Dear Grandson, I just sent you the newsletter. This morning I thought I should include a personal note. The reality of the last 3 days seeps through the cracks in our consciousness with each hour. The newsletter clarifies the known facts as well as possible. Today, it frightened me. And that made me think of you, your sisters, your paren…
Dear Grandson, I just sent you the newsletter. This morning I thought I should include a personal note. The reality of the last 3 days seeps through the cracks in our consciousness with each hour. The newsletter clarifies the known facts as well as possible. Today, it frightened me. And that made me think of you, your sisters, your parents and your friends. I thought of how you must be puzzled by such events at the hands of adults.
I believe in Joseph Biden. I believe in his humanness. I believe in the people he is assembling to help govern the country. I believe in the humanity of the vast, vast majority of Americans.
Lots of troubles exist in America, some since conception. Now Covid, Climate change, and the aftermath of djt . But of all the countries on earth, we are the best equipped to solve our problems and to help the rest of this world to fix what we all face.
So keep the faith. Work hard, play hard, and sleep hard. Be both kind and brave. Don’t hate.
Don’t put up with hate. Dream your dreams and put them into action. It’s going to be ok.
I sent a copy of one of her letters to a client who said she was on the fence at the time about having voted for Trump. She totally rejected the letter saying that it was misinformation. So trash that idea! I don’t know who it was that said, we will find information to support our belief.
Anyone who could have voted for him in '16, and is still on the fence has said it all. I don't even try to reason, explain, or provide enlightening facts. They won't change, and I won't provide oxygen. They're the people who are now blaming the Capitol insurrection on Antifa.
I can do the uh huh thing, but only to a point. I have a few long-time friends that I'll tolerate, but if they refuse my request to abstain from political discussion, they're off my list. In the past, I could have polite discourse, but the last four years have made civil discussion impossible.
I only do it with clients. It’s not my job to tell clients what I think. That said, friends, I’ve ghosted them all together. I decided a long time ago to keep toxic people out of my life. So I hear ya.
I srsly cannot be friends with such ignorant ppl. I have worked 30 years with developmentally disabled ppl and tho often misguided most are teachable. (Some are even very astute and I have been friends with them, off the clock). I could not tolerate hateful, destructive, bigoted cultists.
My daughter told me she met a guy, was contemplating intimacy with him until he revealed he was a MAGAT. A black guy! She dumped him on the spot.
You're correct. Another way to look at confirmation bias is one's ability to twist whatever one sees, reads or hears into something that supports one's previously-held belief.
Confirmation bias has become so normalized in the past 1/2 decade that I've more than once found myself wondering if I am a clueless idiot who is completely wrong about the deep differences in the aims of the two major political parties in our country, if it is my T****-supporting siblings who are the clear-sighted ones of our parents' progeny instead of me, if I've missed the boat.
My youthful readings of Frank Boas and Ruth Benedict made me believe in cultural relativism; however, I can never see female genital mutilation, foot-binding, female infanticide, rampaging colonialism, or systemic racism as excusable because of the beliefs and practices of the cultures from which those horrors have arisen.
If I am suffering from confirmation bias, I am not sure I want to be relieved of that fault, now that I think about it.
1. The closed system of unconscious confirmation bias that reifies destructive hateful ideology, whipping up a group to violence, versus
2. Open minded cultural relativism and open minded listening, after which we apply critical thinking and make judgments based on our own morality, our values of what is wholesome and life affirming for humanity.
At this point, I'm having trouble with the "Don't hate" part. Hopefully, I'll conquer that. Thank you for your wonderful letter and saying that "of all the countries on earth, we are the best equipped to solve our problems. . . ." We must remember that and turn away from fear and despair. They want us to wring our hands and hide in a corner,
Great stuff, I know. I remember clearly as if it was yesterday dealing with my elder granddaughter when she was a 3 yr old pest (born when I was in the US.....now 20 and becoming fashion editor on numerous internet publications. Didn't see it passing!
I’m saving these newsletters for my great-grandsons. I’m also writing lists of the known Trump and Democrat supporters in my parents’ branch of our greater family tree. Unfortunately, the Trump supporter list will be the longest.
Dear Grandson, I just sent you the newsletter. This morning I thought I should include a personal note. The reality of the last 3 days seeps through the cracks in our consciousness with each hour. The newsletter clarifies the known facts as well as possible. Today, it frightened me. And that made me think of you, your sisters, your parents and your friends. I thought of how you must be puzzled by such events at the hands of adults.
