by Jean Meinnheim
~*~
“Americans need to see people
who are honestly trying to learn from each other,
even as we make our own points powerfully
and argue for our own values and policies.”
~Van Jones
~*~
"I don't like bigots or bullies but
I got tough talk to my liberal colleagues
There are two ideas about safe spaces
One is a very good idea and one is a terrible idea
The idea of being physically safe
Not being subjected to sexual harassment
Or physical abuse or something like that
Or being targeted specifically personally
For some kind of hate speech
I am perfectly fine with that
But there's another view
That I think is now ascended
Which I think is just a horrible view
Which is the view that I need to be safe ideologically
I need to be safe emotionally
I just need to feel good all the time
And if someone says something that I don't like
That's a problem for everybody else
I think that is a terrible idea
For the following reason:
I don't want you to be safe ideologically.
I don't want you to be safe emotionally.
I want you to be strong.
That's different.
I'm not going to pave the jungle for you.
Put on some boots,
And learn how to deal with adversity.
I'm not going to take all the weights out of the gym;
That's the whole point of the gym.
Life - Living is the gym."
~Van Jones
~*~
"You can either live as a balloon full of feelings
In a world full of pins
Or you can live in the world as a fire
Ready to grow stronger from the wind."
~Jonathan Haidt