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Eric O'Donnell's avatar

Pen, I think you would be extremely interested in reading “Looking for the Good War: American Amnesia and the Violent Pursuit of Happiness” (Elizabeth D. Samet).

It deals thoughtfully with American culture and war.

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SusanA's avatar

I am in California, been here my entire life. One time when my kids were in grade school I asked them if they could imagine what it would be like if Mexico attacked California. That's the closest I have ever been to even beginning understanding Sunflower Man.

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Penfist's avatar

Everything human hinges on empathy and compassion. If we’re meant to evolve.

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Bill Alstrom (MA/Maine/MA)'s avatar

Indeed. Rare traits in our national conversation. It's the sort of thing we used to expect from religious leaders. Or was that a dream I had as a kid? Now they offer up bigotry and hate.

I think the leader who can express empathy and compassion well ... just might pull us out of the muck and mire of jealousy, fear and hate.

But it probably won't be in my lifetime.

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Penfist's avatar

California is a good place, relative to many others I have inhabited.

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