I don’t care for Trump but, given the penetration the Marxist progressive agenda in North America, he is the only candidate who could and would staunch the current decent into authoritarian statism.
I’ll take Trump and his imperfections over Biden and the communistic cabal that has gained control of the Democratic Party.
I’ll take a leader that wants to reestablish American power over one that infers I am a demon because i have a white skin.
I am also sick of those who have anointed themselves morally and intellectually superior but do not possess a shred of common sense.
North America will never achieve its potential if its leadership continues to shame the present generation for sins of the past - sins that were in greater part attributable to the politicians, bureaucrats and religious leaders of the day.
North Americans must reject the notion that they must accept the albatrosses leftist progressives are bent upon hanging about their necks to further their totalitarian ambitions.
As the mom of a teen who is stereotypical of the youth Abigail Shrier is describing AND a former foster mom of children who have experienced the traditional definition of trauma, I sincerely appreciate the distinction she makes between universal human difficulties and truly traumatic events. It seems to me the first two letter-writers, while charitable, had not quite grasped that. They also seemed to miss her acknowledgment that the troubles the children experienced were REAL, just exacerbated by, well, bad therapy. Return to the word “foster”: it means to nurture, to care for, to equip, to facilitate growth. In our culture we FOSTER ideas and attitudes and narratives. Sometimes we do that with sound and principled reason, and, sometimes, we let our mercurial feelings do it…alas, even those with the most scientific insights into the human psyche. I think every therapy-training should start with the chant: “Your feelings are real, but they don’t dictate reality!”
Your point about “normal human difficulties” versus “trauma” is an excellent one. I think, in general, our culture is poor at distinguishing between the two. It’s part and parcel of our affluenza. The past couple of generations have lived in a time of extraordinary peace and luxury compared to previous generations. The result seems to be that we expect calm seas all the time, and when a storm develops, we do not have the internal resources to cope with it, nor the resilience we need to recover from it.
Netanyahu’s autobiography tells us more about him than the media. He knew an event like 7 October was likely. He also knows expulsión or destruction of Jews is the goal of Hamas and perhaps PLO.
I would like to see a spectrum of opinion about the relationship between the internal battle over the Israel Supreme Court and the intelligence failure that contributed to the October 7 massacre. Or must we wait for the outcome of the war?
I have to shake my head and laugh regarding the Biden (we know what's best for Israel, not the current leader Netanyahu) comment. All the brouhaha over the past election cycles over Russian influence when the history of the United States is replete with interference and outright elimination of duly elected officials of foreign governments. Iran, Chile, El Salvador, South Vietnam, for example. Why should we be surprised when foreign governments will use whatever levers they have to influence our election outcomes? What was the infamous LBJ comment? "He may be a bastard, but he is our bastard."
It is not surprising to me that the letters from the therapists confused the cart with the horse. Feeling the impact of events on others does not translate to experiencing the event itself, but growing up around others (especially family members) who did. (Not unlike the emotional difficulties some children experience in having a chronically ill sibling.) This spiral could end after one generation if parents raised their children to believe in their own agency and to refuse to take responsibility for pain they did not cause, whatever their birthright.
It seems to me that Peter Savodnik writes for a Democrat readership. The Free Press started as a site where people sick of “mainstream” bias, as typified by Bari’s former employer, the New York Times, could find real news not being suppressed or distorted elsewhere. Savodnik is biased leftward, as are a few other writers here. His work isn’t why I subscribe, so I don’t read him.
I think inter-generational trauma/ Epigenetics is a plausible concept. But I agree with Shrier that the proponents of such a theory bear the burden of proof, which thus far has not been met. OTOH, the example of pre-historic humans having had immense challenges but not resulting in us present day folk having “PTSD” is not a good one….that concept literally applies to every human through all of time, and it wouldn’t be labelled as “PTSD”, since it would simply be considered “normal” (there can be nothing more normative than something that affects every human). You need selective exposure (like surviving the Holocaust) in order to have differential effects.
"reasonably competent State of the Union speech"???
Adderall-driven, meandering rage fest is more like it. Senile old man yelling at those MAGA teenagers to get off his lawn. It was beyond shameful for both Biden (who really has no shame) and the nation which had to endure it.
But Biden's coffers are $10 million fuller. I think that was the point. It was the money raise, knowing that the people who actually watch the speech are those who are already "into" politics so he's not going to change any of their minds. But the $10 million will go a LONG way to change the minds of the vast majority of Americans who aren't paying attention
Republican whores shilling for communists. Reagan already turned over in his grave when the current loon wing of the GOP starting fawning over Putin and Orban. Vivek getting millions from Yass says it all. The party is a shell of its former self. Actually, it's unrecognizable.
Democrat whores shilling for Hamas. JFK turned over in his grave when the current loon wing of the dem party started fawning over women with penises and illegal "newcomers". Biden getting millions from China and Sam Bankman Fried says it all. The party is a shell of itself. Actually, it's unrecognizable.
They're both fixable, but not likely in either case. We are becoming more entrenched and unwilling to negotiate. Both sides view the other as evil and when you view someone or a group as evil, you justify your own evil acts in your attempts to thwart them as you inevitably fall into the trap of believing that the means justifies the ends.
I don’t care for Trump but, given the penetration the Marxist progressive agenda in North America, he is the only candidate who could and would staunch the current decent into authoritarian statism.
I’ll take Trump and his imperfections over Biden and the communistic cabal that has gained control of the Democratic Party.
I’ll take a leader that wants to reestablish American power over one that infers I am a demon because i have a white skin.
I am also sick of those who have anointed themselves morally and intellectually superior but do not possess a shred of common sense.
North America will never achieve its potential if its leadership continues to shame the present generation for sins of the past - sins that were in greater part attributable to the politicians, bureaucrats and religious leaders of the day.
