Rules of Civility . A. Towles

I'm currently reading a novel by Amor Towles "A Gentleman In Moscow".  In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov, an unrepentant aristocrat was sentenced to house arrest in Moscow.  During one of his chance encounters, which didn't go well, he had the opportunity of a do-over when given a note which read "Please allow me a second chance at a first impression". After a bit of time with this individual, the Count concludes: "What can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli.  By their very nature human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration--and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour."

WOW!  I REALLY like this!  In our current climate of intolerance, we could all do well to consider this as we meet, greet and chat with others.

Sorrow in name calling

I wrote the following on Facebook on 2-8-20 and the loving care of friends was amazing...yet, the sting of hate has wounded me.

Well, I've been called a racist, the "great white hope", snowflake and mentally ill, not needing God but a therapist. It is SO sad that over the past week I have tried to have a decent discussion with those of differing political views. I've vowed to myself to keep my remarks non-judging and not personally attacking. But no matter, the mud continued to be slung at me...and it hurts. None of these people know me or my heart and I didn't talk sides, red or blue. I truly feel their agenda is to shut the mouths of those who see issues differently. I thought I could withstand the hate. But I can't. So now I will be silent.

2020 State of the Union

Stories shared about hope, courage, compassion, sorrow, dreams and so much more:

1.  ICE leader who leads in securing our borders
2.  Man who lost his brother killed by a captured and released Illegal protected in Sanctuary Cities
3.  Rush Limbau receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom
4.  Mom with two young children (Dad returned from battle field and united with them)
5.  Young boy with dreams of going into space program
6.  Mom with her two year old daughter who is a 21 week premie survivor
7.  Single black mom with young daughter who received a scholarship to attend school of choice and
     leave the ineffective  state school.
8. 100 year old military black officer who received stars on shoulders at White House
9.  Husband and Wife who lost daughter who served in Syria the needy and was captured, tortured
     and murdered by terrorist.
10.Grieving mom and young son - husband/dad killed by terrorist
11.Black army vet
12,Venezuelan President Juan Guiado