Marianne, I have nothing to say except—I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE!! Okay, one more BIG thing :-)
In college, I wrote a term paper for my Holocaust class called “Blind and Built to Barbarity.” Sadly, I no longer have it (I even tried contacting the university—too late, 30 years past). My professor ended up reading it every semester for years as an example of how to write the final paper.
The piece was about how so many good people in Germany grew numb. They didn’t believe what they were hearing—or they just put their own needs first (price of eggs!)—and went on with their lives. Later, they were horrified at what had been happening under their noses, and for decades lived with the stain of that denial—Germany itself still carries it.
SAD. MAD. FEEL SOMETHING. But don’t sit back thinking it can’t happen here. This is how it started in Germany; ripping people off the streets. Where are they taking them?
And wait until they start monitoring comments like this—it’s already being set up.
We have to wake up. Do something. Pray. Email. Call a congressional representative. Peacefully protest. Speak up.
Or we, too, will carry that same stain for decades. Thanks Marianne!
Yeah, me too-:)-:( Thanks Marianne. And thanks for your ALL of your work! It's so appreciated and so important. I'll check out Melissa Dalton-Bradford. 🙏🏻
My cousin sent me a text today about Melissa Dalton-Bradford. Her thinking is impressive and her life--living in six different countries would certainly give one a variety of views. My cousin said she was a lot like you Marianne!
Marianne-your message today reminds me of the story you often tell about the Buddhist monk who was crying over his master’s grave —as someone came up to him and said, “But I thought you were enlightened! So why are you crying?” Responded the monk. “Because I am sad.”
Thank you, Marianne, so, so much. Thank you for always standing up and demonstrating true courage. Thank you for the reminder of how important it is to FEEL this sadness and not override it. "..but an unwillingness to recognize the depth of the darkness makes us less receptive to the power of the light." Yes, yes and yes.
You touched on every point that concerns ethical, caring, sad, worried people. Everyday I struggle to wish only good things to everyone, to not be so reactive and yet not passive. Our humanity came with some built in emotions so sadness is one of them, sadness at the suffering of humans, animals, and the earth which is usually created by humans. Thank you from a place deep in my spirit.
Oh for God's sake, Marianne! Those 'friends' who think you ought to look more like a Tik-Tok Influencer really, really, really need to grow up. Do they think Jesus, or Gautama Siddhartha or Malcolm X or Mahatma Ghandi or Mansur Al-Hallaj went around with a big phony smile on their face while their worlds burned? Picture this: the firemen who are risking their lives (and you are risking yours in this fight) fighting a fire in a fifty story building show up impeccably laundered and groomed, grinning and doing a little dance, maybe, while watching the kids screaming at the windows. Ha.
I am sadly encountering so-called friends who are avoiding our country's situation because they think they can and/or are privileged--not willing to help. One who ignores my emails to call their lawmakers or boycott Target, etc. but let's me know she's planning her annual escape to an island somewhere with her husband for three months this winter. I need to rethink even my friends--many who have shocked me by their hubris or whatever is going on with them--avoidance of reality? Spoiled? It reinforces my thinking about how we got where we are now--self-interest and affluent enough to think nothing will touch them. We'll see.
Thank you Marianne only fools never get sad - of course yes- but we have to say it to others and to ourselves over and over again. We have to communicate to fully understand that we are not alone - we see and feel the depth of what is going on. You are a treasure Marianne and it would be quite horrible if you did not show your feelings. We must show that we are no robots.
All ways a heart warming and spiritually awakening when I read and/of listen to your words. Marianne, sending rays of love to you. May God’s grace reign all ways✨
Spot on my friend. It is a time to be sad, and mad. As an environmentalist I've carried a little background sadness for most of my life. I'm sad because we're killing something I love. The same is now true about the American experiment in democracy. I'm sad. And I'm mad. And I am harnessing both emotions, mixed with resolve, and a hallelujah anyway! attitude to stay alert, engaged and do whatever I can -- using my voice and my body in writing and rallies, conversations and protests. At the same time holding a bit of space in my consciousness that in the field of possibilities there is space for this to be an evolution rather than a devolution of our nation and humanity as a whole. That will require millions and millions of sad, mad, activated patriots.
What I often do when I’m looking for a REAL inner sense of peace (and know how I might help, if that’s not help enough) is to write a letter to myself (from Love), put my bum on a cushion and meditate, or open the Course to get a grip of how to transcend the co-created reality I’m experiencing. I understand my job is not to change the outer circumstances, but to feel everything and open my heart so I can change how I perceive myself and what’s possible when God moves through me unencumbered.
The truth is, I’m well aware of the s**t show that is happening, not just in our country, but around the world. I appreciate how you speak your truth, encourage us to feel the depth of our sadness, and point to the ways each of us can be a small part of the solution. That said, I can get the horror of the news from innumerable sources. I have historically followed you because I sometimes need an outside voice for the Course when I’m so bound by fear that I forget I can go inward for a larger truth, or ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, or open the Course knowing there are words in that book that will unbind my flight, fight, freeze, fawn response.
So, I miss those reminders that used to be so prevalent in your teachings. It was your living example that inspired me. I’m not suggesting you change. This platform is yours to leverage in the ways that feel most congruent to you, but I’m wanting more reminders about how to liberate myself so I’m acting from revelatory insight and not fear.
And maybe there comes a time when we realize what we want from others, is a call to become that person for ourselves…?
Marianne, I have nothing to say except—I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE!! Okay, one more BIG thing :-)
In college, I wrote a term paper for my Holocaust class called “Blind and Built to Barbarity.” Sadly, I no longer have it (I even tried contacting the university—too late, 30 years past). My professor ended up reading it every semester for years as an example of how to write the final paper.