North Americans must reject the notion that they must accept the albatrosses leftist progressives are bent upon hanging about their necks to further their totalitarian ambitions.
I was moved by all of this today: tragic, silly, profound, and newsworthy. Well done TFP 🫶
As the mom of a teen who is stereotypical of the youth Abigail Shrier is describing AND a former foster mom of children who have experienced the traditional definition of trauma, I sincerely appreciate the distinction she makes between universal human difficulties and truly traumatic events. It seems to me the first two letter-writers, while charitable, had not quite grasped that. They also seemed to miss her acknowledgment that the troubles the children experienced were REAL, just exacerbated by, well, bad therapy. Return to the word “foster”: it means to nurture, to care for, to equip, to facilitate growth. In our culture we FOSTER ideas and attitudes and narratives. Sometimes we do that with sound and principled reason, and, sometimes, we let our mercurial feelings do it…alas, even those with the most scientific insights into the human psyche. I think every therapy-training should start with the chant: “Your feelings are real, but they don’t dictate reality!”
Your point about “normal human difficulties” versus “trauma” is an excellent one. I think, in general, our culture is poor at distinguishing between the two. It’s part and parcel of our affluenza. The past couple of generations have lived in a time of extraordinary peace and luxury compared to previous generations. The result seems to be that we expect calm seas all the time, and when a storm develops, we do not have the internal resources to cope with it, nor the resilience we need to recover from it.
Anyone live in New Hampshire?
Netanyahu’s autobiography tells us more about him than the media. He knew an event like 7 October was likely. He also knows expulsión or destruction of Jews is the goal of Hamas and perhaps PLO.
I would like to see a spectrum of opinion about the relationship between the internal battle over the Israel Supreme Court and the intelligence failure that contributed to the October 7 massacre. Or must we wait for the outcome of the war?
I have to shake my head and laugh regarding the Biden (we know what's best for Israel, not the current leader Netanyahu) comment. All the brouhaha over the past election cycles over Russian influence when the history of the United States is replete with interference and outright elimination of duly elected officials of foreign governments. Iran, Chile, El Salvador, South Vietnam, for example. Why should we be surprised when foreign governments will use whatever levers they have to influence our election outcomes? What was the infamous LBJ comment? "He may be a bastard, but he is our bastard."
1. Not contrary to what Israel stands for.
2. Do not look into what every other POTUS who has deal with Netanyahu has to say.
It is not surprising to me that the letters from the therapists confused the cart with the horse. Feeling the impact of events on others does not translate to experiencing the event itself, but growing up around others (especially family members) who did. (Not unlike the emotional difficulties some children experience in having a chronically ill sibling.) This spiral could end after one generation if parents raised their children to believe in their own agency and to refuse to take responsibility for pain they did not cause, whatever their birthright.
That sounds like anti-reparations. How can grievance be perpetuated if someone is expected to take responsibility for themselves and their own agency?
Exactly.
I very much regret the Abercrombie clothing that I bought for my sons when they were teenagers.What an awful story-those poor kids!
It seems to me that Peter Savodnik writes for a Democrat readership. The Free Press started as a site where people sick of “mainstream” bias, as typified by Bari’s former employer, the New York Times, could find real news not being suppressed or distorted elsewhere. Savodnik is biased leftward, as are a few other writers here. His work isn’t why I subscribe, so I don’t read him.
I think inter-generational trauma/ Epigenetics is a plausible concept. But I agree with Shrier that the proponents of such a theory bear the burden of proof, which thus far has not been met. OTOH, the example of pre-historic humans having had immense challenges but not resulting in us present day folk having “PTSD” is not a good one….that concept literally applies to every human through all of time, and it wouldn’t be labelled as “PTSD”, since it would simply be considered “normal” (there can be nothing more normative than something that affects every human). You need selective exposure (like surviving the Holocaust) in order to have differential effects.
"reasonably competent State of the Union speech"???
Adderall-driven, meandering rage fest is more like it. Senile old man yelling at those MAGA teenagers to get off his lawn. It was beyond shameful for both Biden (who really has no shame) and the nation which had to endure it.
But Biden's coffers are $10 million fuller. I think that was the point. It was the money raise, knowing that the people who actually watch the speech are those who are already "into" politics so he's not going to change any of their minds. But the $10 million will go a LONG way to change the minds of the vast majority of Americans who aren't paying attention
It was Oliver Wiseman. Expect no better from him.
I don't, it's just that the absurdity of that statement was such a stretch -- even for him.
I suspect Biden is still sleeping it off.
Even after Biden’s reasonably competent State of the Union speech on Thursday
Excuse the language please, but are you fucking kidding me?
Stopped reading after that sentence.
Republican whores shilling for communists. Reagan already turned over in his grave when the current loon wing of the GOP starting fawning over Putin and Orban. Vivek getting millions from Yass says it all. The party is a shell of its former self. Actually, it's unrecognizable.
Democrat whores shilling for Hamas. JFK turned over in his grave when the current loon wing of the dem party started fawning over women with penises and illegal "newcomers". Biden getting millions from China and Sam Bankman Fried says it all. The party is a shell of itself. Actually, it's unrecognizable.
Yeah them too. Both parties suck. A pox on both their houses.
Republicans are spineless, Democrats are hell bent on falling off the cliff.
The stupid party and the evil party, it couldn't be more true.
Stupid is fixable. Evil is not.
They're both fixable, but not likely in either case. We are becoming more entrenched and unwilling to negotiate. Both sides view the other as evil and when you view someone or a group as evil, you justify your own evil acts in your attempts to thwart them as you inevitably fall into the trap of believing that the means justifies the ends.
Wiseman again? Delete.