Indeed, progress is a marathon, not a sprint, often stretching beyond a human lifespan. And moves erratically and sporadically like the crooked timber of humanity. Until it moves all at once and we ourselves may disagree whether overshot. Either way, it's no single person's burden or struggle alone. And it's the product of many people doing giant things and imperceptibly small things, but still always doing something.
Hi Kathleen. Good to hear from you. Did you go to Northeast PA to canvass?
As to the essay you linked to, do you agree with this statement: "All that is good in this country flows not from the government or the laws but from centuries of resistance"?
I think that that is a broad and sweeping statement. I think if the author thought carefully, she would agree with the following formulation: resistance leads to better laws which in turn are become better through further resistance. In other words, the US Constitution outlawed the slave trade after 1807. That was a small step—a very small step—toward addressing slavery. Nothing further worthwhile happened until the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1864. Then there was a relapse in which the North permitted the South to impose Jim Crow segregation. Then the resistance of the civil rights movement brought a great improvement in laws—the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We are still struggling to implement those laws ever since.
What happened was that I came down with my very first gallbladder attack and gallbladder infection. I spent 7 days sick before I went to the hospital (thinking it might just go away), 2 days in the hospital, and then another 10 days recovering in bed afterwards. I am basically fully recovered now. Some dietary adjustments, and now I will recognize the symptoms if they recur.
Indeed, progress is a marathon, not a sprint, often stretching beyond a human lifespan. And moves erratically and sporadically like the crooked timber of humanity. Until it moves all at once and we ourselves may disagree whether overshot. Either way, it's no single person's burden or struggle alone. And it's the product of many people doing giant things and imperceptibly small things, but still always doing something.
Beautiful comment.
Hi Kathleen. Good to hear from you. Did you go to Northeast PA to canvass?
As to the essay you linked to, do you agree with this statement: "All that is good in this country flows not from the government or the laws but from centuries of resistance"?
I think that that is a broad and sweeping statement. I think if the author thought carefully, she would agree with the following formulation: resistance leads to better laws which in turn are become better through further resistance. In other words, the US Constitution outlawed the slave trade after 1807. That was a small step—a very small step—toward addressing slavery. Nothing further worthwhile happened until the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1864. Then there was a relapse in which the North permitted the South to impose Jim Crow segregation. Then the resistance of the civil rights movement brought a great improvement in laws—the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We are still struggling to implement those laws ever since.
What happened was that I came down with my very first gallbladder attack and gallbladder infection. I spent 7 days sick before I went to the hospital (thinking it might just go away), 2 days in the hospital, and then another 10 days recovering in bed afterwards. I am basically fully recovered now. Some dietary adjustments, and now I will recognize the symptoms if they recur.
Thanks for sharing that essay about hope and agency, Kathleen.