Bert m'dear, over in another thread about the nastier side of life among we lovely beings called "humans," a discussion arose that bears here. Jon Freeman was asking, how do we know, when we protest a wrong that was done in the past, that we would not have condoned it if we had been there ourselves? (my paraphrase.)

I ansewred as follows:


From: WYSIWYG
Date: 23-Jan-01 - 10:57 AM

"Jon, I used to wonder about that "what would I do" thing too. Now I know that to answer this, all I have to do is look at what I care about now and at what I take bold action to support. "Do I grieve what others accept? Do I take action in directions that are not popular? Do I support others who are willing to get messy doing the hard work?

"Do you?

"Why would we be any different at another point in time?

"But more important, what is there in present time that you may not care enough about, to suit your own moral code? And what's in the way of doing more in that area, more bravely?

"I think it matters which questions we ask ourselves. We can come up with an answer for anything we decide to think about. SOME sort of answer. So... let's ask ourselves and each other the ones that prompt ACTION in ourselves. It may even encourage others to action as well, however poor our example."


These thoughts, and an interesting correspondence just begun with Skeptic, led me to start the PART II thread for this one- where you and I are now discussing a PLAN.

My clickies ain't been working so hot of late. Maybe you make one to my Part II idea, and one there that leads back here? Purtie please??

~The WYS

PS-- the baseball thing was just to give you a break from the grimness, so we could start thinking more... zippy.