I’m keeping this within eyesight as I call voters in North Carolina to tell them where their polling place is and remind them to bring their photo ID—because ID is a new requirement this year.
Perhaps you have a point because these forces still exist and they still influence power, even here. But before democracy, brute force and birthright were the *only* way people could have a voice. And democracy and rule of law are still the best tools we have to oppose them.
As JVL says, community is our best antidote to (gestures broadly) all this. I’m grateful that my little digital community has you in it. Thank you for writing, in general, and thank you for writing this in particular.
To group up with people for various non fundamental reasons.
To demonize the other side to give people a fear to cling to.
To be substantially separate from any significant cultural strains.
To support an at best mediator in chief.
To engage in conspiracy theories.
To enact political violence.
To condemn lotteries as a tax for the poor.
To sell your soul for things you don't know what's in store.
Democracy really is not all it's chocked up to be. They killed Socrates, they killed Jesus. I'm finding it difficult to call it love. Every mob is democratic by nature.
Of course, we are human, we mess it up, we don’t love well. But the idea of democracy, the system of it is built on trust and inclusion. That is a form of a love. What better alternative is there?
Plato's "Republic", Book VIII: 562a-e ⚖️⚱️🤔 (Socrates/Adeimantus) ~ [+/-] democracy, FREEDOM (that often repeated phrase), insatiable desire, neglect, tyranny, anarchy.....
...hold fast to the beautiful, true and good in faith and hope. LOVE can be a nebulous term. It can invariably become misplaced 🥃💊💉 or ⚧️ misdirected 💋💚👿. Socrates is correctly VERY SKEPTICAL of "democracy" in practice. This 🇺🇲 Republic's 🔔🗽📜🕰️ recent and short-lived experiment with universal suffrage may be it's prophetic 🪦 conclusion, if our totally autonomous <self-love> is allowed unchecked say-so. Maybe Plato got it wrong, but I for one certainly DO Not equate democracy with love in a 'good' way....
I am canvassing in GA thru Saturday. I will carry Democracy is love with me door to door.
Thank you for your love.
"We have no choice
But to allow for choice.
And I would give myself up for yours,
Hollow and howling though it may be."
Powerful <3
Beautiful Holly and I will hold these words in my heart. Thank you. I wish you peace.
God bless you Holly. You have no idea I badly I needed to hear this!
❤️🗽🇺🇸🗳️💙
Perfect. So beautiful
Interesting musing on Democracy. But I see an alternate view that suggests a lot of hate.
I don't think the haters understand democracy.
Way to make a girl cry. That’s lovely.
I’m keeping this within eyesight as I call voters in North Carolina to tell them where their polling place is and remind them to bring their photo ID—because ID is a new requirement this year.
Kathy, thank you so much. Thank you for your love.
I’ve read it like 5 times now and my cheeks are still wet.
Thank you so much for your effort and dedication! I think North Carolina will be very important this year.
Now I’m going to try and do my part. Glad to be in this fight alongside people like you.
Thank you. I’m definitely a paid subscriber.
Lovely…though I disagree with the tense of “The world used to run”.
Perhaps you have a point because these forces still exist and they still influence power, even here. But before democracy, brute force and birthright were the *only* way people could have a voice. And democracy and rule of law are still the best tools we have to oppose them.
As JVL says, community is our best antidote to (gestures broadly) all this. I’m grateful that my little digital community has you in it. Thank you for writing, in general, and thank you for writing this in particular.
I'll read this every day until (and after-regardless of the outcome) the election to maintain my sanity.
Thank You!
To group up with people for various non fundamental reasons.
To demonize the other side to give people a fear to cling to.
To be substantially separate from any significant cultural strains.
To support an at best mediator in chief.
To engage in conspiracy theories.
To enact political violence.
To condemn lotteries as a tax for the poor.
To sell your soul for things you don't know what's in store.
Democracy really is not all it's chocked up to be. They killed Socrates, they killed Jesus. I'm finding it difficult to call it love. Every mob is democratic by nature.
Democracy is being on the right side of one.
Of course, we are human, we mess it up, we don’t love well. But the idea of democracy, the system of it is built on trust and inclusion. That is a form of a love. What better alternative is there?
Also it’s a poem. Not analysis.
I mean fair enough, I mean love is prior to democracy. Democracy only works if there's a preceding love and it is a good poem.
So beautiful and powerful. Thank you, Holly.
Thank you, Holly. It’s a tough week ahead. And iI am only looking a week ahead at this point.
Plato's "Republic", Book VIII: 562a-e ⚖️⚱️🤔 (Socrates/Adeimantus) ~ [+/-] democracy, FREEDOM (that often repeated phrase), insatiable desire, neglect, tyranny, anarchy.....
...hold fast to the beautiful, true and good in faith and hope. LOVE can be a nebulous term. It can invariably become misplaced 🥃💊💉 or ⚧️ misdirected 💋💚👿. Socrates is correctly VERY SKEPTICAL of "democracy" in practice. This 🇺🇲 Republic's 🔔🗽📜🕰️ recent and short-lived experiment with universal suffrage may be it's prophetic 🪦 conclusion, if our totally autonomous <self-love> is allowed unchecked say-so. Maybe Plato got it wrong, but I for one certainly DO Not equate democracy with love in a 'good' way....