As an atheist I believe humanity is capable of both immense cruelty and inspiring compassion. It is our choice which we choose, knowing that either is filled with pain and anguish.
First, thank you for such a moving portrait of Frederick Douglass. It reminds me of the patriarch Jacob‘s nighttime battle with an ‘angel’ in which, I suspect that he was in search of his own‘ better angel‘.
I agree with Lin that we should be leery of the idea of appealing to heaven because we will never be sure to whom or what we are appealing. On my more cynical days, I wonder whether God visited us briefly at Sinai, handed down the laws in a fabulous light show and let us know that we were now on our own. Then took itself out to an eon‘s long lunch and left its evil twin to ensure that war and violence remain part of our history. By positing that God is a duality, we can understand that the underpinning of all of our laws, both religious and secular is the freedom to choose how we will behave.
Yeah. No. Despite towering people of faith who were also champions of justice against all odds, faith cuts both ways. We ought be leery of Appeals to Heaven.
Belief is required in the pew and on the prayer rug. A leap to certainty based on metaphysics can get one through a hard night. But it is an anathema to government based on coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence. It's what allowed GW Bush 'know' that Vladimir Putin had a good heart. It's what allows millions of Americans to declare Donald Trump Christ's blessing on America and the world.
The Founders only brought the notion of God given equal rights of man into the conversation because they were up against The Divine Right of Kings. Then they shut God out of the Constitution. To keep not only creed, but irrational habits of mind, out of government.
At its best, religion ritualizes and restricts human irrationality while giving ethical guidance. After Auschwitz - after Gaza - appeal to a just god as political agent seems blasphemy against church and state.
As we descend further into darkness that seems to have no limit, I needed to see this. Many have had it far worse. Many will again. But today, we have to remember that this cannot last. It simply can't. Because it never does. There are no "thousand year reichs." There are periods of madness that subside.
I find this heartening, and encouraging. I'd find it comforting if I didn't remember how that whole conflict ultimately got resolved. At least I know which side I'll be on.
Each day with more horrors by judges, schools and school superintendents, and from every part of those charged with running this country, I look to like minded activist friends and strangers like you and other Substack writers for an answer, inspiration, humor that moves me.
In the mail in a fundraising appeal I received a tiny Haggadah that so moved me and will be read daily albeit without sips of wine. And I will say out loud not next year in peace or with justice, and rather _today_ another way to influence others & bring both about.
With each other’s support, good art, historic reminders, and action items, we will overcome.
Yes, we must fight with all our might against the erasure of our history, no matter how tragic and distasteful.
Thank you---an important share as we enter the remembrance of the Exodus during Passover.
A great illustration accompanied by great words. Thank you for your service in the war against the oligarchy.
As an atheist I believe humanity is capable of both immense cruelty and inspiring compassion. It is our choice which we choose, knowing that either is filled with pain and anguish.
As a Christian I believe the same!
Thank you, needed this proper perspective this morning.
Thank you, Steve. Onward.
First, thank you for such a moving portrait of Frederick Douglass. It reminds me of the patriarch Jacob‘s nighttime battle with an ‘angel’ in which, I suspect that he was in search of his own‘ better angel‘.
I agree with Lin that we should be leery of the idea of appealing to heaven because we will never be sure to whom or what we are appealing. On my more cynical days, I wonder whether God visited us briefly at Sinai, handed down the laws in a fabulous light show and let us know that we were now on our own. Then took itself out to an eon‘s long lunch and left its evil twin to ensure that war and violence remain part of our history. By positing that God is a duality, we can understand that the underpinning of all of our laws, both religious and secular is the freedom to choose how we will behave.
Thank you for showing us a way to hold on to hope in these very dark times. And the Douglass portrait is one of my favorites.
Beautiful, Steve, and so moving. Mr. Douglass is definitely in the room over here!
Yeah. No. Despite towering people of faith who were also champions of justice against all odds, faith cuts both ways. We ought be leery of Appeals to Heaven.
Belief is required in the pew and on the prayer rug. A leap to certainty based on metaphysics can get one through a hard night. But it is an anathema to government based on coming to consensus through reasoned debate of empirical evidence. It's what allowed GW Bush 'know' that Vladimir Putin had a good heart. It's what allows millions of Americans to declare Donald Trump Christ's blessing on America and the world.
The Founders only brought the notion of God given equal rights of man into the conversation because they were up against The Divine Right of Kings. Then they shut God out of the Constitution. To keep not only creed, but irrational habits of mind, out of government.
At its best, religion ritualizes and restricts human irrationality while giving ethical guidance. After Auschwitz - after Gaza - appeal to a just god as political agent seems blasphemy against church and state.
Wow! A great story that guarantees the result when you get a divided America, a suspect Supreme Court and a racist leaders-here we go again!!
As we descend further into darkness that seems to have no limit, I needed to see this. Many have had it far worse. Many will again. But today, we have to remember that this cannot last. It simply can't. Because it never does. There are no "thousand year reichs." There are periods of madness that subside.
Thank you I needed that today. And just a killer drawing!
His words and moral incandescence are our inheritance.❤
I find this heartening, and encouraging. I'd find it comforting if I didn't remember how that whole conflict ultimately got resolved. At least I know which side I'll be on.
Each day with more horrors by judges, schools and school superintendents, and from every part of those charged with running this country, I look to like minded activist friends and strangers like you and other Substack writers for an answer, inspiration, humor that moves me.
In the mail in a fundraising appeal I received a tiny Haggadah that so moved me and will be read daily albeit without sips of wine. And I will say out loud not next year in peace or with justice, and rather _today_ another way to influence others & bring both about.
With each other’s support, good art, historic reminders, and action items, we will overcome.