Jen, I appreciate your self-awareness and intellectual rigor. It’s rare these days and it’s even rarer to see it on display because of the risk. I honor you.
If at least one person who reads this looks in the mirror and treats someone with more compassion and kindness, it will have been worth the 60 less-than-self-aware folks, (who we can still have compassion for), that unsubscribed 😊.
I completely agree with you. Too often we forget many of the things than Jen mentioned around confirmation bias and some other things. This is definitely something that I'll be reading on a recurring basis, just to serve as a reminder and put larger things into the proper context and perspective.
Dear Jen -- First of all, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Second of all -- to be very, very clear -- I just BARELY didn't unsubscribe after your previous two pieces (which I found so freakily, blindsidedly misguided that I thought my poor fucking brain would explode) because I was praying you would follow with something gorgeous, incisive, and brilliant like this (which I dearly, dearly love with every speck of my heart).
And I'm SO glad I held back on my itchy triggered finger, because it's always been so clear to me that you were coming from a deep, true, open, clear, kind, and beautiful place. I could see your soul in each and every thoughtful, caring post you shared. You were at the tippy-top of my most highly-anticipated consciousness-expanding weekly reads. I just loved your stuff to pieces.
So when I got to the weirdly-reductive, you-gotta-be-kidding-me "Kamala is Brat/Just Asking Questions" riff, I was like, "God damn it! ARE WE BEING TROLLED?" It wasn't just that we disagreed, or that our hitherto-congruent reality maps collided. It was more like, "Man, she's WAAAAAAY smarter than that!" Which, of course, you are.
So again: I thank you thank you thank you for this much-needed soul tonic. (At least needed by me!) I can now, in good conscience, return you to the tippy-top of my most cared-about writers and thinkers on this here Substack thingee. With my own mean and stupid placed back in my pocket (conveniently located at my ass-end, where it so clearly belongs). And equilibrium restored.
GOD BLESS YOU, JEN! Forever and always.
Big love (and enormous relief) from yer pal in the trenches,
I feel your pain, Jen, and recognize the wisdom that comes from it. I recently ventured into the political arena with my Substack writing and faced a similar response—the loss of a few subscribers. While this hurt my ego (because, after all, who wants to be rejected?), it also confirmed that I am on the right path toward becoming who I’m meant to be. The more we embrace our true selves, the fewer people will like us. This may seem counterproductive, but true individuation often leads to fewer friendships, as fewer people can tolerate differences and appreciate the growth that comes from engaging with diversity rather than seeking sameness. This process requires trust, and having trusted others helps us know ourselves more deeply.
Your transparency and willingness to be vulnerable inspire trust in me. Thank you for sharing yourself through this article, for bringing your process to us, and for showing us what it means to be fully human in such a beautiful way.
Thank you, Claudia! Glad there’s people out there that have the courage to say what they really think. If other people aren’t willing to hear it, so be it 🤷🏼♀️
You showed courage and that is never a bad thing! I always want to hear the other side because you never know it might lead to pause your thought because we do not everything in the world. They key is to remain open. That does not mean you agree but hear it out so you then can form a much more valid opinion of your own. Well Done Jen
Thank you for this, thoughtful and informative essay. Your points are well made. When I was a young doctor, I was told by others “Vote like a Democrat when you are young, without much money, and vote like a Republican when you are old, with more money.” I still vote like a Democrat but read the Wall Street Journal ( in addition to the NYT) to feed my curiosity about “the other side.”
It’s tricky to dip into the murky waters of division and emerge unsullied. Your journey into the depths and your ability to reflect and transcend the ego is an inspiration. Thank you for dissecting this topic to its roots and sharing your own evolution. Well done!
My personal perspective on politics is that there’s a game being played to divide and enrage us— in an effort to control, profit, and acquire power. The way we all win is not feeding into that system. Learn from it, respect it, but move on. Instead find common ground and build solutions that actually help and bring people together. Start small and build momentum. It’s where we choose to put our focus and energy that will make all the difference. We can do it. 💪
It’s not just politics that are divisive, it’s everything, because everything is now political. We must be on a side when we don’t even want to be in the fight.
I’ve been following articles on Substack about the ghastly husband in France who drugged his wife and invited men to rape her. One women wrote a piece with a picture of herself topless and purring about the power of her unleashed sexuality and then two days later, writes about how all men are guilty of what the bastards in France did, because men are not responding about the bastards in France. I won’t even try to understand.
