I love the way your memories have presented themselves to you at the right moment. Your mind is a brilliant, fertile playground. Also that pic of Gerda. Heartbreaking.
Joy--It seems you see what I do when I see pictures of Gerda. The heartbreak--but/and what was amazing to me when I saw that 39 minute short film, was that it ended in hope. (I'm going to watch it again this morning to remind myself of that.) Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
“ But perhaps empathy is something you can’t achieve without having sustained loss of your own…” BINGO, Diana! I’ve been thinking about this too for quite some time. As Dan Rather mentioned in his memoir about growing up during the Depression, EVERYONE was hurting. And people were looking out for each other, though most had very little themselves.
That empathy is gone now because suffering is not quite so universal. Yes, the Rust Belt and other pockets are hurting. But not the whole country. So empathy is out the window. Anger has taken its place. How else to explain public acceptance of massive healthcare cuts to millions and pulling out of international aid programs?
FDR could never have achieved his New Deal in this environment. Not enough folks are hurting.
Andrew: "So empathy is out the window. Anger has taken its place. How else to explain public acceptance of massive healthcare cuts to millions and pulling out of international aid programs?" It's hard not to weep.
I heard...maybe it was Newt Gingrich--or someone like that--someone I try to immediately erase from my mind--say that "Donald Trump is the best weapon we've ever had against liberalism." And when I heard that, I thought--yes. That's why they continue to excuse (and make excuses for) his bad behavior. And dear god, when did liberalism (and the implicit empathy and compassion therein) become the enemy?
Wow, Diana. I love this revelatory trip down memory lane. After all these years of working with you on the novel, I had no idea of these connections. And what a beautiful way to remind us that we are facing similarly perilous times. ❤️
I had a similar experience when I read your essay about how prominently horses and riding figured into your life--as in--how did I NOT know this? And it's dawned on me (clearly, I'm a slow learner) that it's often only through writing and sharing our writing, that we allow these experiences--these views into our psyches and souls-- to surface. Another reason why I'm grateful for having you in my life. 💜
I love the way your memories have presented themselves to you at the right moment. Your mind is a brilliant, fertile playground. Also that pic of Gerda. Heartbreaking.
Joy--It seems you see what I do when I see pictures of Gerda. The heartbreak--but/and what was amazing to me when I saw that 39 minute short film, was that it ended in hope. (I'm going to watch it again this morning to remind myself of that.) Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
“ But perhaps empathy is something you can’t achieve without having sustained loss of your own…” BINGO, Diana! I’ve been thinking about this too for quite some time. As Dan Rather mentioned in his memoir about growing up during the Depression, EVERYONE was hurting. And people were looking out for each other, though most had very little themselves.
That empathy is gone now because suffering is not quite so universal. Yes, the Rust Belt and other pockets are hurting. But not the whole country. So empathy is out the window. Anger has taken its place. How else to explain public acceptance of massive healthcare cuts to millions and pulling out of international aid programs?
FDR could never have achieved his New Deal in this environment. Not enough folks are hurting.
Thanks for bringing this up!
Andrew: "So empathy is out the window. Anger has taken its place. How else to explain public acceptance of massive healthcare cuts to millions and pulling out of international aid programs?" It's hard not to weep.
I heard...maybe it was Newt Gingrich--or someone like that--someone I try to immediately erase from my mind--say that "Donald Trump is the best weapon we've ever had against liberalism." And when I heard that, I thought--yes. That's why they continue to excuse (and make excuses for) his bad behavior. And dear god, when did liberalism (and the implicit empathy and compassion therein) become the enemy?
Wow, Diana. I love this revelatory trip down memory lane. After all these years of working with you on the novel, I had no idea of these connections. And what a beautiful way to remind us that we are facing similarly perilous times. ❤️
I had a similar experience when I read your essay about how prominently horses and riding figured into your life--as in--how did I NOT know this? And it's dawned on me (clearly, I'm a slow learner) that it's often only through writing and sharing our writing, that we allow these experiences--these views into our psyches and souls-- to surface. Another reason why I'm grateful for having you in my life. 💜
And I, you. 🥰