“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” – Mahatma Gandhi

February 12, 2025

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” – Mahatma Gandhi

I came across a commencement speech given by the Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker called ‘how to spot an idiot’. He points out that some idiots are smart idiots (some even getting promoted to high office) and are not always that easy to pick out from the crowd. His idiot detection system, which he shares during the speech, involves identifying the cruel person, because such a person is operating from a place of primal instinct. We judge and fear what we are not familiar with says the Governor, it’s an evolutionary trait that has helped our species survive. So when we see someone who does not look, sound, act, live or love like us, it requires mental effort to override the base, instinctual drives within and take a different perspective. Empathy and compassion are evolved states of being that require the mental capacity to see and move beyond evolutionary conditioning says Governor Pritzker. So I thank the Governor for his wise words, although I already had my suspicions about those with a capacity for cruelty.

I would not be here now if it were not for the love and care I received from many, many people, so kindness, empathy and compassion is my native tongue, thankfully. Taoist say that it is not that they never enter into conflict, only that they do so as a last resort. They will only draw the sword at the right time and the right place – when and how to use force. There is much conflict in our world today, too much.

Uncategorized

life, Negative Emotions

About Me

I have what some might consider an unusual c.v. I was an early school leaver, dropping out with no secondary education. I served in the military for over 20 years before deciding to move on and try my hand working in civvy street for a while. I then opted to return to full time education for four years and got a degree in the social sciences. I worked as a project worker in a community based organisation for twelve years before retiring from that post. Now, because I have the most precious thing of all – time, I can be a scholar. You may have heard of the term a ‘scholar and gentleman’, which referred to a person with a private income who could afford to be a scholar. Such a person could afford to study whatever took his or her fancy, most often the humanities though. I have many interests, but I am passionate about the human mind, particularly the differing perspectives of mind held by eastern and western philosophy. I am fascinated by how science is now confirming many of the ideas that were outlined thousands of years ago. I also own a 8″ Dobsonian telescope, I feed the birds daily, enjoy stillness, silence, qigong, tai chi, a good laugh, my family, my friends, reading and the leisurely pursuit of wisdom and knowledge.