The piece was about how so many good people in Germany grew numb. They didn’t believe what they were hearing—or they just put their own needs first (price of eggs!)—and went on with their lives. Later, they were horrified at what had been happening under their noses, and for decades lived with the stain of that denial—Germany itself still carries it.
SAD. MAD. FEEL SOMETHING. But don’t sit back thinking it can’t happen here. This is how it started in Germany; ripping people off the streets. Where are they taking them?
And wait until they start monitoring comments like this—it’s already being set up.
We have to wake up. Do something. Pray. Email. Call a congressional representative. Peacefully protest. Speak up.
Or we, too, will carry that same stain for decades. Thanks Marianne!
I'm sorry you don't have that paper. I hear you. Also, do you follow Melissa Dalton-Bradford? I think you'd like her posts.
Yeah, me too-:)-:( Thanks Marianne. And thanks for your ALL of your work! It's so appreciated and so important. I'll check out Melissa Dalton-Bradford. 🙏🏻
My cousin sent me a text today about Melissa Dalton-Bradford. Her thinking is impressive and her life--living in six different countries would certainly give one a variety of views. My cousin said she was a lot like you Marianne!
Marianne-your message today reminds me of the story you often tell about the Buddhist monk who was crying over his master’s grave —as someone came up to him and said, “But I thought you were enlightened! So why are you crying?” Responded the monk. “Because I am sad.”
Exactly
Thank you, Marianne, so, so much. Thank you for always standing up and demonstrating true courage. Thank you for the reminder of how important it is to FEEL this sadness and not override it. "..but an unwillingness to recognize the depth of the darkness makes us less receptive to the power of the light." Yes, yes and yes.
You touched on every point that concerns ethical, caring, sad, worried people. Everyday I struggle to wish only good things to everyone, to not be so reactive and yet not passive. Our humanity came with some built in emotions so sadness is one of them, sadness at the suffering of humans, animals, and the earth which is usually created by humans. Thank you from a place deep in my spirit.
Oh for God's sake, Marianne! Those 'friends' who think you ought to look more like a Tik-Tok Influencer really, really, really need to grow up. Do they think Jesus, or Gautama Siddhartha or Malcolm X or Mahatma Ghandi or Mansur Al-Hallaj went around with a big phony smile on their face while their worlds burned? Picture this: the firemen who are risking their lives (and you are risking yours in this fight) fighting a fire in a fifty story building show up impeccably laundered and groomed, grinning and doing a little dance, maybe, while watching the kids screaming at the windows. Ha.
You and I both know the difference. Those people were men.
Hoo boy; deep. The more I think about it the deeper my frown lines get.
you forgot to mention Martin Luther King!
My bad. I actually thought I had written him into the list!
I haven’t read all your essays but this one seems exceptional. Powerful and inspirational.
I saw you speak in person once, decades ago, and left uplifted, almost floating.
These words today leave me stronger simply from reading and absorbing them.
If people are not sad, they’re not paying attention.
I am sadly encountering so-called friends who are avoiding our country's situation because they think they can and/or are privileged--not willing to help. One who ignores my emails to call their lawmakers or boycott Target, etc. but let's me know she's planning her annual escape to an island somewhere with her husband for three months this winter. I need to rethink even my friends--many who have shocked me by their hubris or whatever is going on with them--avoidance of reality? Spoiled? It reinforces my thinking about how we got where we are now--self-interest and affluent enough to think nothing will touch them. We'll see.
Thank you Marianne only fools never get sad - of course yes- but we have to say it to others and to ourselves over and over again. We have to communicate to fully understand that we are not alone - we see and feel the depth of what is going on. You are a treasure Marianne and it would be quite horrible if you did not show your feelings. We must show that we are no robots.
All ways a heart warming and spiritually awakening when I read and/of listen to your words. Marianne, sending rays of love to you. May God’s grace reign all ways✨
💯
Thank you so much for this
Spot on my friend. It is a time to be sad, and mad. As an environmentalist I've carried a little background sadness for most of my life. I'm sad because we're killing something I love. The same is now true about the American experiment in democracy. I'm sad. And I'm mad. And I am harnessing both emotions, mixed with resolve, and a hallelujah anyway! attitude to stay alert, engaged and do whatever I can -- using my voice and my body in writing and rallies, conversations and protests. At the same time holding a bit of space in my consciousness that in the field of possibilities there is space for this to be an evolution rather than a devolution of our nation and humanity as a whole. That will require millions and millions of sad, mad, activated patriots.
Excellent post!
100%
Marianne -- You don't look any sadder than I feel.
What I often do when I’m looking for a REAL inner sense of peace (and know how I might help, if that’s not help enough) is to write a letter to myself (from Love), put my bum on a cushion and meditate, or open the Course to get a grip of how to transcend the co-created reality I’m experiencing. I understand my job is not to change the outer circumstances, but to feel everything and open my heart so I can change how I perceive myself and what’s possible when God moves through me unencumbered.
The truth is, I’m well aware of the s**t show that is happening, not just in our country, but around the world. I appreciate how you speak your truth, encourage us to feel the depth of our sadness, and point to the ways each of us can be a small part of the solution. That said, I can get the horror of the news from innumerable sources. I have historically followed you because I sometimes need an outside voice for the Course when I’m so bound by fear that I forget I can go inward for a larger truth, or ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, or open the Course knowing there are words in that book that will unbind my flight, fight, freeze, fawn response.
So, I miss those reminders that used to be so prevalent in your teachings. It was your living example that inspired me. I’m not suggesting you change. This platform is yours to leverage in the ways that feel most congruent to you, but I’m wanting more reminders about how to liberate myself so I’m acting from revelatory insight and not fear.
And maybe there comes a time when we realize what we want from others, is a call to become that person for ourselves…?