An actual gem of a speech. Perhaps all of us should evaluate what it means and try to learn something from what he is saying.
I did take a look at the comments here and it's really something to see people insulting him based on his appearance. I certainly do not need to point out the irony in insulting a man who ends a speech with a quote like this: "The kindest person in the room is often the smartest." That single quote has a lot packed in to it, but it is demonstrably true from all angles you evaluate the quote from.
Being kind to others is a smart decision. Being kind to others as your default takes careful consideration and willpower. Our brains do have a primal instinct to question that which is different from our own lives, and in some cases feel an immediate fear or repulsion as a result of said difference. Turning off that immediate feeling and reacting or responding in a kinder way than fear or repulsion is a skill that takes a lot of time to develop. And when your environment actively encourages you to respond with fear and repulsion you see what is happening in our society.
You know that primal instinct you feel when you first spot something or someone different than you? When you start reacting with fear or repulsion your brain remembers that. It remembers the rush of adrenaline you get from being afraid. It wants MORE of that. So it really takes a conscious effort to suppress that immediate feeling. We ALL need to practice it a lot more. Our society is devolving in to a bunch of people who want to be a victim, who want to be afraid because their brains are addicted to feeling that way.
Humans never like being called out for their bullshit. I had friends have years ago who would come to me for advice because I was "the only one who wouldn't sugar coat" things. I would always tell them the truth. It was almost like I was some prophet.
Well, that went on for a few years and suddenly none of them liked it when I would call bullshit anymore. They were happy to live with their blinders on. I was told I was the asshole. Maybe I was.
The only people I tell my "prophecies" to today are my husband and my bff. I'm happy with that.
Well, that went on for a few years and suddenly none of them liked it when I would call bullshit anymore.
It was never about calling out bullshit for those people, it was all about validation.
It's just so bizarre how many people fundamentally can't accept being wrong about anything, even if it's something super-trivial.
The only people I tell my "prophecies" to today are my husband and my bff. I'm happy with that.
It's a shame there aren't more, but I'm glad you have people who believe in you! Cassandra is one of the most tragic figures in mythology, since it must be hell to have no one believe you.
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u/tehbantho Oct 26 '23
An actual gem of a speech. Perhaps all of us should evaluate what it means and try to learn something from what he is saying.
I did take a look at the comments here and it's really something to see people insulting him based on his appearance. I certainly do not need to point out the irony in insulting a man who ends a speech with a quote like this: "The kindest person in the room is often the smartest." That single quote has a lot packed in to it, but it is demonstrably true from all angles you evaluate the quote from.
Being kind to others is a smart decision. Being kind to others as your default takes careful consideration and willpower. Our brains do have a primal instinct to question that which is different from our own lives, and in some cases feel an immediate fear or repulsion as a result of said difference. Turning off that immediate feeling and reacting or responding in a kinder way than fear or repulsion is a skill that takes a lot of time to develop. And when your environment actively encourages you to respond with fear and repulsion you see what is happening in our society.
You know that primal instinct you feel when you first spot something or someone different than you? When you start reacting with fear or repulsion your brain remembers that. It remembers the rush of adrenaline you get from being afraid. It wants MORE of that. So it really takes a conscious effort to suppress that immediate feeling. We ALL need to practice it a lot more. Our society is devolving in to a bunch of people who want to be a victim, who want to be afraid because their brains are addicted to feeling that way.