I think you've just explained my husband to me... but seriously, I have the opposite problem. I can make big decisions without much thought when I feel as if I can't take any more. Is that desperation? Maybe. Another idea your post brought up for me is that often, there is good with bad. I've done some writing about how it is important to re-name spaces that are named for (usually white males) people who don't have great track records (read: understatement) with BIPOC or women. I find that the people who oppose the re-naming usually talk about the good things that person did. And they aren't wrong. Perhaps these conversations will lead to more nuanced understandings. The people/things/ideas that we characterize as either good or bad, black or white, are often a bit of both. In the case of renaming of buildings, spaces, roads, etc., we should think instead of naming things after communities or groups that had a positive impact or have survived after great struggles. We idolize the individual to our detriment, I think. By the same token, we should be able to appreciate an idea, and be realistic about the fallibility of the individual who put that idea into the universe. After all, that person isn't the only one who had the idea, and a community of some kind supported that person. Things I am pondering. Thank you for your post. :}
Love this idea of naming after communities and groups -- do you know of any place where this has already happened? Your point that we idolize the individual to our detriment really has me thinking -- maybe the cult of the individual in itself is the root of the problem --
Yes, I do think so. Cultures are on a spectrum, they fall somewhere between "community oriented" and "individually oriented". We are on the extreme of individualism. One example, not of naming, but of groups succeeding- BLM being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. If I think of more I'll reply. Got a meeting now...
I absolutely love your Love Notes, Siel! In regards to making decisions, I have made all of my biggest life decisions from an emotional push. Some of these decisions were definitely very wrong, others were very right, but all of them took me on some pretty amazing adventures.
I hope your adventure will bring you to Iowa City in the future!
I think you've just explained my husband to me... but seriously, I have the opposite problem. I can make big decisions without much thought when I feel as if I can't take any more. Is that desperation? Maybe. Another idea your post brought up for me is that often, there is good with bad. I've done some writing about how it is important to re-name spaces that are named for (usually white males) people who don't have great track records (read: understatement) with BIPOC or women. I find that the people who oppose the re-naming usually talk about the good things that person did. And they aren't wrong. Perhaps these conversations will lead to more nuanced understandings. The people/things/ideas that we characterize as either good or bad, black or white, are often a bit of both. In the case of renaming of buildings, spaces, roads, etc., we should think instead of naming things after communities or groups that had a positive impact or have survived after great struggles. We idolize the individual to our detriment, I think. By the same token, we should be able to appreciate an idea, and be realistic about the fallibility of the individual who put that idea into the universe. After all, that person isn't the only one who had the idea, and a community of some kind supported that person. Things I am pondering. Thank you for your post. :}
Love this idea of naming after communities and groups -- do you know of any place where this has already happened? Your point that we idolize the individual to our detriment really has me thinking -- maybe the cult of the individual in itself is the root of the problem --
Yes, I do think so. Cultures are on a spectrum, they fall somewhere between "community oriented" and "individually oriented". We are on the extreme of individualism. One example, not of naming, but of groups succeeding- BLM being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. If I think of more I'll reply. Got a meeting now...
Maybe we'll have BLM City somewhere soon :)
I absolutely love your Love Notes, Siel! In regards to making decisions, I have made all of my biggest life decisions from an emotional push. Some of these decisions were definitely very wrong, others were very right, but all of them took me on some pretty amazing adventures.
I hope your adventure will bring you to Iowa City in the future!
Wendy
Thanks Wendy! I want to hear about some of these pretty amazing adventures -- did they happen in Iowa City? May stop by when the weather is warmer!
Long stories, many embarrassing. Yes, to coming to Iowa City. It’s beautiful here.