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Sam's avatar

More than anything, what Covid has brought me to is the idea of parallel institutions. I had small regard for most institutions going into 2020, but I did have *some* regard for them. The press, the FDA, the CDC, the schools, what have you. Now, I have almost none. Not in a vindictive or angry manner, but in a calm manner of, "if I follow their advice, my life will likely be worse."

I find myself torn between two ideas. The first being, one has a duty to pay attention to it all, to engage and fight for what is right! To stand up in the face of tyranny and be courageous. To take a stand.

The second idea being, simply, not not engage. I have ceased paying attention to the mainstream narrative. I do not follow the news or the latest trends. I am trigger-happy quick to shift my focus from any of the mainstream insanities that occupy the airwaves. I focus on reading books, on learning, on growing, on staying healthy, on keeping a financially sound household.

And I suppose this sounds admirable in some ways, but in others I also question whether I am abdicating some duty I have as an American, to stand up for certain principles and to fight back against tyranny! And yet, in a very Randian sense I am selfish. The mainstream BULLSHIT makes me feel bad. Reading a 100 year old book and going for a run feels good.

At any rate, thank you Charles. I read everything you write.

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Kelly's avatar

“Forgive them father, for they know not what they do."

It's important to keep in mind that forgiving someone does not mean that things go back to whatever they were previously--that is a different choice altogether. We can choose to forgive someone and also choose to not have a relationship or contact with them going forward. Often people think forgiveness means that everything returns to whatever "normal" was, but this is not true.

I think the covid madness has shined a light on a lot of ugliness--in a lot of different forms--in the world. Many have experienced this in various forms of persecution--like the woman in the ukulele group. In my opinion, it is important to find like-minded people that won't shut you out like this going forward.

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