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2016 Postmortem

In reply to the discussion: Revolution #3 [View all]

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
51. I see.
Mon Feb 8, 2016, 12:41 PM
Feb 2016

There must be many kinds of fear. Yes, it does feel that Bernie Sanders practices moral standards which transcend selfishness.

I used to be a roofer. One day I was called to repair a man's roof. It was raining, and I was confident that my new way of repair would work, even though it was a flat roof. Having saved him from what could have been a disaster, I charged him $500, and went on my way. I knew it was too much to charge, but I had done an important job, I thought. Five or six years later, I was checking out at a grocers. He was the checkout clerk. When he saw me he glowered. And it was no regular scorn. My repair obviously hadn't worked, and he was quite angry to see me again. The shame I feel is far greater than the money was worth.

We all fear being poor; that tomorrow we might not survive. Using someone else as the rung of a ladder is how we do it, if we don't care about others. But my example shows how that drives us apart. It is my intention to find the man some day and return his money.

There is a feeling of happiness I get when practicing generosity and kindness. I recognize this all too rare behavior in Bernie Sanders. I've heard it said that it's partly from practicing hie Jewish principles. But it's really a willingness to suppress one's own fear, and realize that one is not alone.

In my opinion, in a society where people fend for themselves, fear is rampant. I'm convinced from the examples I've seen of more civilized nations than our own, that we can organize our society to drastically reduce the competitive nature. In doing so, we also reduce the level of frustration and fear that lends to violent behavior. This is at the heart of Bernie's vision. There should never be any group left wanting for basic needs. This is so basic that until this is done, we cannot be considered civilized. Some call it a safety net, but I believe it is far more basic and simple. It's not some thing that is put in place, although without that we would never accomplish the goal of eliminating a whole group of us who cannot survive. It is a basic way of looking at other human beings. Are we in this together, or not? I would argue that the benefits of seeing each other as whole members of a society far outweighs the benefits of a few success stories from those who climbed the rungs using others shoulders to stand on.




















Revolution #3 [View all] H2O Man Feb 2016 OP
Beautiful. pangaia Feb 2016 #1
Thank you. H2O Man Feb 2016 #2
Thanks for this wonderful post! K&R! haikugal Feb 2016 #3
Thank you! H2O Man Feb 2016 #4
Let get this moved up K&R! Mbrow Feb 2016 #5
Thank you! H2O Man Feb 2016 #6
KnR SammyWinstonJack Feb 2016 #7
Thank you! H2O Man Feb 2016 #13
Wow. Yes! Arazi Feb 2016 #8
Thank you, Arazi! H2O Man Feb 2016 #14
Recommend. nt Zorra Feb 2016 #9
Thanks,Zorra! H2O Man Feb 2016 #28
Great to think about this. K&R JudyM Feb 2016 #10
Thank you very much! H2O Man Feb 2016 #29
Well said Dem2 Feb 2016 #11
Thank you! H2O Man Feb 2016 #35
K & R !!!! Thespian2 Feb 2016 #12
Thank you. H2O Man Feb 2016 #36
Thank you for sharing those wonderful thoughts nt Jarqui Feb 2016 #15
Thank you for H2O Man Feb 2016 #37
beautiful. Thank you so much. roguevalley Feb 2016 #16
Thanks! H2O Man Feb 2016 #38
I think that, once again, you have put your finger annabanana Feb 2016 #17
Thanks, Anna B! H2O Man Feb 2016 #39
k & r chervilant Feb 2016 #18
Very nice! H2O Man Feb 2016 #40
Thank You For Sharing These Truths cantbeserious Feb 2016 #19
Thank you. H2O Man Feb 2016 #41
K & R! jen63 Feb 2016 #20
Thanks! H2O Man Feb 2016 #42
Kicked and recommended! Thank you for sharing that, H2O Man. Enthusiast Feb 2016 #21
Thanks. H2O Man Feb 2016 #43
Kicking. vanlassie Feb 2016 #22
Thanks! H2O Man Feb 2016 #44
It brings to mind what Gandhi said. zeemike Feb 2016 #23
Thank you. H2O Man Feb 2016 #45
Splendid. Beautiful. And I've got to read more on this. highprincipleswork Feb 2016 #24
Thank you. H2O Man Feb 2016 #46
You've recommended one, which sounds great. What might be some others? highprincipleswork Feb 2016 #61
K&R!!! Dustlawyer Feb 2016 #25
Thanks! H2O Man Feb 2016 #47
Your posts are always worth reading and have been for over well over 10 years ... slipslidingaway Feb 2016 #26
Thank you. H2O Man Feb 2016 #48
Wow! H2O Man Feb 2016 #27
When you ever feel like you have nothing to contribute... hootinholler Feb 2016 #33
I will take H2O Man Feb 2016 #49
I love positive political posts longship Feb 2016 #30
Thanks. H2O Man Feb 2016 #50
Makes perfect sense to me, H2O Man. senz Feb 2016 #31
Thanks, senz! H2O Man Feb 2016 #54
The Iroquois also influenced the feminists who met at Seneca Falls n/t eridani Feb 2016 #32
Right. H2O Man Feb 2016 #55
Well done. Recommended. mmonk Feb 2016 #34
Thanks! H2O Man Feb 2016 #56
Very good words. mmonk Feb 2016 #58
I see. Gregorian Feb 2016 #51
Good post, thanks! Zorra Feb 2016 #52
+1 mmonk Feb 2016 #53
Very good! H2O Man Feb 2016 #57
After posting, I had a question. Gregorian Feb 2016 #59
That's a great question. H2O Man Feb 2016 #60
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