I think the physical condition of the planet Earth is dismal.
I think the geopolitical conditions around the world are dismal.
I think the political, cultural and social polarized conditions in the United States are dismal.
I am not optimistic about the future for the United States.
If one is a peon and asks one's self "what can one do about the current dismal conditions", it is easy to conclude "nothing", and adopt a head in the sand "let's eat, drink and be merry" attitude is understandable
While one as a peon can do nothing, there are persons in positions of power in the United States who can do something, or at least try to do something.
The United States Congress is primary for that.
In the political, cultural and social polarized conditions in the United States, Congress is paralyzed.
My diagnosis is that the extremes on the two political sides are in control of United States politics and political discourse, and they basically will not agree on anything.
This results in a substantial majority in the middle, who would be amenable to many compromises and agreements that the extremes will not countenance and about which they will not even talk to each other, being disregarded by Congress.
Ultimately, the two extremes act the way they do to obtain and keep power.
Regardless of what happens in the midterms, it is reasonable to project that the President and Congress will remain paralyzed, and they will fail the substantial majority of Americans who are in the center.
Only peons in the center can battle against the situation.
The peons in the center should at least understand the situation in connection with adopting a head in the sand "let's eat, drink and be merry" attitude.
I wish for house meetups in Eagles Mere to talk about this.
Are EM Republicans discussing the role of politics in their lives and their hopes for overcoming divisions?https://t.co/MOePpMdCBT
— Blogging Eagle (@BloggingEagle) July 22, 2023
"Iowa Republicans discuss role of politics in their lives, hopes for overcoming divisions" https://t.co/Gp1wUie9RW
EM'ers who wish to try to help bridge the widening partisan divide should gather together, watch the below video and discuss. https://t.co/MOePpMdCBT… https://t.co/7BtAHFLx2X…
— Blogging Eagle (@BloggingEagle) July 24, 2023
Email to Betsy Beaugard
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: betsy.beaugard@gmail.com <betsy.beaugard@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 06:04:07 PM CDT
Subject: Brain/Food, Braver Angels and depolarizing conversation
Dear Betsy,
While I passed on EM this summer, I wish to push for awareness in the EM community of the Braver Angels organization.
This morning I posted on my Blogging Eagle Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005793705094) the announcement by Braver Angels of its Rise for America” campaign "to Bring America Together". (Also, two of my July 5 Facebook posts regard Braver Angels.)
I quote the following from the Braver Angels "Rise for America" campaign announcement:
We realize that the future of America is in our hands. It is up to us to get involved and be active, engaged citizens. With respectful dialogue, deep listening, and creative thinking, we CAN resolve the conflicts that divide us. We CAN build connections across the political divide that will change relationships and institutions, strengthening our democratic republic.
If you are amenable to doing so, it would be great if there is a way for you to pass on to Brain/Food people information about Braver Angels.
Thanks, Betsy, for your consideration of this.
Sincerely,
Rob
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: emfainfo@gmail.com <emfainfo@gmail.com>
Cc: betsy.beaugard@gmail.com <betsy.beaugard@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2023 at 06:49:50 PM CDT
Subject: Patriotic EM'ers should talk to each other to bridge the widening partisan divide
Dear Eagles Mere Friends of the Arts:
I have been a longtime summer renter. I have passed on Eagles Mere for this summer.
In 2022 I sought for house meetups to take place for there to be conversations between the two sides.
See Treetop Diaries of The Blogging Eagle: Appeal for house meetups (bloggingeagle1.blogspot.com). Unhappily I got nowhere on this last summer.
I am trying for this remotely this summer.
Because I have been a Brain/Food attendee in past years, I wrote the below email to Betsy Beaugard, who is overseeing Brain/Food this summer.
Betsy has not replied, and I have no idea what her feelings are about what I have asked.
Regardless, I am of the view that regular American citizens have a patriotic duty to endeavor to overcome the widening partisan divide, which partisan divide almost all of those Americans who are in positions of leadership and authority are working to exploit and increase.
Please receive this for consideration by you of what you think are the merits of what I am trying to do remotely (from Alabama) and to be supportive or not as you decide.
Thanks very much.
Rob Shattuck
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Betsy Beaugard <betsy.beaugard@gmail.com>
Cc: Leo Sewell <leosewell45@gmail.com>; barbsewell@gmail.com <barbsewell@gmail.com>; Fiona Shattuck <fmshattuck@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 07:18:41 AM CDT
Subject: Re: Rules of Civility book discussion on Thursday, July 27th
Good morning, Betsy.
Given the national trauma of incivility that our country is experiencing, tomorrow night's Brain/Food and the Rules of Civility book title very much caught my interest.
The Goodreads description of Rules of Civility (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10054335-rules-of-civility) says:
This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike.It is hard to tell from the description whether there is any takeaway from the novel relative to the national trauma of incivility we are experiencing.
If I may, I submit this question remotely to be posed to the group tomorrow:
"Is there any instruction or other takeaway to be gleaned from Rules of Civility relative to the national trauma of incivility that the United States is currently experiencing?"Thanks, Betsy.
Sincerely,
Rob
