Indeed….
How Have We Come to This?
This is a rhetorical question but also the title of a just-completed piece of music that will be part of a future album release, outlet to be determined. I hope to have enough pieces for an album release in 2026. Stay tuned….
As to the rhetorical question “How Have We Come to This?”, it is something I’m saying to myself more and more as I watch what I’ll call the myths of a stable society teetering and collapsing. I see the nightmare in Gaza playing out in what is by any definition a genocide and people being verbally eviscerated for being critical of the inhumanity on display. I see the predictable dichotomies and binary arguments that are always used to defend atrocity and historical injustices. I see power being exerted beyond what had long thought to have been “normal”, revealing the fragility of agreements that structure society. I see what I had hoped to have been archaic modes of thinking towards race and identify remerge, angrier and uglier than ever. I see all this and ask, “How Have We Come to This?”.
But surprisingly, I also have hope. It is not a flowery or sentimental hope. It is a hope based on something I really can’t properly describe as it is rooted as spiritually experiential. It is a hope born of prayer and meditation and not one that is unshakable. To be clear, I have great moments of fear and anger. I can experience despair with the best of them. But when I am deliberate in my prayer practice, I find hope that no matter how bad things get in the world (and I expect things to get much worse before they get better), there is still goodness. There is still kindness. There is still compassion. There is still love. That sounds flowery and perhaps it is. But I do believe that love prevails always. And I take solace in words of people I admire throughout history, like this guy….
And more food for thought….
Empathy and The State of Play
The “state of play” in The United States is incredibly disheartening for me. Seemingly not too long ago, I was more optimistic about how we were going to evolve as a society and was not expecting so much anger to be evident in all walks of life. With so much negativity, I struggle to not be pessimistic.
One topic that came up recently that has fueled my skepticism is Empathy and how some voices have said that empathy has made people weak or has been used as an undermining tool. As background, here’s an interesting article from the NY Times. And here’s the definition of Empathy per Merriam-Webster
I was surprised to learn that the word itself first appeared in the English language in 1908. But, like so much of language, the meaning and its use is dynamic and evolving. That said, I’m pretty sure that most people understand the general meaning behind the word, even those that consider it a weakness, a flaw, or a sin. From where I stand, the debate about empathy is as big an indicator of the aforementioned state-of-play as it gets.
For what it’s worth, I believe empathy is a virtue and an admirable quality. I will be the 1st to admit that I am not the best practitioner of empathy and perhaps by only having good intentions without action is the actual sin. But I do try to be an empathetic and sympathetic person. I try to be of service to others. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I don’t. But I have experience with being a selfish prick of a person to the detriment of both me and all I love. I have been the self-centered asshole who caused great harm to others because I was too focused on my own wants and needs and either didn’t realize or didn’t care that I was hurting people. Thankfully, by Grace and lots of work, I’m not that destructive person anymore. Again, I’m not perfect but I do know and have ample evidence that by having some level of empathy and acting accordingly has been MY saving grace.
I say all this not to participate in whatever ridiculous debate that is occurring. To be honest, if anyone reading this agrees with Elon Musk, Ben Garrett or anyone else that thinks empathy is bad, I don’t care. You do you. I can’t control what other people think or do. But I will say that I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that the action of understanding and being sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another is wrong.
My father would often say “There, but by the grace of God, go I…” which I came to understand as meaning that only the grace of powers he could not control separated him from someone in a worse state and, therefore, it was incumbent upon him to be empathetic and to lend a helping hand….which sounds suspiciously like The Golden Rule…hmmmm…Anyhow, I wish you peace and every good. – Alan
Racism…alive and well in 2025
I’m a bit staggered by the blatant racism that is on full, unapologetic display now…both online and in the real world…an overheard conversation while waiting on a flight…comments on Facebook forums dedicated, ironically, to contemplative prayer….angry stares….racism is nothing new but it has definitely been given “permission” to be out in the open.
I shall not tolerate racism, sexism, etc. because that is the truest indicator of a lack of empathy. If you look at common factors of evil deeds, it always starts with a lack of empathy.
That said, I do get sad when I encounter racism, in that there are wounds, ignorance, and fear at the root of any lack of empathy. There is inevitably a hurt person behind hate and anger. I believe that hate must be resisted against but I also think that resistance is to be animated by love and compassion, not more hate. I do believe that is what Jesus was driving at when he said “Love your enemy”…..which is hard….very hard…but I believe it is what we are called to do to combat evil.