Sanity and self-awareness seems to have evaporated. Sometimes, more often now, I wonder if it’s even worth trying to be part of any public discourse. I understand that withdrawal means giving up on people, society, and the possibility of a better world, but I have many more years behind me than ahead of me. Being heard is not worth the discord. All I want is a little peace.
I sometimes wonder if it’s worth it, too. But I like to think that exposure to difficult topics can build mental fortitude if we understand them and learn from them.
Oh Jen, the things I saw done in the name of politics left scars. So many scars. It’s where we leave behind our humanity too easily and are too easily tempted to take a step too far.
A great piece as always Jen! Your point about politics making us/you mean and stupid fascinates me because I wonder what is actually creating this? What wouldn't make politics feel mean and stupid? I'm interested in the latter because until we highlight a higher politics and way of creating and talking about a high-quality and high-energy politics, people won't be engaged. This is why I find the Harris vs Trump election so fascinating.
Love these questions. They’re beyond my understanding at this point, but I’d love to hear your thoughts if you decided to write about a new way forward for U.S. politics
A brief spate of clear, calm thinking and useful reflection is always welcome. I didn't take your poll. Polls always seem designed to provide a certain outcome. I'd rather be surprised! Thanks for your work.
Beautifully written and captures the 3 third rails of life, politics, religion and sex, they turn all of us mean & stupid.
Wasn't life less complex in the 1970's? Yes - it was also much more bitter and divided as we moved from the 'Father Knows Best' ideal to the 'Hell NO we won't go' chants of Viet Nam protests.
From all the diversity and hatred of this election, we will see change - good & bad, how we as a nation handle that change will elevate or destroy us!
This should be required reading for adulting.
Jen, I appreciate your self-awareness and intellectual rigor. It’s rare these days and it’s even rarer to see it on display because of the risk. I honor you.
If at least one person who reads this looks in the mirror and treats someone with more compassion and kindness, it will have been worth the 60 less-than-self-aware folks, (who we can still have compassion for), that unsubscribed 😊.
I completely agree with you. Too often we forget many of the things than Jen mentioned around confirmation bias and some other things. This is definitely something that I'll be reading on a recurring basis, just to serve as a reminder and put larger things into the proper context and perspective.
James and Josh—thank you ♥️
My heart is full
Dear Jen -- First of all, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Second of all -- to be very, very clear -- I just BARELY didn't unsubscribe after your previous two pieces (which I found so freakily, blindsidedly misguided that I thought my poor fucking brain would explode) because I was praying you would follow with something gorgeous, incisive, and brilliant like this (which I dearly, dearly love with every speck of my heart).
And I'm SO glad I held back on my itchy triggered finger, because it's always been so clear to me that you were coming from a deep, true, open, clear, kind, and beautiful place. I could see your soul in each and every thoughtful, caring post you shared. You were at the tippy-top of my most highly-anticipated consciousness-expanding weekly reads. I just loved your stuff to pieces.
So when I got to the weirdly-reductive, you-gotta-be-kidding-me "Kamala is Brat/Just Asking Questions" riff, I was like, "God damn it! ARE WE BEING TROLLED?" It wasn't just that we disagreed, or that our hitherto-congruent reality maps collided. It was more like, "Man, she's WAAAAAAY smarter than that!" Which, of course, you are.
So again: I thank you thank you thank you for this much-needed soul tonic. (At least needed by me!) I can now, in good conscience, return you to the tippy-top of my most cared-about writers and thinkers on this here Substack thingee. With my own mean and stupid placed back in my pocket (conveniently located at my ass-end, where it so clearly belongs). And equilibrium restored.
GOD BLESS YOU, JEN! Forever and always.
Big love (and enormous relief) from yer pal in the trenches,
Skipp
This is perhaps the most thoughtful and beautiful response I’ve ever received.
Thank you, John 🫶
Thank you for your patience and faith ♥️
My pleasure! And YAAAAAAAY!!!
Yes to all :) I went through the same emotional reverberation but held off. Today my balance was restored. Happy and grateful.
Thank you, Nelli! 🙏
I feel your pain, Jen, and recognize the wisdom that comes from it. I recently ventured into the political arena with my Substack writing and faced a similar response—the loss of a few subscribers. While this hurt my ego (because, after all, who wants to be rejected?), it also confirmed that I am on the right path toward becoming who I’m meant to be. The more we embrace our true selves, the fewer people will like us. This may seem counterproductive, but true individuation often leads to fewer friendships, as fewer people can tolerate differences and appreciate the growth that comes from engaging with diversity rather than seeking sameness. This process requires trust, and having trusted others helps us know ourselves more deeply.