I believe in Joseph Biden. I believe in his humanness. I believe in the people he is assembling to help govern the country. I believe in the humanity of the vast, vast majority of Americans.
Lots of troubles exist in America, some since conception. Now Covid, Climate change, and the aftermath of djt . But of all the countries on earth, we are the best equipped to solve our problems and to help the rest of this world to fix what we all face.
So keep the faith. Work hard, play hard, and sleep hard. Be both kind and brave. Don’t hate.
Don’t put up with hate. Dream your dreams and put them into action. It’s going to be ok.
Love from GP
That is awesome, I was just thinking that HCR's letters should be required reading for all high school students.. Facts and no spin..
I sent a copy of one of her letters to a client who said she was on the fence at the time about having voted for Trump. She totally rejected the letter saying that it was misinformation. So trash that idea! I don’t know who it was that said, we will find information to support our belief.
Anyone who could have voted for him in '16, and is still on the fence has said it all. I don't even try to reason, explain, or provide enlightening facts. They won't change, and I won't provide oxygen. They're the people who are now blaming the Capitol insurrection on Antifa.
I just “uh huh” them. Conversationally ghosting someone is the best form of disrespect.
I can do the uh huh thing, but only to a point. I have a few long-time friends that I'll tolerate, but if they refuse my request to abstain from political discussion, they're off my list. In the past, I could have polite discourse, but the last four years have made civil discussion impossible.
I only do it with clients. It’s not my job to tell clients what I think. That said, friends, I’ve ghosted them all together. I decided a long time ago to keep toxic people out of my life. So I hear ya.
I srsly cannot be friends with such ignorant ppl. I have worked 30 years with developmentally disabled ppl and tho often misguided most are teachable. (Some are even very astute and I have been friends with them, off the clock). I could not tolerate hateful, destructive, bigoted cultists.
My daughter told me she met a guy, was contemplating intimacy with him until he revealed he was a MAGAT. A black guy! She dumped him on the spot.
Confirmation bias, I learned, is the term for ‘will find information to support our belief’
You're correct. Another way to look at confirmation bias is one's ability to twist whatever one sees, reads or hears into something that supports one's previously-held belief.
Confirmation bias has become so normalized in the past 1/2 decade that I've more than once found myself wondering if I am a clueless idiot who is completely wrong about the deep differences in the aims of the two major political parties in our country, if it is my T****-supporting siblings who are the clear-sighted ones of our parents' progeny instead of me, if I've missed the boat.
My youthful readings of Frank Boas and Ruth Benedict made me believe in cultural relativism; however, I can never see female genital mutilation, foot-binding, female infanticide, rampaging colonialism, or systemic racism as excusable because of the beliefs and practices of the cultures from which those horrors have arisen.
If I am suffering from confirmation bias, I am not sure I want to be relieved of that fault, now that I think about it.
There is a big difference between:
1. The closed system of unconscious confirmation bias that reifies destructive hateful ideology, whipping up a group to violence, versus
2. Open minded cultural relativism and open minded listening, after which we apply critical thinking and make judgments based on our own morality, our values of what is wholesome and life affirming for humanity.
Exactly!
I sent one to my 2 brothers. One ignored it; the other told me not to ever send him any more of that left-wing, socialist propaganda.
Your beautiful letter broke my heart that it had to even be written to our younger generation. What a loving grandfatherly thing to do today.
At this point, I'm having trouble with the "Don't hate" part. Hopefully, I'll conquer that. Thank you for your wonderful letter and saying that "of all the countries on earth, we are the best equipped to solve our problems. . . ." We must remember that and turn away from fear and despair. They want us to wring our hands and hide in a corner,
Thank You!
I have a great-grandson now, born on Nov. 8, 2016, my own birthday 72 years earlier. It was an occasion of great joy, especially for me. EXCEPT ...
Great stuff, I know. I remember clearly as if it was yesterday dealing with my elder granddaughter when she was a 3 yr old pest (born when I was in the US.....now 20 and becoming fashion editor on numerous internet publications. Didn't see it passing!
I’m saving these newsletters for my great-grandsons. I’m also writing lists of the known Trump and Democrat supporters in my parents’ branch of our greater family tree. Unfortunately, the Trump supporter list will be the longest.
Thank you for sharing. We have MUCH work to do.
I love this! thank you...
You sound like a wonderful grandpa. I must confess that even I felt comforted reading your words. Thank you!