I've said several times that community is what will save us. But that falls short of what I mean, and I think the key is contained in this essay. When I say community, I mean leaning into the inherent value of each individual, making connections, building relationships, learning from one another, allowing for the widest variety of rhythms, not conformity, but curiosity and the belief that we make each other better, stronger, kinder.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the short story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, after rereading it a few years ago. And I'm reminded of it here again. In so many insidious and cumulative ways we're being "zapped" and our thoughts have been disrupted. 🤔 😒
Absolutely. I think Vonnegut himself, not just Harrison Bergeron, is an expressive facet of the same kind of traumatic experience that shaped Bonhoeffer. Different angles, same pressure. And thankfully Vonnegut had more life to live. But both were responding to that same dark human impulse to bury fear in willful projection.
It's so interesting (at least to me), as I reflect on my past through my new(ish) ND lens, to think about the authors, artists, filmmakers, and other creatives whose work has meant so much to me throughout my life. I've been revisiting many of my longtime favorites.I had never heard of Bonhoeffer until reading this, but Vonnegut was definitely a favorite during my college years. I used to think all undergrads were into Vonnegut, but maybe it was just the company I kept?
I've said several times that community is what will save us. But that falls short of what I mean, and I think the key is contained in this essay. When I say community, I mean leaning into the inherent value of each individual, making connections, building relationships, learning from one another, allowing for the widest variety of rhythms, not conformity, but curiosity and the belief that we make each other better, stronger, kinder.
I couldn’t agree more.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the short story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, after rereading it a few years ago. And I'm reminded of it here again. In so many insidious and cumulative ways we're being "zapped" and our thoughts have been disrupted. 🤔 😒
Absolutely. I think Vonnegut himself, not just Harrison Bergeron, is an expressive facet of the same kind of traumatic experience that shaped Bonhoeffer. Different angles, same pressure. And thankfully Vonnegut had more life to live. But both were responding to that same dark human impulse to bury fear in willful projection.
It's so interesting (at least to me), as I reflect on my past through my new(ish) ND lens, to think about the authors, artists, filmmakers, and other creatives whose work has meant so much to me throughout my life. I've been revisiting many of my longtime favorites.I had never heard of Bonhoeffer until reading this, but Vonnegut was definitely a favorite during my college years. I used to think all undergrads were into Vonnegut, but maybe it was just the company I kept?