
THIS RIGHT HERE ^^^^^
I doubt Very Stable Genius knows insurrection from vivisection.
The truth will out.
Donald does that ALL THE TIME!!! He lies, but actually says the truth about himself. He's so self-revealing and, it's been said as far back as 2016: just listen to his words, and he'll give himself away...
Oops.
Take it out of the house …. and senate, too.
Wouldn't that be nice!
Me? known as a psychologist and actually I am an American artist, poet, philosopher, quotable notable. Each person sees what they want to see is the answer. believer or non believer. I believe in you strong freaky smile and heart and brad mehldau. I can't now. It's too bad. It's too late. and that's not funny. it's real Guess who? Leigh Silverton
An essay that is absolutely beautiful, powerful, and true. Thank you.
Ahhh, having relatives from Queens, NY, I used to have what I would call the "Archie Bunker Test." If they acted like Archie Bunker, then I would gradually have them fade out of my life, little by little.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize how racist and hateful some of my relatives were until Obama came to power, and even moreso when your uncle came down the escalator. Suddenly, their masks of politeness were gone, and they revealed who they really were
It has saved me a great deal of money on Christmas presents since I cut them out of my life. The relatives who are more open minded I have kept in my life. The rest are wished into the cornfield.
Thank you, Mary, for continuing to speak out. And please take good care of yourself. Saving democracy is going to be a tough slog so some escapist literature may be just what we all need. And keeping the focus on yourself will benefit us all. Peace and Love.
Mary how deeply you’ve shared.
A Power Greater than ourselves is present.
I am so grateful for your work and your dedication to the truth.
We need to remind ourselves that it is UNKIND to withhold constructive criticism from people who are racist, bigoted, prejudiced, or sexist. Being kind - which is mentioned on Facebook at least twice a day - does not mean being quiet or accommodating. Silence is complicity. Standing our ground can be done without name calling, anger, condescension, or superiority. Moral courage requires direct communication delivered from a place of sincerity and integrity. Some will still flap about and rant, but as we saw from Fani Willis, moral courage wins the day. Mary, thank you for all you do. Try Edith Wharton’s novels if you haven’t already completed them.
God, yeah! Take it all out of our house, once and for all!!
This seared me to my soul. You must have been specifically chosen and prepared to do this - your mission -as few humans have the experiences you have .You bring your love, your intellect and passion and transmute it all for good. The fact that YOU emerged from that says anything is possible. Thank you.
What a beautiful commentary on Mary. I too have been amazed that such a gem of a human being who had her roots in such an unbearable and unacceptable family, (to use Mary's words in this article) could be such a fearless force for GOOD. Mary's journey from this family reminds me of the poem by Kahlil Gibran about Children. He says:
"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They came through you but not from you, And although they are with us, yet they belong not to us."
It's safe to say Mary is the daughter of " Life's longing for itself."
Wow! I love your perspective! Certainly she demonstrates suitedness “for such a time as this.”
Thank you Audrey. I agree, she certainly does.
Mary, you finished your novel, kept us on the edge of our seats with your Substack.....AND read James' novels????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you. Well said. And the quote from Maya Angelou is perfection. I needed that.
I will, number one, need to read some Henry James. But more importantly,I didn’t see where your thoughts would be going in the post. It was impactful. Thanks for the insight and the suggestion. It is time to get our collective house in order.
Brilliant! Simply, clearly brilliant.
I have a framed photograph of Billie Holiday on my wall. My racist but close uncle said what’s that ‘N’ word doing on my wall. I said “don’t ever say that word in my house again” and he never did. I did it to a beloved childhood uncle, we all can do it to the MAGA Republicans!!
Though it's a challenge to read, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury is a novel whose characters Mary will recognize in her own family: people clinging to trappings of wealth and power long after that train left the station. Dilsey, the faithful family servant, is the only sane person in the Compson family and all that binds the Compson blood relatives to one another. Donny, Eric and Ivanka are latter day Quentin, Jason and Caddy figures. Born to wealth and privilege, they are powerless to arrest their descent into despair and irrelevance.
I am grateful for my h.s. lit teacher who had us read it. I now must reread it as i found it two months ago in a box of my highschool stuff....from 44 years ago.
This is a position I struggle with, because I do think there's a lot to be said (in any context) for "hate the sin, love the sinner." All people are complex, and if everyone maintains their own list of "one strike and you're out" offenses, civilization is really impossible. Many of the conservatives have their own "one strike" rule about abortion, and their view of abortionists as serial killers could be compared to a similar view of wealthy Southern gentlemen who never directly witnessed mistreatment of slaves, or who were simply raised in a society where slaves were less-than just like fetuses are.
It's not just about accommodation or appeasement, it's about wanting to be a part of a society that treats all human beings with dignity and self-governance. We know that means "except if it's at the expense of others" but other people don't and they are going to act accordingly. That's the specious argument about "you can't make me wear a mask, I have that right" when they don't have a right to kill other people.
Should all people who commit crimes be shunned and starve to death? Or have to dive deeper into criminality in order to survive in a society that won't let them participate? Is the line drawn at murder, or manslaughter, or vehicular homicide, or rape, or abortion?
Being intolerant of people who hold intolerable views is easy, but we're the folks who say "I think you're gross, but you're human too. I don't have to agree with you." That's super hard to remember at times, but I admire the people who do. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Davis