Sounds about right….
Antonio Gramsci: “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: Now is the time of monsters.”
Politics and Racism
Another U.S. election has come and gone and I’m more inclined than ever to NOT watch TV news and the like. The level of negativity and vitriol is exhausting. That said, there are a few points I can’t help but to make….
1st off, I must state that I’m not a partisan. I have been greatly disappointed by both major parties in my lifetime. If I was to label my political philosophy, I’d lean towards “Anarchism” in the classical definition and Christian Anarchism to be more specific. I’m also a realist and know that we as a society are not evolved enough to have a state-less society as described in classical anarchism. That said, I have, at the least, suspicion of those who seek power and, at the most, contempt.
All that is to say that I am very disappointed in where we as a society seem to be. That racism is no longer a disqualifier, after a brief period in our history (post-Civil Rights movement) where it was, disgusts me. It has emboldened people to display ugliness. I speak not just from observations made in the media but also from recent personal experience. I find myself being suspicious of people in public spaces…and I hate that.
It is my hope that things will not continue to get worse in regards to civility. It is my hope that people who profess to be Christians will remember The Sermon on the Mount before they cast disparagement at their neighbor in support of a leader who, by any observation, lacks the ability to be sympathetic or charitable. It is my hope that love will prevail. Perhaps we must 1st experience more ugliness and pain before “our better angels” emerge.
I will finish this borderline rant by expressing my core values. I’m unapologetically, unequivocally opposed to racism, xenophobia, homophobia (or any social “phobia”) and violence. I have no tolerance for any of that BS. I’m of mixed race (BTW, who isn’t?!) and am married to a Filipina immigrant. I have no time for anyone who I perceive as a threat to those I love.
Steve Albini and some random thoughts.
Steve Albini, renowned producer and musician, passed away suddenly at the age of 61. He’s probably most known for producing Nirvana’s “In Utero” but he did so much more. He engineered every Neurosis album since 1999 which are, in my opinion, some of the best albums ever. He also produced Page/Plant’s “Walking into Clarksdale”. He was an intelligent man with principles rooted in the DIY/Punk Rock ethos. I admire that. He shall be missed.
Random thought #1: I’ve spent over a month in Green Bay. Not a bad place to be. But when I asked someone what a cheese curd was, she looked at me like I had just grown a 3rd eye. I’ve yet to try one.
Random thought #2: Its been two years since we got rid of satellite TV and, thus, any access to CNN, MSNBC, Fox, or any other “mainstream” (HA!) news outlets. Having spent several weeks in a hotel, I watched a little of the news….enough to turn it off in haste and in gratitude that I don’t subject myself to that crap any longer.
Thoughts of Peace, Love, and Politics
As we near another “most important election in our lifetime” cycle in the U.S., I’m left wondering where we are heading as a country. So much vitriol, anger, and fear. I refuse to believe that we are as divided as a country as so many pundits and politicians make us out to be. I base this on my own personal experience.
I’m non-partisan and have lived long enough to be disappointed by both major parties and even some of the non-majors (i.e., Libertarians, Greens). I’m suspicious of people who seek power and the cults of personality that arise all too often in national politics.
To be blunt, I’m not a fan of Trump and I’m equally leery of the majority of the Republican party that is following his lead. But that does not make me a Democrat or Biden fan. And therein lies my point: I try very hard not to view things (politics or otherwise) through an either/or, dualistic lens. Life is more nuanced than that. I believe most people, deep down, think this as well. There is just so much bullshit from the halls of power and the media that fosters division and some people tend to follow the bullshit without thinking critically. But my own experience, having travelled millions of miles around the world and meeting people from all over, tells me that people have way more in common than not. And whatever differences are largely superficial.
I have some friends that are staunch Republicans and have views on politics that I don’t agree with. But they remain my friends because what bonds us is more substantial. There is love and respect that has been fostered over time. The same holds true with me and my radically liberal friends. I don’t necessarily agree with them on many matters but not so much as to disqualify them as friends because of our commonality. This may sound like I’m a “centrist” (i.e. wishy washy or luke warm). I am not. If I’m to label myself, I’m a “non-dualist”. I choose to try to look at the whole of life, not the convenient “compartments” we get placed in, I believe this is what Jesus was getting at when he suggested “love your neighbor”.