It is I who owes the apology…
I try to own it when I’m wrong. And Sussex Watcher caught me out going a little to far in a post about Tom Carper’s frailty, by using a human being’s death as an excuse to point and laugh at Carper.
I’m sorry about that, but it isn’t my first (or my last) very bad taste post. So I’m sorry about it, but not super sorry about it. What I’m really sorry about is not being as funny as I’ve been in the past. That post reads like a wild swing at something I could have made funny, back when I was funny.
I’ve reread some old posts, and I can say without false modesty – they were funny. I was funny. I’m not anymore. I’m sour and plodding. I’ve had it with Democrats and Republicans alike. Whatever mojo I once had has dried up like a raison in the sun. The fruit. Not the play. The play could be juicy for all I know. I’ve never seen it.
Anyway… I’m going to keep on blogging. Trying to support El Som and Alby’s excellent work. And I’ll try to find the humor where I can. Until then, accept my apologies and my thanks for sticking with the blog. I still think there is a place for blogs in the political ecology. So keep reading. Keep working for a better, more human humanity and I’ll be doing the same.
Respect
It almost feels as if continuing on and seeking some normalcy is some sort of surrender. Getting on with life feels like acquiesce.
I get the strong impression I missed something.
Nothing big. Just me saying that a 60 year old candidate in Maryland dying of a heart attack means that Carper will probably die. Very ham fisted and not funny. Particularly to the family of the guy who died.
What I have to consider is that Tom Carper, for all his manifest horribleness, is a human being, as was the Maryland candidate.
So Sussexwatcher got me to thinking, than if I don’t treat humans with dignity – even terrible ones – am I no better than Trump who also divides people into worthiness classes to strip them of their dignity?
While Trump divides based on race and gender to dispense with having to treat people with dignity, I divide based on my judgement of their moral worth, and who the hell am I to make that judgement?
That was well said and, of course, much easier said than done.
I used to struggle with wanting to rail against idiots and everybody who wanted to hate somebody else. I found a little trick I use that helped. I pretend they can’t help themselves because they gave responsibility over their behavior to other things and other people. Because I am the stronger person I am responsible for my own behavior (I am the boss of the me). I am the better person because I can be.
It’s a bit arrogant, but if it helps me treat people in a dignified manner, I’ll accept the sin of arrogance.
I’m still surprised that Craper hasnt had a metoo moment yet. he’s a creepy bastard around women, especially the younger variety
“who the hell am I to make that judgement?”
I have seen Tom Carper do kind things in public settings. He’s not a bad person. Judging his job performance as a craven power-coddler is not the same as judging him as a human being.
For instance, I actually pity Trump on some level, because I’ve never seen an unhappier person. It must suck to be him. But I still hate him.
Recognition and admission of the problem is the first step to redemption.
I take it all back.
I’ve read your writing about liberals, David. You’ve been bearing false witness for years.
Probably everyone else figured this out already, but it seems to me Carper is planning to retire mid-term and hand his seat over to LBR one way or another. Her operation seems to be 100% run by Carperdyne.
I’d like to hear more about that. Do you care to go into a little detail ?