This is so spot on. We have to decide what kind of country we want to live in, what kind of people we want to be. I’m with you on this Charlotte. It’s a cliche but so apt that it’s worth repeating: In a world where you can be anything, be kind. That’s the kind of world I want to live in too.
Thanks! I feel the same when I see people mocking others for misspelled signs, etc. Especially when it’s clear that the writers are not native-English speakers or had educational deficits. Let’s stay away from comments like these and those based on looks, when there’s so many substantive problems to worry about.
Thank you, Charlotte, for the reminder. As someone who was bullied & mocked for her appearance and habits, someone who did not have regular dental care in her youth, I sometimes find myself resorting to similar taunts when dealing with Trump supporters. I knew it hurt me horribly when I was young, so I know it stings... but you're quite right. We do not show anyone a better way by deriding them based on looks, socio-economic status or any other things that are nearly impossible to change. The only way forward is through kindness and tolerance, no matter how personally difficult it might be to display such.
Thank you for your words. We do not have enough kindness in the world and no matter who I agree or disagree with, I try to be kind. I try to not make fun of or make light of personal things like looks or spelling ability or thinning hair or weight or incontinence. It's a cheap laugh and a low blow. And I don't always succeed in being kind. But I am am always heartened to see others expressing similar sentiment. You have gained another subscriber for these words.
Thank you so much for this wonderful and poignant reminder to be our best selves, to be compassionate and respectful to our fellow human beings. And to move forward with determination AND kindness!
It seems that kindness is a choice, and it is also an approach to life, as is cultivating an attitude of gratitude. I have not seen poverty from the inside, but rather from the perspective of a social worker. I learned a lot about myself and other people of privilege during that time. It seemed as if most of us possess an unspoken or unrealized fear, one that operates the same way people often judge survivors of sexual assault by finding ways to fault the victim. We may deny that we could experience poverty because we follow the rules, or work hard or whatever. So to keep our magical thinking in place we judge and find ways to 'other' people living in poverty. We are doing all the right things so it can't happen to us, right?
In the process we also overlook factors such as generational wealth, politically based failures to bring federal and state dollars into red states, and the hollowing out of nutrition and education programs. This same judgment now lives on in policy. So much of life appears to be motivated by fear.
I don't care to be ruled by fear. It is the currency of autocrats and theocrats. Let's practice kindness, cultivate gratitude and open our personal and social spaces for joy.
This column has earned my subscription. If we make fun of people who have financial or weight issues, we are lowering ourselves to the level of tfg and his hateful minions. He’s the one who calls women ‘horse face’, we should do better.
I totally agree, and women have been historically targeted (and still are) for their physical appearance. There's so much to discuss concerning Republicans wanting to take the country back to the Robber Baron days so that only the straight, white, wealthy men have power, that we don't need to make fun of anyone's physical appearance. We can certainly call their behaviors weird, but we don't need to go further down that road.
Thank you so much for this. I hate to see anyone mocked for their appearance. Lord knows, the folks we are talking about have enough ugly actions, words, policies and hate that we can call them out on instead.
This is so spot on. We have to decide what kind of country we want to live in, what kind of people we want to be. I’m with you on this Charlotte. It’s a cliche but so apt that it’s worth repeating: In a world where you can be anything, be kind. That’s the kind of world I want to live in too.
Thanks! I feel the same when I see people mocking others for misspelled signs, etc. Especially when it’s clear that the writers are not native-English speakers or had educational deficits. Let’s stay away from comments like these and those based on looks, when there’s so many substantive problems to worry about.
You are truly beautiful, inside and out.
I’ve been reading for a while; this moved me to subscribe. 🥰🥹
Me too.
Thank you, Charlotte, for the reminder. As someone who was bullied & mocked for her appearance and habits, someone who did not have regular dental care in her youth, I sometimes find myself resorting to similar taunts when dealing with Trump supporters. I knew it hurt me horribly when I was young, so I know it stings... but you're quite right. We do not show anyone a better way by deriding them based on looks, socio-economic status or any other things that are nearly impossible to change. The only way forward is through kindness and tolerance, no matter how personally difficult it might be to display such.
Thank you for your words. We do not have enough kindness in the world and no matter who I agree or disagree with, I try to be kind. I try to not make fun of or make light of personal things like looks or spelling ability or thinning hair or weight or incontinence. It's a cheap laugh and a low blow. And I don't always succeed in being kind. But I am am always heartened to see others expressing similar sentiment. You have gained another subscriber for these words.
Thank you so much for this wonderful and poignant reminder to be our best selves, to be compassionate and respectful to our fellow human beings. And to move forward with determination AND kindness!
Absolutely right on!
It seems that kindness is a choice, and it is also an approach to life, as is cultivating an attitude of gratitude. I have not seen poverty from the inside, but rather from the perspective of a social worker. I learned a lot about myself and other people of privilege during that time. It seemed as if most of us possess an unspoken or unrealized fear, one that operates the same way people often judge survivors of sexual assault by finding ways to fault the victim. We may deny that we could experience poverty because we follow the rules, or work hard or whatever. So to keep our magical thinking in place we judge and find ways to 'other' people living in poverty. We are doing all the right things so it can't happen to us, right?
In the process we also overlook factors such as generational wealth, politically based failures to bring federal and state dollars into red states, and the hollowing out of nutrition and education programs. This same judgment now lives on in policy. So much of life appears to be motivated by fear.
I don't care to be ruled by fear. It is the currency of autocrats and theocrats. Let's practice kindness, cultivate gratitude and open our personal and social spaces for joy.
This column has earned my subscription. If we make fun of people who have financial or weight issues, we are lowering ourselves to the level of tfg and his hateful minions. He’s the one who calls women ‘horse face’, we should do better.
I totally agree, and women have been historically targeted (and still are) for their physical appearance. There's so much to discuss concerning Republicans wanting to take the country back to the Robber Baron days so that only the straight, white, wealthy men have power, that we don't need to make fun of anyone's physical appearance. We can certainly call their behaviors weird, but we don't need to go further down that road.
You're right. We need to be better.
Thank you so much for this. I hate to see anyone mocked for their appearance. Lord knows, the folks we are talking about have enough ugly actions, words, policies and hate that we can call them out on instead.
(And I want to hug the little kid you )
Absolutely, Charlotte!
Thank you so much for this, Charlotte. Like Catherine, this led me to subscribe 💖💖
Well said. Thank you.
Amen. 1000 times!
Thank you dear Charlotte. Precise and exact medicine here. ❤️