Love, love, l o v e this column. I will reread it several times over the next few days.
Not sure if you saw the former Surgeon General’s parting prescription for America? It’s long but you can skim—I have taken every word to heart, as I will your words. 🙏
Thank you, Liz. You mentioned this message before and I appreciate you bringing it to my attention again. Admittedly, I noticed the length and didn't read it (hey, I'm human), but this time, I promise I will!
First thing that stands out: "To build community requires love. Love not
That's quite a poem, right? it's so easy to fall into not loving and just giving up when others make it so difficult. And yet, that's when love is needed the most. Real love, not superficial. Real love isn't always reciprocal. We need to make sure we take care of ourselves, including loving ourselves, in order to love others. Sometimes we confuse that with becoming martyrs or allowing others to harm us. We mustn't fall into that trap either - that isn't love, that's ego. Love is putting on the oxygen mask first so you are coherent enough to help the person next to you.
I enjoyed the poetry and these are difficult times. The media and reporting are also to blame. I hope it's not the end of the good work that US Aid has been doing. I am going to leave this for you:
This link is a good breakdown of myths, thanks for sending. One thing it doesn't mention is how much of our aid isn't financial but is instead in corn and grain and such. We pay American farmers for food that is then sent to countries in need. So a halt to this aid will also hurt America. Just insane to me that people don't understand this. And yes, I agree, the media does a poor job of reporting things correctly or highlighting good things.
You have a really nice way of sharing things that people are thinking but have trouble expressing. A good point about the grains that I was not aware of. Decisions should be based on facts but that's not how the world runs unfortunately. I like logic so it always throws me off.
The articles often are not perfect. I noticed that they listed a few Nordic and European countries as pulling above weight but the GDP of those countries are small and their problems are likely to be less complex. It's not an apples to apples comparison.
re: media, I still hold them accountable for the 2016 disaster and they did not improve much this time around either. What has changed, however, is while traditional news media is still the same size of a basketball, right wing news media is now the size of a volleyball - they are way too close in size. Which means more and more folks are only accessing right wing news that is always selling lies. Still, traditional news media really needs to step it up and hammer away at the lies, as well as loudly celebrate good truths. They missed so many great opportunities under the last administration. Even folks who only pay attention to traditional news media had no idea how many great things happened in the last four years. It's not only a shame, it's heartbreaking.
Traditional media doesn't respond quickly or appropriately. The New York Times took 4 or 5 days to respond to the USAID decision with data and facts. That's too long and even today the facts are buried on the home page. WAPO, NYT are all paid news so where are most people going to get free news?
Jan, I've been following your writing for a few years I think, mainly because of your wish to live in Italy, or is it Sicily now? My daughter and I also want to explore this option (at least it would probably be part-time for me). We have Italian citizenship, courtesy of the law of the blood, jus sanguinis.
Your voice on US issues is very important right now. Thank you for the article.
Thank you, Renee. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. I need (and have wanted) to get back to my posts re: Italy. Hearing from you gives me that little push. Meanwhile, I'm glad to know that my other thoughts are of interest as well.
You're fortunate to have citizenship - how wonderful! I am still trying to get my visa that will allow me a permission to stay. And yes, our house is in Sicily. :) Would you be interested in knowing more about our house renovation, how we purchased our home (what that process is like), or about our experiences in Italy & Sicily? I hope to cover all three in coming posts but happy to concentrate on something in particular if you have a preference.
I am interested in all of it. How you purchased would be of special interest. I have a small inheritance from my father (his parents migrated to Australia and never returned). I would love to put this towards a little piece of Italy (or Sicily). It may be a dream, but I'm clinging to it at the moment. It's just such a LONG way from Europe to Australia..
Please American friends and people: take care of yourselves and each other BUT ABOVE ALL DO NOT LOOK AWAY.
Love, love, l o v e this column. I will reread it several times over the next few days.
