Empathy Doesn't Take Sides

My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in the Hamas attack on October 6, those who were taken hostage, and those who await their safe return.  

My heart also goes out to those who have lost loved ones under the relentless destruction that continues to be visited upon those living and working in Gaza.  

It is often difficult to feel compassion for people on both sides of a conflict.  It is much easier to simply choose one side, embrace deep compassion for them, and vilify the other; negating their perspective, and disregarding their injury - including that to non-combatants.  

This is lazy, and makes us less fully human.  More importantly, it lowers our psychological barriers to demagogues and zealots, who exploit the wedges we have allowed to grow in our own awareness.  Before you know it, a modern-day Joe McCarthy emerges, to try to clean out government, or academia of any who don't align with their own radical views - and we have voluntarily disarmed ourselves against them.  

Ken Paxton and Eternal Shame

Ken Paxton Threatens Doctors / Hospitals

This criminal, inhuman POS barely escaped with his career (though not his reputation) intact this fall - only because of his affiliation with an equally corrupt party.   

Paxton Survived on near party-line votes

His shame will long outlive him - even if many of his victims don't.

2023 records - Global Temp & US Mass Murders

2023 is a banner year, breaking at least a couple of less-than-desirable records.

- The US has broken the annual record for mass murder rampages.
- This is also the hottest year on record for the planet.

Any coach who is worthy of that title will tell you that records are meant to be broken ... and it is unlikely that either of these will stand for long.

Abstention and Good Manners

Office parties, family gatherings, bowl games; there are lots of reasons to get together with friends and family this time of year to laugh, eat and drink.  

Over time, though, I'm finding more and more of my friends opting to to not drink alcohol at these events.  They seem to have a pretty good time anyway.

There are a lot of reasons our friends might choose to abstain.  The one thing they have in common is that they are none of my business.  

Let's each celebrate the holidays in our own way, and enjoy one another's company, without asking a bunch of dumb questions.