Your transparency and willingness to be vulnerable inspire trust in me. Thank you for sharing yourself through this article, for bringing your process to us, and for showing us what it means to be fully human in such a beautiful way.
Thank you, Claudia! Glad there’s people out there that have the courage to say what they really think. If other people aren’t willing to hear it, so be it 🤷🏼♀️
Wonderful work. I'm impressed by the originality of your blog concept and your consistent execution. Well done.
Thank you, Glenn! I really appreciate you so much
“The mark of an educated mind, is to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
- Aristotle
I would also add that the mark of a wise heart is to be able to accept diversity of thought without being angered by it.
Love this ♥️
You showed courage and that is never a bad thing! I always want to hear the other side because you never know it might lead to pause your thought because we do not everything in the world. They key is to remain open. That does not mean you agree but hear it out so you then can form a much more valid opinion of your own. Well Done Jen
Thank you 🙏♥️
Thank you for this, thoughtful and informative essay. Your points are well made. When I was a young doctor, I was told by others “Vote like a Democrat when you are young, without much money, and vote like a Republican when you are old, with more money.” I still vote like a Democrat but read the Wall Street Journal ( in addition to the NYT) to feed my curiosity about “the other side.”
Thank you, Susan 🤗
I appreciate your openness about the toll that swimming in political waters takes.
Thank you, John!
It’s tricky to dip into the murky waters of division and emerge unsullied. Your journey into the depths and your ability to reflect and transcend the ego is an inspiration. Thank you for dissecting this topic to its roots and sharing your own evolution. Well done!
My personal perspective on politics is that there’s a game being played to divide and enrage us— in an effort to control, profit, and acquire power. The way we all win is not feeding into that system. Learn from it, respect it, but move on. Instead find common ground and build solutions that actually help and bring people together. Start small and build momentum. It’s where we choose to put our focus and energy that will make all the difference. We can do it. 💪
I love this, Jeremy. You have a great head on your shoulders and inspire me, too. 🙏
It’s not just politics that are divisive, it’s everything, because everything is now political. We must be on a side when we don’t even want to be in the fight.
I’ve been following articles on Substack about the ghastly husband in France who drugged his wife and invited men to rape her. One women wrote a piece with a picture of herself topless and purring about the power of her unleashed sexuality and then two days later, writes about how all men are guilty of what the bastards in France did, because men are not responding about the bastards in France. I won’t even try to understand.
Sanity and self-awareness seems to have evaporated. Sometimes, more often now, I wonder if it’s even worth trying to be part of any public discourse. I understand that withdrawal means giving up on people, society, and the possibility of a better world, but I have many more years behind me than ahead of me. Being heard is not worth the discord. All I want is a little peace.
I sometimes wonder if it’s worth it, too. But I like to think that exposure to difficult topics can build mental fortitude if we understand them and learn from them.
Oh Jen, the things I saw done in the name of politics left scars. So many scars. It’s where we leave behind our humanity too easily and are too easily tempted to take a step too far.
A great piece as always Jen! Your point about politics making us/you mean and stupid fascinates me because I wonder what is actually creating this? What wouldn't make politics feel mean and stupid? I'm interested in the latter because until we highlight a higher politics and way of creating and talking about a high-quality and high-energy politics, people won't be engaged. This is why I find the Harris vs Trump election so fascinating.
Thank you Joanna! 🙏
Love these questions. They’re beyond my understanding at this point, but I’d love to hear your thoughts if you decided to write about a new way forward for U.S. politics
The last two pieces (including my interview with Brian Klaas) on my Substack are specifically about the US, and touch on a few of these things :)
I’ll check them out!
A brief spate of clear, calm thinking and useful reflection is always welcome. I didn't take your poll. Polls always seem designed to provide a certain outcome. I'd rather be surprised! Thanks for your work.
Thank you, Gregg!
Great 👍💎👍
Thank you!
Bravo. 👏
♥️
Excelent article!
The world is not in black and white. If we see only these colors, we lost all the remaining...
Exactly 🙏
Beautifully written and captures the 3 third rails of life, politics, religion and sex, they turn all of us mean & stupid.
Wasn't life less complex in the 1970's? Yes - it was also much more bitter and divided as we moved from the 'Father Knows Best' ideal to the 'Hell NO we won't go' chants of Viet Nam protests.
From all the diversity and hatred of this election, we will see change - good & bad, how we as a nation handle that change will elevate or destroy us!
Thanks so much, John.
I’m certainly hopeful 🤗