Not sure if you saw the former Surgeon General’s parting prescription for America? It’s long but you can skim—I have taken every word to heart, as I will your words. 🙏
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/my-parting-prescription-for-america.pdf
Thank you, Liz. You mentioned this message before and I appreciate you bringing it to my attention again. Admittedly, I noticed the length and didn't read it (hey, I'm human), but this time, I promise I will!
First thing that stands out: "To build community requires love. Love not
as sentimentality, but as a commanding force with
the power to build, strengthen, and heal. Love as
generosity and kindness. Love as hope and grace.
Love as courage."
Amen.
🩷
Your words are always so powerful and spot on. And the poem by Alden Nolan really made me think.
That's quite a poem, right? it's so easy to fall into not loving and just giving up when others make it so difficult. And yet, that's when love is needed the most. Real love, not superficial. Real love isn't always reciprocal. We need to make sure we take care of ourselves, including loving ourselves, in order to love others. Sometimes we confuse that with becoming martyrs or allowing others to harm us. We mustn't fall into that trap either - that isn't love, that's ego. Love is putting on the oxygen mask first so you are coherent enough to help the person next to you.
This is wonderful, Jan. Thank you.
Thanks, Asha. Thinking about you - hope your boy is doing better.
I enjoyed the poetry and these are difficult times. The media and reporting are also to blame. I hope it's not the end of the good work that US Aid has been doing. I am going to leave this for you:
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-every-american-should-know-about-u-s-foreign-aid/
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-comes-after-a-usaid-shutdown/
This link is a good breakdown of myths, thanks for sending. One thing it doesn't mention is how much of our aid isn't financial but is instead in corn and grain and such. We pay American farmers for food that is then sent to countries in need. So a halt to this aid will also hurt America. Just insane to me that people don't understand this. And yes, I agree, the media does a poor job of reporting things correctly or highlighting good things.
Glad you liked the poetry.
You have a really nice way of sharing things that people are thinking but have trouble expressing. A good point about the grains that I was not aware of. Decisions should be based on facts but that's not how the world runs unfortunately. I like logic so it always throws me off.
The articles often are not perfect. I noticed that they listed a few Nordic and European countries as pulling above weight but the GDP of those countries are small and their problems are likely to be less complex. It's not an apples to apples comparison.
Thank you, that is kind of you to say.
re: media, I still hold them accountable for the 2016 disaster and they did not improve much this time around either. What has changed, however, is while traditional news media is still the same size of a basketball, right wing news media is now the size of a volleyball - they are way too close in size. Which means more and more folks are only accessing right wing news that is always selling lies. Still, traditional news media really needs to step it up and hammer away at the lies, as well as loudly celebrate good truths. They missed so many great opportunities under the last administration. Even folks who only pay attention to traditional news media had no idea how many great things happened in the last four years. It's not only a shame, it's heartbreaking.
Traditional media doesn't respond quickly or appropriately. The New York Times took 4 or 5 days to respond to the USAID decision with data and facts. That's too long and even today the facts are buried on the home page. WAPO, NYT are all paid news so where are most people going to get free news?
Jan, I've been following your writing for a few years I think, mainly because of your wish to live in Italy, or is it Sicily now? My daughter and I also want to explore this option (at least it would probably be part-time for me). We have Italian citizenship, courtesy of the law of the blood, jus sanguinis.
Your voice on US issues is very important right now. Thank you for the article.
Thank you, Renee. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. I need (and have wanted) to get back to my posts re: Italy. Hearing from you gives me that little push. Meanwhile, I'm glad to know that my other thoughts are of interest as well.
You're fortunate to have citizenship - how wonderful! I am still trying to get my visa that will allow me a permission to stay. And yes, our house is in Sicily. :) Would you be interested in knowing more about our house renovation, how we purchased our home (what that process is like), or about our experiences in Italy & Sicily? I hope to cover all three in coming posts but happy to concentrate on something in particular if you have a preference.
Thanks again.
I am interested in all of it. How you purchased would be of special interest. I have a small inheritance from my father (his parents migrated to Australia and never returned). I would love to put this towards a little piece of Italy (or Sicily). It may be a dream, but I'm clinging to it at the moment. It's just such a LONG way from Europe to Australia..