Well said. It always amazes me that when an particularly obscene act of violence occurs (e.g., school shooting, George Floyd murder, etc.,), gun sales go up. It's hard to understand how that will protect the gun buyers from anything but the reality of our societal failure to deal with hate.
It always helps to get into the other person's map of the world. Only then can we begin to understand them. We humans blunder around thinking we know what motivates others, but so many times we are just guessing based on our own prejudices.
Another thoughtful article, Baird.
BTW, do you have Scottish forebears? Baird sounds v. north of the border.
Such an important point Michelle. We put people in boxes (gender, size, pigmentation) so we don't have to make the effort to know them as individuals. If we want to have a good relationship, we need to know who we're dealing with. That takes energy and curiosity.
Good catch on the name! "Baird" is the Scottish form of the English "bard" (from the French "troubadour") meaning teller of tales/singer of songs. A wandering minstrel am I! But my lineage comes out of Russia and Germany, and when I asked my parents how they came up with that name (which was not easy to have as a kid), I never got a satisfying explanation. Guess they just liked how it sounded. I swore if I ever had kids, I'd give them names they didn't have to repeat 3-5 times and spell. Promise kept!
Well said. It always amazes me that when an particularly obscene act of violence occurs (e.g., school shooting, George Floyd murder, etc.,), gun sales go up. It's hard to understand how that will protect the gun buyers from anything but the reality of our societal failure to deal with hate.
And round and round we go.
Thanks for reading and commenting Julie!
You hit the mail on the head again Baird. Good thoughtful writing!
Thanks Michael! I appreciate your reading and kind comment.
It always helps to get into the other person's map of the world. Only then can we begin to understand them. We humans blunder around thinking we know what motivates others, but so many times we are just guessing based on our own prejudices.
Another thoughtful article, Baird.
BTW, do you have Scottish forebears? Baird sounds v. north of the border.
Such an important point Michelle. We put people in boxes (gender, size, pigmentation) so we don't have to make the effort to know them as individuals. If we want to have a good relationship, we need to know who we're dealing with. That takes energy and curiosity.
Good catch on the name! "Baird" is the Scottish form of the English "bard" (from the French "troubadour") meaning teller of tales/singer of songs. A wandering minstrel am I! But my lineage comes out of Russia and Germany, and when I asked my parents how they came up with that name (which was not easy to have as a kid), I never got a satisfying explanation. Guess they just liked how it sounded. I swore if I ever had kids, I'd give them names they didn't have to repeat 3-5 times and spell. Promise kept!